Foreign Affairs

Amazon.com
Welcome to the hipster blues. By the time of this 1977 recording, Tom Waits had fully transformed himself into a musical character actor from another era, caught somewhere between Raymond Chandler and the Beat Generation. His vocals here are some of the most mannered performances this side of Bukowski (and probably had something to do with the movie roles he won in the coming years). His use of strings on some of these tracks can occasionally drift dangerously close to schmaltz, but that's easily compensated by such highlights as his duet with Bette Midler on "I Never Talk to Strangers" and the breathless melodrama of "Burma-Shave." Cool. --Steve Appleford

Foreign Affairs,Tom Waits,Elektra / Wea,Album Rock,Pop,Popular Music,Rock,Rock/Pop,Singer/Songwriter

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Foreign Affairs

Average customer rating: Classic pre-"Swordfishtrombones" Waits Tom Waits and Bette Midler A mixed bag of gems A slight hint of change A slight hint of change

Foreign Affairs Tom Waits Manufacturer: Elektra / Wea ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Singer-Songwriters | Pop | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Album-Oriented Rock (AOR) | Classic Rock | Styles | Music Similar Items: Blue Valentine Heartattack and Vine Small Change Nighthawks at the Diner Big Time ASIN: B000002GYF Release Date: 1990-05-11

Tracks:

1. Cinny's Waltz
2. Muriel
3. I Never Talk To Strangers
4. Medley: Jack & Neal/California, Here I Come
5. A Sight For Sore Eyes
6. Potter's Field
7. Burma-Shave
8. Barber Shop
9. Foreign Affair

Amazon.com

Welcome to the hipster blues. By the time of this 1977 recording, Tom Waits had fully transformed himself into a musical character actor from another era, caught somewhere between Raymond Chandler and the Beat Generation. His vocals here are some of the most mannered performances this side of Bukowski (and probably had something to do with the movie roles he won in the coming years). His use of strings on some of these tracks can occasionally drift dangerously close to schmaltz, but that's easily compensated by such highlights as his duet with Bette Midler on "I Never Talk to Strangers" and the breathless melodrama of "Burma-Shave." Cool. --Steve Appleford

Customer Reviews:

Classic pre-"Swordfishtrombones" Waits.......2007-02-25

FOREIGN AFFAIRS is one of Waits's most engaging jazzy albums...its lyrics are so dark and poetic, you'll be drawn in instantly, recognizing immediately within yourself the heartache these characters are going through. If nothing else, you can fall back on the hometown hopelessness of "A Sight For Sore Eyes" (which opens with "Auld Lang Syne"), or the gin-soaked romantic banter between Waits and Bette Midler on "I Never Talk to Strangers" (a tune which would inspire the future Tom Waits-Chrystal Gayle masterpiece ONE FROM THE HEART album). There's the cool "Burma Shave" and the catchy "Jack & Neal" (that sax intro will grab you by the ears and haul your butt in). FOREIGN AFFAIRS is one of the best "early" Waits albums, and showcases why this masterful singer/songwriter deserves a pedestal in the Musicians Hall of Fame. We'd better put him in a far, back corner, though...he might scare off the uninitiated.

Tom Waits and Bette Midler.......2006-02-22

This CD is beautiful. And it features Tom Waits with Bette Midler in track 3.

A mixed bag of gems.......2005-09-04

This is a laid back change (with the exception of "Potters Field" from his previous "Small Change". Tom sings more here and his voice is far smoother than it was before or after this recording. This record includes one of my favorite Waits songs from any period, "Foreign Affair", which is the best song I have ever heard written about wanderlust. "Burma Shave", "Cinny's Waltz" and "Muriel" are also classics. Not as consistant as "Blue Valentines" or "Small Change", but have extreme highlights.

A slight hint of change.......2003-06-13

Foreign Affairs seems to be a very fitting title for Waits' 4th studio album. As I noted earlier, Tom Waits perfected his shtick on Small Change. Foreign affairs is actually the start of the metamorphosis that would continue on his next two albums until a full fledged transformation with Swordfishtrombones(1983).
The first part(side 1 on the old vinyl record) finds Waits sticking to his guns. Cinny's Waltz is an is an instrumental, but this time we also see the addition of violins.
Muriel is another Waits song about a lost love. Although nothing is wrong with the song per- se it doesn't match Waits' earlier songs touching this subject.
I Never Talk To Strangers is a singles bar duet with Bette Midler and has a clever and funny text. Jack Kerouac and Neal Cassidy is remembered on the track Jack & Neal. One of the albums highlights comes next. A Sight for Sore Eyes starts with an intro that uses the notes from Auld Lang Syne and then catches on as one of Waits' most memorable bar stool ramblings of his career.
Then there is a change in direction. The almost 9 minute long Potter's Field is a quite different song a kind of jazz noir. On Burma Shave we find a traditional scenario: girl meets mysterious stranger and takes off with him in his Ford Mustang. But the roles are blurred. You're not really sure about who is leading and who is following. A great song with a tragic end. Barber Shop is a jazz beat song. Foreign Affair is a song that sounds like Bad Liver and a Broken Heart.
A lot of critics accused Waits of repeating himself on Foreign Affairs. I think they overlooked a new approach by Waits. This is especially apparent from Potter's Field and on. Waits seems to pick up on this new approach as it is followed up on his next album Blue Valentines.
Foreign Affairs isn't as strong as his previous albums. It might be that Waits, too, was a little tired of sticking to his old act. That is why the album seems a little confused. Any transitionally period is hard and despite the flaws Foreign Affairs is still a great album

