Tom Waits内心是一个爵士乐手，他早期的专辑反映了这一点。虽然他永远无法像Frank Sinatra那样唱歌，但我们可以从这些早期歌曲中听出Thelonious Monk, Louis Armstrong和Mose Allison对年轻的Tom Waits施了咒语。他将Jack Kerouac的节奏紧迫感和诗意与词曲作者Cole Porter的微妙感性、Muddy Waters的诚实和Howlin' Wolf诚实的粗犷声与Bud Powell、Dizzy Gillespie或Charlie Parker等大师的爵士乐的温暖和实验相结合。
Ol' '55 
I Hope That I Don't Fall In Love With You 
Martha 


San Diego Serenade 
Semi Suite 
Diamonds On My Windshield 
(Looking For) The Heart Of Saturday Night


Tom Traubert's Blues (Four Sheets To The Wind In Copenhagen) 
I Wish I Was In New Orleans (In The Ninth Ward) 
The Piano Has Been Drinking (Not Me) (An Evening With Pete King)


Muriel
I Never Talk To Strangers 
Medley: Jack & Neal / California, Here I Come 
A Sight For Sore Eyes