Remastered and reissued on Anti. Released in 1980, Heartattack and Vine was Waits’ final album on Elektra / Asylum Records and it built on the raw blues approach of Blue Valentine with the incendiary title track, the funky, organ driven Downtown and the stomping Nola blues of Mr. Siegal. This album also contains some of Waits most popular ballads, including Jersey Girlwhich was famously a hit for Bruce Springsteen. On the Nickle is a moving song about the homeless people who lived on 5th street in downtown LA, and Ruby’s Arms is a beautiful song with a lovely Bach-like melody.
