This collection goes far beyond a simple career retrospective, with over thirty new songs, from his own versions of songs he gave to other artists to things recorded in the garage with his kids. Also includes Tom's unique interpretations of songs by such diverse talents as The Ramones, Daniel Johnston, Kurt Weill & Bertolt Brecht, and Leadbelly. Each of the three CDs is separately grouped and sub-titled "Brawlers", "Bawlers" and "Bastards" to capture the full spectrum of Waits' ranging and roving musical styles. "Brawlers" is chock full of raucous blues and full-throated juke-joint stomp, "Bawlers" contains Celtic and country ballads, waltzes, lullabies, piano, and classic lyrical Waits' songs, while "Bastards" is filled with experimental music, stories, and jokes. The beautifully designed booklet reproduces Tom's lyrics in the style of a book of old poetry, with twenty pages of never before seen photos. The limited edition deluxe package contains a hardcover-bound 94-page booklet.
Adam Lane - Bass
Andrew Borger - Percussion
Anges Amar - Whistle
Ara Anderson - Trumpet
Arno Hecht - Saxophone
Art Hillery - Piano
Bebe Risenfors - Clarinet
Bent Clausen - Banjo
Bernd Bergdorg - Engineer
Biff Dawes - Engineer
Billy Higgins - Drums
Bob Funk - Trombone
Bob Musso - Engineer
Bobby Baloo - Cowbell
Bobby Black - Guitar (Steel)
Brain - Percussion
Brett Gurewitz - Guitar, Engineer
Carla Kihlstedt - Violin
Casey Waits - Drums
Charlie Musselwhite - Harmonica
Chris Grady - Trumpet
Crispin Cioe - Saxophone
Dan Cantrell - Accordion
Dan Plonsey - Clarinet
Dave Alvin - Guitar
Eddie Davis Orchestra - Banjo
Eric Perney - Bass
Francis Thumm - Piano
Gary Knowlton - Keyboards
Gavin Lurssen - Mastering
Gene Cornelius - Engineer
Gino Robair - Percussion
Greg Cohen - Bass
Guy Klesevic - Accordion
Harry Cody - Banjo
Hollywood Paul Litteral - Trumpet
Jacquire King - Engineer
Jeff Sloan - Percussion
Jimmy Cleveland - Trombone
Joe Gore - Guitar
John F. Hammond - Harmonica
Johnny Brewton - Art Direction, Design
Karl Derfler - Digital Editing, Remixing, Mixing
Larry "The Mole" Taylor - Bass
Larry LaLonde - Guitar
Leroy Vinnegar - Bass
Les Claypool - Bass
Marc Ribot - Guitar
Mark Howard - Engineer
Mark Linkous - Bass, Guitar, Drums
Matthew Brubeck - Bass
Michael Blair - Percussion, Drums
Mike Knowlton - Guitar
Mike Silverman - Bass
Mitchell Froom - Engineer, Chamberlain
Nick Phelps - Horn
Nolan Andrew Smith - Trumpet
Oz Fritz - Engineer
Ralph Carney - Saxophone
Ray Armando - Percussion
Richard Waters - Waterphone
Ron Hacker - Guitar
Seth Ford Young - Bass
Stephen Hodges - Percussion
Steve Foreman - Percussion
Sullivan Waits - Guitar
Tchad Blake - Engineer
Tom Nunn - Bugle
Tom Waits - Guitar, Percussion, Arranger, Keyboards, Vocals, Producer, Organ (Pump)
