Tom Waits wrote about his 28 most cherished albums of all time for the Observer (here and here) in 2005. Here is his selection, in roughly chronological order.

In the Wee Small Hours

Frank Sinatra
1955, Capitol

Amazon
–

Shakin’ the Rafters

The Abyssinian Baptist Gospel Choir
1960, Sony

Amazon
–

Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music

Ray Charles
1962, ABC Paramount

Amazon
$4.06

Solo Monk

Thelonious Monk
1964, Columbia

Amazon
–

Trout Mask Replica

Captain Beefheart
1969, Straight

Amazon
$89.99

Exile on Main St.

The Rolling Stones
1972, Rolling Stones Records

Amazon
–

The Sinking of the Titanic

Gavin Bryars
1975, Point Music

Amazon
$12.00

The Basement Tapes

Bob Dylan
1975, Columbia

Amazon
$15.60

The Lounge Lizards

The Lounge Lizards
1980, EG

Amazon
–

Rum Sodomy and the Lash

The Pogues
1985, Stiff

Amazon
–

I’m Your Man

Leonard Cohen
1988, Columbia

Amazon
–

The Specialty Sessions

Little Richard
1989, Specialty Records

Amazon
–

[amazon template=custom_thumbnail&asin=B000001G1E&search_text=%TITLE%&title=Star Time James Brown]

[amazon text=Star Time&template=custom_title&asin=B000001G1E&search_text=%TITLE%&title=Star Time James Brown]

[amazon text=James Brown&template=custom_search&search_text=%TITLE%&title=James Brown] 1991, Polydor

[amazon text=Amazon&template=custom_text_price&asin=B000001G1E&multi_cc=1&search_text=%TITLE%&title=Star Time James Brown]

Texas-Czech, Bohemian-Moravian Bands

Various artists
1993, Folk Lyric

Amazon
–

The Yellow Shark

Frank Zappa
1993, Barking Pumpkin

Amazon
$99.99

Aria: A Passion for Opera

Various artists
1994, EMI Classics

Amazon
$31.81

Martinis & Bikinis

Sam Phillips
1994, Virgin

Amazon
–

Lead Belly’s Last Sessions

Lead Belly
1994, Smithsonian Folkways

Amazon
$41.91

Rant in E Minor

Bill Hicks
1997, Rykodisc

Amazon
–

Prison Songs: Murderous Home

(The Alan Lomax Collection)

Various artists
1997, Rounder Select

Amazon
–

Marc Ribot y Los Cubanos Postizos

Marc Ribot y Los Cubanos Postizos
1998, Atlantic

Amazon
–

Houndog

Houndog
1999, Sony

Amazon
–

Ompa til Du Dør

Kaizers Orchestra
2001, Broiler Farm

Amazon
$9.49

Screamin’ and Hollerin’ the Blues

Charley Patton
2001, Revenant

Amazon
$199.95

Purple Onion

Les Claypool
2002, Prawn Song

Amazon
–

Harry Partch Collection, Vol. 1

Harry Partch
2004, New World Records

Amazon
–

Let The Buyer Beware

Lenny Bruce
2004, Shout! Factory

Amazon
–

The Delivery Man

Elvis Costello & The Imposters
2004, Mercury

Amazon
$7.99

Thomas Alan “Tom” Waits (born December 7, 1949) is an American singer-songwriter, composer, and actor. Waits has a distinctive voice, described by critic Daniel Durchholz as sounding like “it was soaked in a vat of bourbon, left hanging in the smokehouse for a few months, and then taken outside and run over with a car.” With this trademark growl, his incorporation of pre-rock music styles such as blues, jazz, and vaudeville, and experimental tendencies verging on industrial music, Waits has built up a distinctive musical persona. (Wikipedia.)

Alternatively, as the AllMusic puts it, “a neo-beatnik songwriter who grew weirder and wilder in the ’80s, earning a cult following that only grew larger as the years passed”.

Source: The Observer, The Observer
Last checked on: 28 September 2015
Image: In the Wee Small Hours by Frank Sinatra

The Metaindex

A Directory of Experts' Choices

Top 28 albums of all time, by Tom Waits

In the Wee Small Hours

Shakin’ the Rafters

Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music

Solo Monk

Trout Mask Replica

Exile on Main St.

