Tom Waits – Small Change
Small Change is one of Tom Waits’ most poignant and poetic albums, offering a noirish dive into the underside of city life. Released in 1976, it captures Waits at a crossroads — both musically and personally — with his jazz-inflected piano ballads and beat-style storytelling honed to perfection. The album opens with “Tom Traubert’s Blues,” an aching anthem of loneliness and loss that quickly became one of his signature songs. Throughout, Waits paints vivid portraits of down-and-outs, drifters, and lost souls with a combination of wit and sadness. Tracks like “The Piano Has Been Drinking” and “Invitation to the Blues” showcase his sardonic humour, while the orchestral arrangements add a moody elegance. Small Change is a perfect encapsulation of Waits’ early sound — smoky, streetwise, and devastatingly lyrical. It remains a fan favourite and a cornerstone of his storied career.