Swordfishtrombones is an album by American singer-songwriter Tom Waits, released in September of 1983 (see 1983 in music). Though sales were poor (as had always been typical of Waits, a cult favorite), the album is widely remembered as one of Waits' best. Stylistically different from his previous LPS, Swordfishtrombones features reduced strings and piano, replacing them with soft horns.

Swordfishtrombones peaked at #164 on Billboard's Pop Albums and Billboard 200 albums chart.

Track listing

  1. Underground (Waits) - 1:58
  2. Shore Leave (Waits) - 4:12
  3. Dave the Butcher [instrumental] (Waits) - 2:15
  4. Johnsburg, Illinois (Waits) - 1:30
  5. 16 Shells from a Thirty-Ought Six (Waits) - 4:30
  6. Town With No Cheer (Waits) - 4:22
  7. In the Neighborhood (Waits) - 3:04
  8. Just Another Sucker on the Vine [instrumental] (Waits) - 1:42
  9. Frank's Wild Years (Waits) - 1:50
  10. Swordfishtrombone (Waits) - 3:00
  11. Down, Down, Down (Waits) - 2:10
  12. Soldier's Things (Waits) - 3:15
  13. Gin Soaked Boy (Waits) - 2:20
  14. Trouble's Braids (Waits) - 1:18
  15. Rainbirds [instrumental] (Waits) - 3:05

Personnel

  • Crystal Gayle - Vocals
  • Tom Waits - Synthesizer, Fiddle, Guitar, Arranger, Composer, Harmonium, Organ (Hammond), Vocals, Multi Instruments, Producer, Design, Cover Art Concept
  • Victor Feldman - Percussion, Conga, Drums (Bass), Marimba, Tambourine, Multi Instruments, Drums (Snare)
  • Shelly Manne - Drums
  • Bill Reichenbach - Trombone
  • Pete Jolly - Piano, Accordion
  • Lanny Morgan - Wind
  • Les Thompson - Harmonica
  • Ronnie Barron - Keyboards, Organ (Hammond)
  • Eric Bikales - Organ
  • Larry Taylor - Bass, Bass (Acoustic)
  • Bob Alcivar - Piano
  • Randall Aldcroft - Trombone, Horn, Horn (Baritone), Sax (Baritone)
  • Tim Boyle - Engineer
  • Dennis Budimir - Guitar
  • Larry Bunker - Drums
  • Anthony Clark - Bagpipes
  • Greg Cohen - Bass, Bass (Acoustic)
  • Biff Dawes - Engineer, Mixing
  • Teddy Edwards - Saxophone
  • Chuck Findley - Trumpet
  • Richard Gibbs - Harmonica (Glass)
  • Carlos Guitarlos - Guitar, Guitar (Electric)
  • Stephen Hodges - Harmonica, Drums
  • Richard Hyde - Trombone
  • Jack Sheldon - Trumpet
  • Gayle LaVant - Horn
  • John Lowe - Wind
  • Peggy McCreary - Assistant Engineer
  • Jeff Porcaro - Percussion
  • Emil Richards - Vibraphone
  • Joe Romano - Trombone, Trumpet
  • Anthony Stewart - Bagpipes
  • Fred Tackett - Banjo, Guitar, Guitar (Electric)
  • Big John Thomassie - Drums
  • Francis Thumm - Harmonica, Arranger, Harmonica (Glass), Angklung
  • Donald Waldrop - Tuba
  • Dick Hyde - Trombone
  • Clark Spangler - Programming, Synthesizer Programming
  • Jeff Sanders - Mastering
  • Frank Mulvey - Art Direction
  • Richard McKernon - Assistant Engineer
  • Michael Solomon - Production Coordination
  • Bill Jackson - Assistant Engineer