The Sinking of the Titanic

The Basement Tapes

The Lounge Lizards

Rum Sodomy and the Lash

I’m Your Man

The Specialty Sessions

Texas-Czech, Bohemian-Moravian Bands

The Yellow Shark

Aria: A Passion for Opera

Martinis & Bikinis

Lead Belly’s Last Sessions

Rant in E Minor

Prison Songs: Murderous Home

Marc Ribot y Los Cubanos Postizos

Houndog

Ompa til Du Dør

Screamin’ and Hollerin’ the Blues

Purple Onion

Harry Partch Collection, Vol. 1

Let The Buyer Beware

The Delivery Man

In the Wee Small Hours<img data-lazy-fallback="1" decoding="async" loading="lazy" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=e0680b-20&#038;l=as2&#038;o=1&#038;a=B000006OHD" width="1" height="1" border="0" alt="" style="border:none !important; margin:0px !important;" />

Shakin’ the Rafters<img data-lazy-fallback="1" decoding="async" loading="lazy" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=e0680b-20&#038;l=as2&#038;o=1&#038;a=B003F5WO24" width="1" height="1" border="0" alt="" style="border:none !important; margin:0px !important;" />

Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music<img data-lazy-fallback="1" decoding="async" loading="lazy" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=e0680b-20&#038;l=as2&#038;o=1&#038;a=B00OY1GIIE" width="1" height="1" border="0" alt="" style="border:none !important; margin:0px !important;" />

Solo Monk<img data-lazy-fallback="1" decoding="async" loading="lazy" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=e0680b-20&#038;l=as2&#038;o=1&#038;a=B0045DO7ZC" width="1" height="1" border="0" alt="" style="border:none !important; margin:0px !important;" />

Trout Mask Replica<img data-lazy-fallback="1" decoding="async" loading="lazy" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=e0680b-20&#038;l=as2&#038;o=1&#038;a=B000005JA8" width="1" height="1" border="0" alt="" style="border:none !important; margin:0px !important;" />

Exile on Main St.<img data-lazy-fallback="1" decoding="async" loading="lazy" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=e0680b-20&#038;l=as2&#038;o=1&#038;a=B003AIEOCY" width="1" height="1" border="0" alt="" style="border:none !important; margin:0px !important;" />

The Sinking of the Titanic<img data-lazy-fallback="1" decoding="async" loading="lazy" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=e0680b-20&#038;l=as2&#038;o=1&#038;a=B0000040UW" width="1" height="1" border="0" alt="" style="border:none !important; margin:0px !important;" />

The Basement Tapes<img data-lazy-fallback="1" decoding="async" loading="lazy" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=e0680b-20&#038;l=as2&#038;o=1&#038;a=B001NERPHS" width="1" height="1" border="0" alt="" style="border:none !important; margin:0px !important;" />

The Lounge Lizards<img data-lazy-fallback="1" decoding="async" loading="lazy" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=e0680b-20&#038;l=as2&#038;o=1&#038;a=B000025JQZ" width="1" height="1" border="0" alt="" style="border:none !important; margin:0px !important;" />

Rum Sodomy and the Lash<img data-lazy-fallback="1" decoding="async" loading="lazy" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=e0680b-20&#038;l=as2&#038;o=1&#038;a=B000H8SFMA" width="1" height="1" border="0" alt="" style="border:none !important; margin:0px !important;" />

I’m Your Man<img data-lazy-fallback="1" decoding="async" loading="lazy" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=e0680b-20&#038;l=as2&#038;o=1&#038;a=B0012GMVXU" width="1" height="1" border="0" alt="" style="border:none !important; margin:0px !important;" />

The Specialty Sessions<img data-lazy-fallback="1" decoding="async" loading="lazy" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=e0680b-20&#038;l=as2&#038;o=1&#038;a=B000000QOG" width="1" height="1" border="0" alt="" style="border:none !important; margin:0px !important;" />

Texas-Czech, Bohemian-Moravian Bands<img data-lazy-fallback="1" decoding="async" loading="lazy" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=e0680b-20&#038;l=as2&#038;o=1&#038;a=B004IMD86Y" width="1" height="1" border="0" alt="" style="border:none !important; margin:0px !important;" />

The Yellow Shark<img data-lazy-fallback="1" decoding="async" loading="lazy" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=e0680b-20&#038;l=as2&#038;o=1&#038;a=B008XNPMEK" width="1" height="1" border="0" alt="" style="border:none !important; margin:0px !important;" />

