The Heart of Saturday Night is Tom Waits' second album, released in 1974. It was self-produced and recorded at two California studios. The album received critical acclaim for its nocturnal atmosphere and poetic lyrics.
The sound is more polished than his debut, with jazz, blues, and folk influences, and string arrangements by Bob Alcivar. Songs like 'San Diego Serenade', 'The Heart of Saturday Night', and 'Please Call Me, Baby' stand out for their evocative lyricism.
The album solidified Waits' reputation as a chronicler of nightlife and urban loneliness. It is considered one of his most accessible works and a classic of the 1970s.