Rain Dogs — 1985

A wild, junkyard-orchestra masterpiece of broken ballads and barroom experiments. Singular and brilliant. His defining record. Holds up as a strong record in its own right, not just context.

On vinyl: '80s originals are plentiful and usually affordable; reissues tend to be cleaner but pricier.

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More from Tom Waits — where to go next

If you have Rain Dogs, these are the Tom Waits records worth reaching for next.

1. 1
   Rain Dogs1985 · you're viewing this one
   Start here
2. 2
   Swordfishtrombones1983 · Folk & Singer-Songwriter
   Essential
3. 3
   Closing Time1973 · Folk & Singer-Songwriter
   Classic
4. 4
   Small Change1976 · Folk & Singer-Songwriter
   Classic
5. 5
   Blue Valentine1978 · Folk & Singer-Songwriter
   Classic

If you like Rain Dogs, try