Aria: A Passion for Opera<img data-lazy-fallback="1" decoding="async" loading="lazy" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=e0680b-20&#038;l=as2&#038;o=1&#038;a=B000002S5M" width="1" height="1" border="0" alt="" style="border:none !important; margin:0px !important;" />

Martinis & Bikinis<img data-lazy-fallback="1" decoding="async" loading="lazy" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=e0680b-20&#038;l=as2&#038;o=1&#038;a=B008817WS6" width="1" height="1" border="0" alt="" style="border:none !important; margin:0px !important;" />

Lead Belly’s Last Sessions<img data-lazy-fallback="1" decoding="async" loading="lazy" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=e0680b-20&#038;l=as2&#038;o=1&#038;a=B000001DJC" width="1" height="1" border="0" alt="" style="border:none !important; margin:0px !important;" />

Rant in E Minor<img data-lazy-fallback="1" decoding="async" loading="lazy" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=e0680b-20&#038;l=as2&#038;o=1&#038;a=B0000009QI" width="1" height="1" border="0" alt="" style="border:none !important; margin:0px !important;" />

Prison Songs: Murderous Home<img data-lazy-fallback="1" decoding="async" loading="lazy" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=e0680b-20&#038;l=as2&#038;o=1&#038;a=B0000002UV" width="1" height="1" border="0" alt="" style="border:none !important; margin:0px !important;" />

Marc Ribot y Los Cubanos Postizos<img data-lazy-fallback="1" decoding="async" loading="lazy" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=e0680b-20&#038;l=as2&#038;o=1&#038;a=B000006OB6" width="1" height="1" border="0" alt="" style="border:none !important; margin:0px !important;" />

Houndog<img data-lazy-fallback="1" decoding="async" loading="lazy" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=e0680b-20&#038;l=as2&#038;o=1&#038;a=B00000I5XX" width="1" height="1" border="0" alt="" style="border:none !important; margin:0px !important;" />

Ompa til Du Dør<img data-lazy-fallback="1" decoding="async" loading="lazy" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=e0680b-20&#038;l=as2&#038;o=1&#038;a=B001AM075K" width="1" height="1" border="0" alt="" style="border:none !important; margin:0px !important;" />

Screamin’ and Hollerin’ the Blues<img data-lazy-fallback="1" decoding="async" loading="lazy" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=e0680b-20&#038;l=as2&#038;o=1&#038;a=B00005QD75" width="1" height="1" border="0" alt="" style="border:none !important; margin:0px !important;" />

Purple Onion<img data-lazy-fallback="1" decoding="async" loading="lazy" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=e0680b-20&#038;l=as2&#038;o=1&#038;a=B00006IT6C" width="1" height="1" border="0" alt="" style="border:none !important; margin:0px !important;" />

Harry Partch Collection, Vol. 1<img data-lazy-fallback="1" decoding="async" loading="lazy" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=e0680b-20&#038;l=as2&#038;o=1&#038;a=B0002WZTKC" width="1" height="1" border="0" alt="" style="border:none !important; margin:0px !important;" />

Let The Buyer Beware<img data-lazy-fallback="1" decoding="async" loading="lazy" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=e0680b-20&#038;l=as2&#038;o=1&#038;a=B0002RUPGK" width="1" height="1" border="0" alt="" style="border:none !important; margin:0px !important;" />

The Delivery Man<img data-lazy-fallback="1" decoding="async" loading="lazy" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=e0680b-20&#038;l=as2&#038;o=1&#038;a=B000V9D1H4" width="1" height="1" border="0" alt="" style="border:none !important; margin:0px !important;" />

In the Wee Small Hours

Shakin’ the Rafters

Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music

Solo Monk

Trout Mask Replica

Exile on Main St.

The Sinking of the Titanic

The Basement Tapes

The Lounge Lizards

Rum Sodomy and the Lash

I’m Your Man

The Specialty Sessions

Texas-Czech, Bohemian-Moravian Bands

The Yellow Shark

Aria: A Passion for Opera

Martinis & Bikinis

Lead Belly’s Last Sessions

Rant in E Minor

Prison Songs: Murderous Home

Marc Ribot y Los Cubanos Postizos

Houndog

Ompa til Du Dør

Screamin’ and Hollerin’ the Blues

Purple Onion

Harry Partch Collection, Vol. 1

Let The Buyer Beware

The Delivery Man