Tom Waits - Small Change (Aquamarine Vinyl) LP

Tom Waits – Small Change (Aquamarine Vinyl) LP

Available at Bennies Fifties and the online Fifties Store

Enter the smoky jazz clubs, late-night bars and lonely streets of 1970s America with Tom Waits – Small Change. Originally released in 1976, this legendary album remains one of the most celebrated and influential recordings from the early career of the American singer-songwriter. To celebrate its 50th anniversary, Small Change returns in a special Limited Edition pressed on 180-gram Aquamarine Vinyl.

With his unmistakable gravelly voice, melancholic piano playing and extraordinary storytelling, Tom Waits creates a musical universe where jazz, blues, folk, cabaret and classic American songwriting come together. Small Change is filled with unforgettable characters, dark humour, heartbreaking stories and beautifully crafted melodies. Its atmospheric sound evokes neon-lit bars, deserted streets, lonely travellers and conversations that continue long after midnight.

Originally released in September 1976, Small Change is Tom Waits' fourth studio album. Produced by Bones Howe, the record features an exceptional group of jazz musicians, including legendary drummer Shelly Manne, saxophonist Lew Tabackin and bassist Jim Hughart. The combination of Waits' expressive vocals, intimate piano arrangements, subtle jazz instrumentation and occasional orchestral accompaniment creates a wonderfully cinematic listening experience.

The album opens with the haunting “Tom Traubert's Blues (Four Sheets To The Wind In Copenhagen)”, one of the most memorable compositions in Waits' catalogue. Its emotional melody and deeply expressive vocal performance make it a true classic. The following track, “Step Right Up”, showcases Waits' sharp wit and remarkable rhythmic delivery as he satirises the language of advertising and commercial salesmanship.

Other outstanding recordings include “Jitterbug Boy”, “I Wish I Was In New Orleans” and the legendary “The Piano Has Been Drinking (Not Me)”. The latter perfectly captures Waits' unique combination of theatrical performance, humour and melancholy. With its deliberately unpredictable piano playing and conversational vocal delivery, the song transports listeners into a late-night bar where reality and imagination become inseparable.

Side B features further classics including “Invitation To The Blues”, “Pasties And A G-String”, “Bad Liver And A Broken Heart” and the title track “Small Change (Got Rained On With His Own .38)”. The album concludes with “I Can't Wait To Get Off Work (And See My Baby On Montgomery Avenue)”, a tender and intimate recording that provides a beautiful contrast to the darker stories found throughout the album.

50th Anniversary Edition – Aquamarine Vinyl

Released on October 2, 2026, through ANTI- Records, this special anniversary edition celebrates fifty years of one of Tom Waits' most beloved albums.

The record is pressed on striking 180-gram Aquamarine Vinyl, featuring a beautiful blue-green colour that makes this edition especially attractive to vinyl collectors. Presented as a Limited Edition / Indie Exclusive, this pressing has been produced specifically for independent record stores.

With its intimate production, unforgettable vocals and sophisticated jazz arrangements, Small Change is perfectly suited to the vinyl format. It is an album best experienced from beginning to end, allowing listeners to become fully immersed in the atmospheric and unmistakable musical world of Tom Waits.

Essential listening for fans of Leonard Cohen, Randy Newman, Dr. John, Nick Cave, Captain Beefheart, vintage jazz, blues and distinctive singer-songwriter music.

Tracklist

Side A

A1 Tom Traubert's Blues (Four Sheets To The Wind In Copenhagen)
A2 Step Right Up
A3 Jitterbug Boy (Sharing A Curbstone With Chuck E. Weiss, Robert Marchese, Paul Body And The Mug And Artie)
A4 I Wish I Was In New Orleans (In The Ninth Ward)
A5 The Piano Has Been Drinking (Not Me) (An Evening With Pete King)

Side B

B1 Invitation To The Blues
B2 Pasties And A G-String (At The Two O'Clock Club)
B3 Bad Liver And A Broken Heart (In Lowell)
B4 The One That Got Away
B5 Small Change (Got Rained On With His Own .38)
B6 I Can't Wait To Get Off Work (And See My Baby On Montgomery Avenue)

Specifications

Artist: Tom Waits

Title: Small Change

Format: LP

Colour: Aquamarine Vinyl

Original release: 1976

Anniversary edition release date: October 2, 2026

Genre: Jazz / Blues / Singer-Songwriter / Folk / Cabaret / Roots

Number of tracks: 11

Number of records: 1

Vinyl weight: 180 grams

Playback speed: 33⅓ RPM

Record label: ANTI- Records

Original record label: Asylum Records

Catalogue number: 275685 / EPIT27568-5

Barcode: 8714092756852

Edition: 50th Anniversary Edition / Limited Edition / Indie Exclusive

Vinyl colour: Aquamarine

Producer: Bones Howe

Featuring: Shelly Manne, Lew Tabackin and Jim Hughart

Type: Studio Album / Anniversary Reissue

Language: English

Artist's country of origin: United States

Highlights

The legendary fourth studio album by Tom Waits, originally released in 1976, celebrating its 50th anniversary

Special Limited Edition on 180-gram Aquamarine Vinyl, available through independent record stores

Featuring timeless classics “Tom Traubert's Blues”, “Step Right Up”, “The Piano Has Been Drinking” and “Invitation To The Blues”

An unforgettable combination of jazz, blues, cabaret and atmospheric American songwriting

Featuring legendary jazz drummer Shelly Manne, produced by Bones Howe and released through ANTI- Records