Keep your cool, Waitsheads, Song by Song is still here and still committed, we’re just starting with the original Red Sovine track before heading into Waits’s cover of Big Joe’s story. Strange goings-on on the road are dealt with by our ghostbusters Sam, Martin and Andrea, as Red and Tom in turn are picked up by the spirit of a kindly truck-driving spook, who teaches us not to be afraid of the afterlife, as it’ll happily front you the cost of a cup of coffee should you require.

Song by Song is Martin Zaltz Austwick and Sam Pay; two musicians listening to and discussing every single Tom Waits track in chronological order.

website: songbysongpodcast.com twitter: @songbysongpod e-mail: [email protected]

Music extracts used for illustrative/review purposes include: Big Joe and Phantom 309, Nighthawks At The Diner, Tom Waits (1975) Phantom 309, Phantom 309, Red Sovine, (1967)

We think your Song by Song experience will be enhanced by hearing, in full, the songs featured in the show, which you can get hold of from your favourite record shop or online platform. Please support artists by buying their music, or using services which guarantee artists a revenue - listen responsibly.