Tom Waits Recording Two Tracks in New Orleans

In one trip to New Orleans, Tom Waits hopes to produce new tracks for a pair of compilations. Marking Waits’ first new material since 2004’s Real Gone, the tracks will follow the songwriter’s forthcoming Nov. 24 release of Glitter and Doom Live.

As noted on his website, the Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus devil is set to record one with the city’s Preservation Jazz Hall Band. It will benefit the band’s efforts preserving the historic French Quarter, a cause that has thrived off of such collaboration since The Edge joined in its rendition of “Vertigo” three years ago.

The other is for Anti-’s follow-up to Pirate Ballads, Sea Songs and Chanteys. The Hal Wilner-produced project sparked when Bad Religion frontman Brett Gurewitz, with the Pirates of the Carribean movies in mind, pointed out to director Gore Verbinski that sea chanties could be considered an early form of punk music. Such logic drove Willner (Allen Ginsberg, Lucinda Williams, William S. Burroughs) to collect 400 early recordings, before he narrowed his choices down to 75 songs and selected Bryan Ferry, Nick Cave, Kate St. John and Warren Ellis for the initial recording.

No release dates for either projects have been set. In the meantime, fans can check out a sneak preview of Glitter and Doom Live on Waits’ official website.

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