Although I have read enough nick hornby to know better, I do tend to think of things in terms of top 5 lists. So here they are - a wild compendium of "top 5 lists".

favourite tom waits tracks
(a hard decision)

1. "the piano has been drinking" from small change
2. "briar and the rose" from black rider
3. "jockey full of bourbon" from rain dogs
4. "time" from rain dogs
5. "martha" from closing time

albums i would sorely miss
(that are not Tom Waits)

1. johnny cash - american recordings. The albums produced by Rick Rubin have all been awesome. And he covers Tom in "down there by the train"!
2. radiohead - amnesiac. You might subsitute any Radiohead album here. An astonishing album that can make converts of classical music lovers!
3. lock,stock and two smoking barrels- soundtrack. Ilove listneing to thisalbum- it's fun and upbeat. I've even considered taking upthe bazuki.
4. pink floyd - the wall. A classic. Might equally rate "Dark Side of the Moon", but "The Wall" is the defining concept album IMHO.
5. black sabbath - paranoid. Listen to it all the time. Really. Can't choose a favourite track between "Paranoid", "War Pigs" or "Fairies Wear Boots".

nostalgic albums

1. black box - mixed up! This was one of two CDs that we had in Nice in the summer of '90. "Ride on Time" will forever bring back memories of sunbathing poolside overlooking the Med.
2. david bowie - changes. The other Francete CD. Never tired of it...
3. ween - chocolate & cheese. Soundtrack for 3rd Whit? Started as a joke, but kept growing and growing. I now own most of the catalogue and have seen them live 5x!
4. kenny rogers - greatest hits. "The Gambler" My favourite singalong? Can't choose which was better - Quad Party '96 or the balcony on Madison.
5. frank sinatra - my way. Cousin Laura's wedding - singing with Dad, brothers, Uncle Rob and John. We may have been overserved.

For listening to end-to-end

1. tom waits - Bone Machine. The track where I choose to start the album at reveals my mood. Good start? track ten - "goin' out west".
2. emmylou harris - wrecking ball. A beautiful album produced by daniel lanois that I have a tendency to give as a gift. I listen to the album whenever I'm flying somewhere... especially home.
3. radiohead - ok computer. It's awesome, it's that simple.
4. gomez - bring it on. Most gomez albums are worth playing end-to-end.
5. tom waits - the black rider. my first waits album and probably still my favourite. favourite tracks of many favourite tracks - "briar and the rose", "november".