The Black Rider - Tom Waits (1LP Vinyl)

The Black Rider by Tom Waits.

Few records in the Tom Waits catalog carry the strange theatrical spell of "The Black Rider," and this 30th anniversary edition brings that world roaring back into the room. Newly remastered with Waits and his creative partner Kathleen Brennan, the audio here is sourced from the original production master tape, giving these songs the depth and grain they always deserved. Pressed on 180g black vinyl, it arrives in restored album packaging with a printed inner sleeve that lays out the lyrics and credits in full.

The album opens like a curtain rising, with "Lucky Day (Overture)" ushering you into a phantom carnival before the title track, "The Black Rider," pulls you deeper. Across the first side you move through the ghostly waltz of "November," the wicked counting-song menace of "Just The Right Bullets," and the crooked charm of "'T' Ain't No Sin," before the aching beauty of "The Briar And The Rose" and the clattering "Russian Dance" close things out. It is a set that swings between vaudeville, junkyard blues, and broken lullaby with unnerving ease.

Side two keeps the spell going, from the massed voices of "Gospel Train (Orchestra)" through the tender "I'll Shoot The Moon" and the rattling gambler's tale of "Crossroads." The eerie "Oily Night" and the reprise of "Lucky Day" build toward "The Last Rose Of Summer," a fragile, near-transparent close before "Carnival" spins the whole thing out into the dark. Waits himself contributes the liner notes, offering a first-hand voice for a project born of theater and imagination.

The production reflects that same restless spirit. Waits and Brennan produced the record together, with Kathleen Brennan also credited for the painting that runs through its visual identity. Biff Dawes handled the mixing alongside second engineer Mike Kloster, while recording duties were split between Gerd Bessler and Tchad Blake, the latter working with second engineer Joe Marquez across a substantial run of tracks. Ken Perry mastered the album, and Alex Abrash cut the lacquer.

The visual world is every bit as considered as the music. Robert Wilson, the celebrated theatrical director behind the original stage production, is credited with the cover, artwork, and design concept, with Christie Rixford on design and Teresa Jones coordinating production. Photography comes from Clärchen Baus, Hermann J., Paul Schirnhofer, and Ralf Brinkhoff, rounding out a package that feels like a keepsake from a haunted stage.

Released on Island Records under UMG, this edition carries a hype sticker noting the anniversary remaster and the original production master source, with catalog number 00602448894885. A vivid, unsettling, and endlessly rewarding entry in the Waits songbook, ready for the turntable.

Pressing Details:
Track Listing:
A1. Lucky Day (Overture)
A2. The Black Rider
A3. November
A4. Just The Right Bullets
A5. Black Box Theme
A6. 'T' Ain't No Sin
A7. Flash Pan Hunter (Intro)
A8. That's The Way
A9. The Briar And The Rose
A10. Russian Dance
B1. Gospel Train (Orchestra)
B2. I'll Shoot The Moon
B3. Flash Pan Hunter
B4. Crossroads
B5. Gospel Train
B6. Interlude
B7. Oily Night
B8. Lucky Day
B9. The Last Rose Of Summer
B10. Carnival

Credits:
Teresa Jones (2) - Coordinator [Production Coordinator]
Robert Wilson (2) - Cover, Artwork, Design Concept
Christie Rixford - Design
Alex Abrash - Lacquer Cut By
Tom Waits - Liner Notes
Ken Perry - Mastered By
Biff Dawes - Mixed By
Mike Kloster - Mixed By, Engineer [Second]
Kathleen Brennan - Painting
Clärchen Baus - Photography By
Hermann J. - Photography By
Paul Schirnhofer - Photography By
Ralf Brinkhoff - Photography By
Kathleen Brennan - Producer
Tom Waits - Producer
Gerd Bessler - Recorded By (A2, A3, A5 to A9, B4, B6, B9, B10)
Tchad Blake - Recorded By (A1, A4, A10 to B3, B5, B7, B8)
Joe Marquez - Recorded By, Engineer [Second] (A1, A4, A10 to B3, B5, B7, B8)

Notes:
Hype Sticker:
30th ANNIVERSARY NEWLY REMASTERED With Waits/Brennan
Audio Sourced From Original Production Master Tape
Restored Album Packaging
Pressed On 180g Black Vinyl
00602448894885

Printed inner sleeve with lyrics & credits.

An Island Records release ℗1993 ©2023 UMG Recordings Inc.,
All rights reserved. Unauthorised copying, reproduction, hiring, lending, public performance and broadcasting prohibited.
Made in the EU. Universal International Music B.V.
'S-Gravelandseweg 80, 1217 EW Hilversum, Netherlands, BIEM / SDRM. LC00407.
TomWaits.com - umgcatalog.com
00602448894885.

Made in Czech Republic sticker on the back of the shrinkwrap.

Artist: Tom Waits

Format: 1LP

Genre: Blues

Label: Island Records

Catalog Number: 00602448894885

Release Year: 2023

Country: Import

Condition: Sealed (New)