Heartattack and Vine is Tom Waits' seventh and final album for Asylum. As such, it's transitional. As demonstrated by its immediate predecessors, 1978's excellent Blue Valentine and 1977's Foreign Affairs, he was already messing with off-kilter rhythms even in the most conventionally structured blues and jazz songs, with nastier-sounding guitars -- he plays a particularly gnarly style of rhythm on this entire album. Five of these nine tracks are rooted in gutbucket blues with rock edges and primal R&B beats. By this time, ...
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Heartattack and Vine is Tom Waits' seventh and final album for Asylum. As such, it's transitional. As demonstrated by its immediate predecessors, 1978's excellent Blue Valentine and 1977's Foreign Affairs, he was already messing with off-kilter rhythms even in the most conventionally structured blues and jazz songs, with nastier-sounding guitars -- he plays a particularly gnarly style of rhythm on this entire album. Five of these nine tracks are rooted in gutbucket blues with rock edges and primal R&B beats. 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. Check the opening title track with its razored electric guitars (Roland Bautista guested on lead over several cuts), Greg Cohen's walking upright bass and natural sound, 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. Ronnie Barron's Hammond B-3 figures prominently on the low, slow blues instrumental "In Shades," which sets up the first of a series of memorable ballads. "Saving All My Love for You" could have appeared on Foreign Affairs, as Waits' piano and a string chart by Jerry Yester frame a scenic, confessional, broken love song. "Downtown" adds funk to the blues, with Barron's organ in direct confrontation with distorted electric guitars and Waits' declarative guttural snarl. It sets up "Jersey Girl," a dramatic ballad that overlaps with the sound world of Bruce Springsteen so much -- complete with glockenspiel -- that the Boss covered it, released it as a live B-side, and made it a part of his live sets for decades. But there's a difference too: Waits also pays direct, unmasked homage to the Drifters in its dynamic chorus structure and lush use of strings. "On the Nickel" is another of Waits' more arresting ballads evoking an earlier and grittier era in American life and culture. It was used as the title track of Ralph Waite's film of the same name -- Waits scored the entire film. With its swaggering stride piano and guitar and NOLA-inspired R&B, "Mr. Siegal" is a gangster's boast that rivals the hip poetry of Lord Buckley. The near baroque woodwind and reed chart that introduces album finale "Ruby's Arms" marks one of Waits' most beautiful and unusual ballads. Yester's use of strings as a frame for his singing is sparse and roomy, allowing the songwriter's piano to accompany his achingly sad vocal with all the poignancy, regret, and resolve that only the romantically bereft can muster. In sum, 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 gets old -- almost every song stands on its own as a dusty gem. ~ Thom Jurek, Rovi
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Add this copy of Heartattack & Vine to cart. $2.69, fair condition, Sold by Seattle Goodwill rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Seattle, WA, UNITED STATES, published 1990 by Asylum.
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Seller's Description:
Fair. All our items include the original disc(s) in the original case. Your purchase funds free job training and education in the greater Seattle area. Thank you for supporting Goodwill's nonprofit mission!
Add this copy of Heart Attack & Vine to cart. $3.28, good condition, Sold by Bookmans rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Tucson, AZ, UNITED STATES, published 1990 by Elektra / Wea.
Add this copy of Heartattack & Vine to cart. $3.29, good condition, Sold by GoodwillVSB rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Oxnard, CA, UNITED STATES, published 1990 by Asylum.
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This is a USED ITEM. The CD is in nice condition but may have minor SCUFFS and or SCRATCHES on the DISC and PACKAGING. MAY NOT INCLUDE the CD insert booklet. Thank you for supporting Goodwill Industries of Ventura and Santa Barbara County in our mission to enhance the dignity and quality of life of individuals and families through education, skills training, and the power of employment. OUR MEDIA HAS NOT BEEN TESTED. WE CLEAN OUR DISK FOR MINOR SCRACTHES.
Add this copy of Heartattack & Vine to cart. $3.31, fair condition, Sold by Goodwill of Colorado rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from COLORADO SPRINGS, CO, UNITED STATES, published 1990 by Asylum.
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Fair. All our items come in the original case with artwork, though manuals and slipcovers are not always guaranteed to be included as these items are donated goods and will show some wear and tear from normal use. Jewel cases will be included but may be damaged and/or cracked. We typically resurface discs that are visibly scratched prior to shipping, but we do not test disc(s). Digital codes may not be included and have not been tested to be redeemable and/or active. Thank you for shopping with Goodwill Colorado! Orders shipped Monday through Friday. Safe and Secure Bubble Mailer! Your purchase helps put people to work and learn life skills to reach their full potential. Thank you!
Add this copy of Heartattack & Vine to cart. $6.84, like new condition, Sold by Streetlight_Records rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Santa Cruz, CA, UNITED STATES, published 1989 by Imports.
Add this copy of Heartattack & Vine to cart. $11.35, very good condition, Sold by Lake Country Books rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Excelsior, MN, UNITED STATES, published 1989 by Imports.
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Very Good. Inserts look very good; may have minor handling bends. Jewel case is NEW. CD has light surface wear; plays perfectly. Ships in cardboard CD mailer with complimentary Delivery Confirmation. Books, box sets, and items other than standard jewel case CDs and DVDs that sell for $9 or more ship in a box; under $9 in a bubble mailer. Expedited and international orders may ship in a flat rate envelope rather than a box due to cost constraints. All US-addressed items ship with complimentary delivery confirmation.
Add this copy of Heartattack & Vine to cart. $13.95, like new condition, Sold by First Coast Books rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Eatonton, GA, UNITED STATES, published 1989 by Imports.
Add this copy of Heartattack and Vine to cart. $21.58, new condition, Sold by newtownvideo rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from huntingdon valley, PA, UNITED STATES, published 2018 by Anti/Epitaph.
Add this copy of Heartattack and Vine to cart. $27.17, new condition, Sold by Revaluation Books rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Exeter, DEVON, UNITED KINGDOM, published 1990 by ELEKTRA: 295-2.
Add this copy of Heartattack and Vine to cart. $58.26, new condition, Sold by Entertainment by Post - UK rated 3.0 out of 5 stars, ships from BRISTOL, SOUTH GLOS, UNITED KINGDOM, published 2018 by Anti-.
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