Tom Waits – Heartattack And Vine (Vinyl)

'Heartattack and Vine', originally released in 1980, is Tom Waits' seventh and final album for Asylum and, as such, it's a transitional record. As demonstrated by its immediate predecessors, 1978's excellent 'Blue Valentine', he was already messing with off-kilter rhythms even in the most conventionally structured blues and jazz songs, with nastier-sounding guitars, and he plays a particularly gnarly style of rhythm on this entire album.

By this time, his singing voice had deteriorated to a gasping-for-breath whiskey-and-cigarettes growl that could make words indecipherable from one another, but his jazzman-inspired phrasing more than compensated. For example, check the opening title track with its razored electric guitars, Greg Cohen's walking upright bass, Victor Feldman's percussion shuffle, and Plas Johnson's tenor sax that makes Waits' vocal grimace and growl even more menacing. The tune details substance abuse, denizens of life's dark side, and a view of God and the Devil as sober and drunk sides of the same person.

'Heartattack and Vine' reveals just how much Waits had grown during his tenure with Asylum. Though not perfect in sequencing - the alternating juxtaposition of rowdy blues and heartworn ballads can become tedious - almost every song stands on its own as a dusty gem. (AMG)

This is the 2020 Remastered Reissue.

Tracklist:
Heartattack And Vine 4:42
In Shades 4:04
Saving All My Love For You 3:39
Downtown 4:43
Jersey Girl 5:09
'Til The Money Runs Out 4:20
On The Nickel 6:17
Mr. Siegal 5:13
Ruby's Arms 5:35