Waits No 7: A Mexican brothel, a girl from Jersey and Ruby's room at dawn

1980, after two-year break, gets "Blue Valentine," the gruff big sister in 1978, donated a small aufgeweckten brother with a melancholy heart: "Heart Attack and Vine". Toms seventh disc, the last one that he will import for Asylum Records, is perhaps his most relaxed and most casual at all. Smoove to get out there.

Again he presents the already known from the previous rock Blues, which is yet to become a guitar driven track. Elated The very first sound in the eponymous ahead stumbling opener belongs Toms electric guitar. And with the chorus line: "Do not you know, there is no devil - its only good than he's drunk" can be found here one of his first typical witticisms.
This time there are again more balladesque. "Saving All My Love For You" in which Tom again returns to the piano, in this context is therefore noteworthy because here play an important role in the percussion first bell. And the following, rocking "Downtown" know in many ways ahead of the sound of "Swordfishtrombones". "Jersey Girl" as No 5 is then possibly schnulzigste Waits-tearjerker ever, he would sing German, she went through as a full hit. You can even dance one-two-Tip to. On bass we find here for the first time Greg Cohen, who will be a faithful companion for the next few years. "On the Nickel" is a touching tribute to his ballads of the 1970s, "Mr. Siegal" the particularly nasty guessed Portrait of a real villains.

Remains as No 9 "Ruby's Arms" at the end. A more than symbolic song. In it, a man secretly takes leave of his sleeping lover. He steals it, they should not be monitored. It is a farewell forever. A sad song. Tom sits one last time at the piano, his voice is soft as not long, a whole violin orchestra sobbing so. Here not only a love affair comes to an end. The final song of the plate of good old piano Tom finally says goodbye. One last time, the sky over one of his songs is full of violins. Something comes to an end, an arc closes. Outside draws on the morning. The freight train that Tom wants to catch, howling. He will take us to new exciting song shores. The beginnings have already indicated on this plate. There is no turning back.

In front on the cover under his photo, we read: "Shortly before dawn Sunday this South Central Los Angeles is what seen leaving the corner of Western and 110th St. in burnt sienna Chrysler Imperial and heading in the direction of the San Bernardino Mts."

Fast Lane, Tom! The 80 are waiting.

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This is the seventh part of my approach to the test Waits's canon. To predecessor please click here: "Blue Valentine". It continues with "One from the Heart".