Old Shoes & Picture Postcards

Tom Waits

Closing Time

1973

A few years after I entered the world, a man in California was making one of the finest records ever produced. The record was "Closing Time" - the first major release for Tom Waits in 1973, thus beginning one of the most remarkable careers in music and a catalogue of musical genius, eccentricity and amazing insights.

It is my favourite album of all time, has been a gift given to many people, a staple accompaniment to the blue moments of life and an old friend when 3am strikes and the need to feed the ears arises...

One of the tracks on Closing Time is "Old Shoes & Picture Postcards". A classic Waits narrative that begins with the words "I'm singing this song, it's time it was sung. I've been putting it off for a while . . ."

And that is why I am back to writing down my observations on a more regular basis - and not just on road trips . . .

And as the song goes:

"So goodbye, so long, the road calls me dear . . ."

And so indeed it does . . .