TOM WAITS Receives Grammy Nomination for His Critically Hailed 3-CD Set 'ORPHANS: BRAWLERS, BAWLERS AND BASTARDS'

LOS ANGELES, CA--(Marketwire - December 10, 2007) - Two-time Grammy winner TOM WAITS has earned his seventh nomination for his critically acclaimed 3-CD set "ORPHANS: BRAWLERS, BAWLERS AND BASTARDS" in the Best Contemporary Folk/Americana Album category.

Upon its release "ORPHANS" received tall praise from a wide vista of media outlets across the board (and oceans). Highlights include Rolling Stone: "a definitive album," Mojo: "Masterpiece isn't the right word for such a profusion of profound delights" and The Boston Globe: "...some of the best and most vital work of Waits' long career." Waits also received accolades from The Los Angeles Times: "a fulfillment of the ideal Waits," Pitchfork.com: "...another layer of invulnerability to the already untouchable critical status of Tom Waits," Village Voice: "Tom Waits... remains our preeminent iconoclast," as well as CBS This Morning: "...in the first rank of American songwriters," just to cite a select few.

WAITS won his first Grammy in 1992 for Best Alternative Music Album for "Bone Machine" and another in 1999 for Best Contemporary Folk Album for "Mule Variations" -- his first CD on Anti- Records. "ORPHANS" marks his fifth release for the pioneering indie label.

In February, WAITS will start filming "The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus," a romantic fantasy adventure starring Christopher Plummer and Heath Ledger with renowned director Terry Gilliam ("Time Bandits," "Brazil," "Twelve Monkeys").

When asked if he might be touring in 2008, WAITS replied, "I keep hearing rumors..."