A slight hint of change.......2003-06-13

Foreign Affairs seems to be a very fitting title for Waits' 4th studio album. As I noted earlier, Tom Waits perfected his shtick on Small Change. Foreign affairs is actually the start of the metamorphosis that would continue on his next two albums until a full fledged transformation with Swordfishtrombones(1983).
The first part(side 1 on the old vinyl record) finds Waits sticking to his guns. Cinny's Waltz is an is an instrumental, but this time we also see the addition of violins.
Muriel is another Waits song about a lost love. Although nothing is wrong with the song per- se it doesn't match Waits' earlier songs touching this subject.
I Never Talk To Strangers is a singles bar duet with Bette Midler and has a clever and funny text. Jack Kerouac and Neal Cassidy is remembered on the track Jack & Neal. One of the albums highlights comes next. A Sight for Sore Eyes starts with an intro that uses the notes from Auld Lang Syne and then catches on as one of Waits' most memorable bar stool ramblings of his career.
Then there is a change in direction. The almost 9 minute long Potter's Field is a quite different song a kind of jazz noir. On Burma Shave we find a traditional scenario: girl meets mysterious stranger and takes off with him in his Ford Mustang. But the roles are blurred. You're not really sure about who is leading and who is following. A great song with a tragic end. Barber Shop is a jazz beat song. Foreign Affair is a song that sounds like Bad Liver and a Broken Heart.
A lot of critics accused Waits of repeating himself on Foreign Affairs. I think they overlooked a new approach by Waits. This is especially apparent from Potter's Field and on. Waits seems to pick up on this new approach as it is followed up on his next album Blue Valentines.
Foreign Affairs isn't as strong as his previous albums. It might be that Waits, too, was a little tired of sticking to his old act. That is why the album seems a little confused. Any transitionally period is hard and despite the flaws Foreign Affairs is still a great album

Average customer rating:

Foreign Affairs Bireli Lagrene Manufacturer: Capitol ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Bebop General | Bebop | Jazz | Styles | Music General | Jazz | Styles | Music Jazz Fusion | Jazz | Styles | Music Modern Postbebop | Jazz | Styles | Music Swing General | Swing Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Similar Items: Inferno Acoustic Moments ASIN: B000008BJB Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

1. Timothee
2. Josef
3. Rue De Pierre (Pt. IV)
4. Jack Rabbit
5. Foreign Affairs

Average customer rating:

Foreign Affairs Vibe Tribe & Richard S. Manufacturer: Lipstick Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music Acid Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music General | Jazz | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music General | Jazz | Indie Music | Stores | Music ASIN: B00000I0YX Release Date: 1999-02-09

Tracks:

1. Choices
2. Siren
3. Secrets
4. The Last Rose
5. Nunu
6. Foreign Affairs
7. Memory Island
8. Ashe'
9. Traces Of Red
10. Coconut Skies
11. Silent Woods

Average customer rating:

Foreign Affairs Sharon O'Neill ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Rock | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Rock | Imports | Stores | Music ASIN: B00009VGID Release Date: 2006-06-20

Tracks:

1. Danger
2. Maxine
3. One of a Crowd
4. Radio Lover
5. Kids in Our Town
6. Losing You
7. I've Got You to Thank
8. Take the Fall
9. Hearts on the Run
10. All the Way Down

Album Description

Australian pressing features 2 CD's for one great price! Comprised of 20 total tracks including 'One Of A Crowd', 'Losing You', 'Hearts On The Run', 'Shes Gonna Hurt You', 'Street Boys', 'I Dont Wanna Touch You (I Just Wanna Ride In Your Car)', 'Maybe' and more. Rajon. 2005.

Average customer rating: Sharon O'Neill Sharon writes some beautiful songs

Foreign Affairs/Maybe Sharon O'Neill Manufacturer: Sony ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD ASIN: B00004TKAI Release Date: 2000-03-07

Customer Reviews:

Sharon O'Neill.......2003-07-16

I have always, and will continue to be a huge Sharon O'Neill fan. I always felt she was an underestimated talent that was truely NEVER appreciated during her career. I am proud to be in possession of most of her albums, and in good conscience, cannot say a bad word about any of her music...AAA+: all of them. Her album: The Edge of Winter which was released in 1990 would be my favorite. The song: Poster Girl, words fail to discribe this fantastic song. The only album I don't have is an album Sharon released in the mid 1980's with an Orange cover...not sure of the title, but if anyone can help: I would be ever gratefull.

Sharon writes some beautiful songs.......2002-02-08

This set is worth it as an insight into Sharon's songwriting talent and voice. I had wanted to find her previous "words" album but this was all I could find and I enjoyed hearing her again. I ran into her once accidentally and she was beautiful and tiny. I heard she went off to study law - its a petty we never got to hear her again.

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