Tom Waits

Heartattack and Vine

First released1980

Heartattack and Vine was recorded in 1978 at the Record Plant in Los Angeles under the production of Bones Howe, who had previously worked with Waits on his earlier albums. The album marked a shift in Waits' sound toward a more rhythm-and-blues influenced style, with prominent use of piano and horn arrangements that reflected his growing interest in jazz and blues traditions. Waits recorded with a live band approach, emphasizing raw, stripped-down performances that captured the gritty atmosphere of late-night urban life, the thematic core of the album. The production choices, including minimal overdubbing and emphasis on first-take performances, contributed to the album's authentic and immediate sound quality. Released in September 1980, the album represented a creative turning point in Waits' career as he moved away from his earlier quirky, novelty-oriented style toward more sophisticated artistic expression.