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5 Things to Know About Tom Waits' Swordfishtrombones

  1. It was released on September 1, 1983, on Island Records.
  2. This album marked a major stylistic shift for Tom Waits, moving away from his earlier barroom piano sound toward a more experimental, percussive style.
  3. The title is a portmanteau of “swordfish” and “trombones,” reflecting the album’s eclectic mix of instruments and sounds.
  4. It was Waits’ first album on Island Records after leaving Asylum Records.
  5. The album is widely considered a turning point in his career, influencing his subsequent work and the broader alternative music scene.

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