Heartattack and Vine is Tom Waits' seventh studio album, released in 1980. It was Waits' last album for Asylum Records and marks a turning point toward a rawer, more experimental sound. Critical reception was positive, with praise for its intensity and its portrayal of society's fringes.
The album's sound is grittier and more bluesy than his previous work, with distorted guitars and more aggressive production. Notable tracks include 'Jersey Girl', later covered by Bruce Springsteen, and the title track 'Heartattack and Vine', which captures urban desperation.
Heartattack and Vine is considered a precursor to the radical change Waits would undertake with Swordfishtrombones. Its legacy includes its influence on alternative rock and its visceral depiction of lowlife, cementing his reputation as a chronicler of the marginalized.