Small Change, Tom Waits’ 1976 album, is as dark and painful as they come. His alcoholism and skewed view of the world was really beginning to effect him emotionally and the sadness, boredom and fear comes bleeding through the songs on this album. Though filled with poetic imagery and dark humour (particularly on the track The Piano Has Been Drinking), it is the bleak melancholy that takes over this album. This is seen to the greatest extent in the album’s opening track, Tom Traubert’s Blues (Four Sheets to the Wind in Copenhagen). The song is known for the inclusion of the refrain from Waltzing Matilda and was famously covered by Rod Stewart. Whatever your opinions on Rod Stewart, there is no doubt that Waits’ hoarse, harsh vocal coupled with his background, makes his rendition the most emotive and heartfelt you’ll hear. Supposedly written after booze filled night on the streets … There’s more →