"Nighthawks at the Diner" is the third studio album by Tom Waits, released on October 21, 1975, on Asylum Records. It was recorded over four sessions in July at the Los Angeles Record Plant studio in front of a small invited audience, aiming to recreate the atmosphere of a jazz club. The album peaked at 164 on the Billboard 200, marking Waits' highest position at the time, and was certified silver by the BPI in 2010. It received critical acclaim for its effective mood-setting and portrayal of the jazz-club vibe.
The title was inspired by Edward Hopper's 1942 painting Nighthawks. Initially, the album was titled "Nighthawk Postcards from Easy Street," but it was shortened to Nighthawks at the Diner, which is also the opening line of "Eggs and Sausage (In a Cadillac with Susan Michelson)." The cover, designed by Cal Schenkel, reflects the painting's mood.
Recording took place at Record Plant Los Angeles on July 30 and 31, 1975. Waits begins the album by referring to the venue as Raphael's Silver Cloud Lounge. Bones Howe, who organized the recording, explained that they wanted to capture a live feel for the album. They considered various clubs but ultimately chose the Record Plant, where they could set up tables and chairs for an audience.
Howe recruited a jazz ensemble for the sessions, including Michael Melvoin on piano, Jim Hughart on bass, Bill Goodwin on drums, and Pete Christlieb on saxophone, aiming to highlight Waits' jazz influences. The audience was invited by Herb Cohen, and the setting included a bar and snacks. On the opening night, a stripper named Dewana performed before Waits took the stage.
Jim Hughart recalled the experience of preparing for the recording, noting the need to memorize the songs since Waits did not provide sheet music. Despite the rehearsal's drudgery, the actual recording was exhilarating. While some tracks deviated from traditional jazz, the album was embraced as a jazz record, largely due to the caliber of the musicians involved. During "Nighthawk Postcards (From Easy Street)," Waits even ad-libs lines from Frank Sinatra's "That's Life."
