Heartattack and Vine
Heartattack and Vine is a 1980 album by Tom Waits, his seventh album since his debut Closing Time in 1973, and his final album to be released on the Asylum label.
| Heartattack and Vine | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | September 9, 1980[1] | |||
| Recorded | June 16-July 15, 1980 | |||
| Studio | Filmways/Heider Studio B, Hollywood, California | |||
| Length | 43:42 | |||
| Label | Asylum | |||
| Producer | Bones Howe | |||
| Tom Waits chronology | ||||
| ||||
"On the Nickel" was recorded for the Ralph Waite film of the same name. "Heartattack and Vine" was covered by Screamin' Jay Hawkins. In 1993 this version was used without Waits' permission in a Levi's commercial, for which Waits took legal action and won a settlement.[2] Jean-Luc Godard used "Ruby's Arms" in his 1983 film First Name: Carmen.
Reception
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |   |
| Mojo | |
| Pitchfork | 8.5/10[4] |
| Rolling Stone | |
| The Rolling Stone Album Guide | |
Though critical of the album in many respects, including Waits' vocal delivery and the "morbid pathos" of the ballads, Rolling Stone wrote that "Tom Waits finds more beauty in the gutter than most people would find in the Garden of Eden," and referred to him as a "unique and lovable minor talent."[5]
Bruce Springsteen has performed "Jersey Girl" as part of his live shows since the early 1980s, including it in his live retrospective "Live/1975–85". For the only time to date, Waits joined him onstage to sing it on August 24, 1981.[7][8]
Track listing
All songs written by Tom Waits.
Side One
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Heartattack and Vine" | 4:50 |
| 2. | "In Shades" (Instrumental) | 4:25 |
| 3. | "Saving All My Love for You" | 3:41 |
| 4. | "Downtown" | 4:45 |
| 5. | "Jersey Girl" | 5:11 |
Side Two
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "'Til the Money Runs Out" | 4:25 |
| 2. | "On the Nickel" | 6:19 |
| 3. | "Mr. Siegal" | 5:14 |
| 4. | "Ruby's Arms" | 5:34 |
Personnel
- Bob Alcivar – string arrangement, orchestral arrangement, conductor
- Ronnie Barron – Hammond organ, piano
- Roland Bautista – electric guitar, twelve-string guitar
- Greg Cohen – bass
- Victor Feldman – percussion, chimes, glockenspiel
- Jim Hughart – bass
- Plas Johnson – tenor saxophone, baritone saxophone
- Michael Lang – piano
- Larry Taylor – bass
- "Big John" Thomassie – drums
- Tom Waits – vocals, electric guitar, piano
- Jerry Yester – orchestral arrangement, conductor
Chart information
- This album was Tom Waits' first album to crack the Australian Top 40, reaching 30.
- Heartattack and Vine was Waits' best-selling album in the US until Mule Variations, spending three months on the Billboard Hot 200 and peaking at #96.[9]
References
- "Releases". ANTI-. Retrieved March 6, 2018.
- "Tom Waits's Levis Copyright case". Tom Waits Library. Archived from the original on 16 November 2007. Retrieved 23 November 2007.
- Ruhlmann, William. "Tom Waits – Heartattack and Vine". Allmusic. Retrieved November 12, 2013.
- M. Deusner, Stephen (March 24, 2018). "Tom Waits: Heartattack and Vine". Pitchfork. Retrieved March 24, 2018.
- Holden, Stephen (February 5, 1981). "Tom Waits – Heartattack And Vine". Rolling Stone. Retrieved November 12, 2013.
- "Tom Waits: Album Guide". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on September 19, 2011.
- "Bruce Springsteen- August 24, 1981 Setlist". setlist.fm. Retrieved 7 December 2019.
- JensdePens (2011). "Tom and Bruce - Jersey Girl - Full Version - 1981". YouTube. Retrieved 7 December 2019.
- Whitburn, Joel; Joel Whitburn’s top pop albums, 1955–1996; published c. 1996 by Record Research Inc. Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin, ISBN 0-89820-117-9
External links
- Heartattack and Vine (Adobe Flash) at Spotify (streamed copy where licensed)