Orphans: Brawlers, Bawlers & Bastards (studio album)
by Tom Waits

Possibly the greatest collection of 'orphan' songs by anyone, this is easily as essential as Rain Dogs.

Wonderful collection.

Not an obvious choice, but this is my favourite Waits album. The songs on the Bawlers disc are just so good. "You can never hold back spring" makes me go jelly limbed in the best possible way. Other Waits records give you brevity, but this one gives you his humour, humanity and unhinged imagination in full force. Hard to go wrong with this really.

Tom waits orphans, subtitled, brawlers, bawlers and bastards, is a 3cd collection of unreleased and new songs. Brawlers, gives over to the more rock/blues material, while, bawlers, is for the ballads, and, bastards, to the more obscure stuff such as spoken word, instrumental and even jokes. The first and second discs are both excellent, the third ok. Highlights in terms of tracks on the first disc are, lie to me, fish in the jailhouse, and Waits' anti-war rant, road to peace. Second disc standouts are, long way home, never let go, and, widow's grove. The third disc is a bit hit and miss, still, orphans, is another piece of the Tom Waits jigsaw that you need to help you complete the puzzle.

The Bawlers side is some of Waits' best work ever.

Tied with Franks Wild Years as my favorite Waits album.

Bawlers is actually a great one

I was so amazed by this. So many great lost songs. And it makes up for a great triple album. It does not have any feeling of being a collection, but a very thought out album.