Bukowksi's poems are wonderful and tough, and perfect for a reading by Waits; Pasties and G-String on Small Change has a dirty Bukowski feel.

Waits used several Partch instruments from Swordfishtrombones onwards, most notably the Bass Marimba. Partch was an ex-tramp who made his own instruments, classical music and toning scales.

A classic album that continues to blow people's minds and freak them out.

A classic horror film, sympathetic to the freaks, and still powerful over 70 years later.

More visual backdrops for journeying through any period of Tom Waits albums.

With Gary Busey, Jodie Foster and Robbie Robertson of The Band, surely this should be out on DVD somewhere? Evokes an American carnival atmosphere really well; a great cult film.

Waits was more inspired by Dylan than Elvis. It's amazing how drunk and weird Dylan can sound when you view him in this context.

Not an obvious choice, but these 1940s swing bands have more in common with Waits' music than first appears.

Dr. John was also immortalised in the Muppets as Dr. Teeth (Tom Waits was Rowlf). Dr. John's New Orleans voodoo music was a clear inspiration.

Awesome compliation of just about everything you need of this crazy, lively jazz outfit that played toilet seats and klaxons on stage.

Wonderful collection of old Irish music that you can pitcure Tom sitting down and listening to; Irish music and culture, as well as Australian have been constant influences in his music over the years

This is the kind of thing, along with beat poets, proverbs, folk saying and bad jokes that influences Tom Waits' work more than anything.