Heartattack and Vine was Tom Waits' last album on the Asylum label, released in September 1980.
Bruce Springsteen has performed "Jersey Girl" as part of his live shows since the early 1980s, including it in his live retrospective "Live/1975–85". For the only time to date, Waits joined him onstage to sing it on August 24, 1981.
"On the Nickel" was recorded for the Ralph Waite film of the same name. "Heartattack and Vine" was covered by Screamin' Jay Hawkins. In 1993 this version was used without Waits' permission in a Levi's commercial, for which Waits took legal action and won a settlement. Jean-Luc Godard used "Ruby's Arms" in his 1983 film First Name: Carmen. More: en.wikipedia.org.