Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
1976
Album Summary
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers is the debut album by the band of the same name, released on November 9, 1976, by Shelter Records. The album was recorded and mixed at the Shelter Studio in Hollywood, California.
WikipediaNot particularly exciting. Definitely listenable, but pretty forgettable rock that doesn't feel like it pushes the boundaries of what I'm now used to.
I once met Tom Petty (without The Heartbreakers) in a greasey spoon just off Camden highstreet. He was tucking into a full English and unbeknown to him got a bit of egg was stuck on his face for about 35 mins. I smugly waited until I had finished my mug of coffee, stood up and announced to everyone in earshot that Tom Petty was an egg-faced sausage-lover and ran out. I watched from the window as he wiped the egg from his embarrassed red face and as he did I banged on the window and let out a fart so thunderous that the single glazed window shuddered. He looked on in horror. What a fuckin' loser Tom Petty was that day.
For a debut, it's not bad but there sure is a whole lot of Springsteen-esque garbage in here. Not enough to tank the album but enough to take the score down significantly. I'm really glad Petty and his boys figured out their own thing and got better from here. "Breakdown" and "American Girl" are both great tracks, though.
Sometimes a debut sounds like a debut. Full of promise with flashes of genius. Whilst there are quite a few tracks on here that are forgettable run of the mill rock n roll songs, the great tracks (Breakdown, Strangered in the Night, and American girl elevate this to well above average album. 4/5
Cet album V pour Vendetta ne m'a fait ni chaud ni froid. Je trouve neammoins très sympa l'annonce d'une nouvelle saison de la Ferme Célébrité en fin d'album.
Qui aurait cru que Mickaël Vendetta avait sorti des albums de rock avec les Heartbreakers ? Certainement pas moi. Et pourtant j'ai beaucoup apprécié, tout au long de l'album, les nombreux moments où David Charvet lui demande d'arrêter de l'importuner ainsi que ceux au cours desquels Francky Vincent tente de le canaliser sous l'œil attentif de Greg le Millionnaire.
Surprisingly average. The known songs are absolute classics but the remainder of the album is just filler. Would never put on to listen to full album. 3/5
One of the most unhateable figures of classic rock and I love him. The only good thing to come out of Gainesville FL
Steady from beginning to end, definitely loved the back half of the album with Mystery man and Luna being favorites.
Nearly perfect, and breakdown and American girl are huge. American girl is one of the best songs of all time. But the rest of the album hasn’t lasted in perpetuity in the same way.
Tom finding his own voice. Great heartland album, closer to Springsteen than what Tom was to later become. Great rock album.
It’s one of those LPs that just seems pure and uncomplicated. Really loved this record. (8/10) Favourite Tracks: Breakdown, Hometown Blues, American Girl
Saw the Heartbreakers at Leeds University - touring this album. Fan ever since.
OK so under no pretences, this is a very straightforward rock and roll album. Petty and his band aren't aiming to re-invent the wheel here, but try and escape the positive energy, the enjoyment and enthusiasm that seems to spill over from these songs. One of the records greatest strengths is its pacing- none of it outstays its welcome. The songs are incredibly lean, straight to the point and the whole thing is over in 30 minutes. Finishing with "American Girl" is a masterstroke, because it immediately redeems the record's most forgettable tracks ("Mystery Man", "Luna") which come directly before it. It meant that when the album ended, all it left in its wake was me still tapping along, humming that irresistible refrain, salivating over playing it again. Of course that's the highlight, but I also found a lot to love in the forward propulsion of "Rockin' Around (With You)", those harmonies in "Hometown Blues", and the chugging guitars and chorus melody in "Anything That's Rock n Roll." An immensely enjoyable, tight album.
Hahaha he looks like such a dickhead. If it was a snooker player, it'd be Paul Hunter (RIP).
I'm a fan of Tom Petty's brand of no-frills heartland rockers, but there aren't too many bangers on here, except for the grand daddy of all Petty bangers at the end. And maybe Breakdown.
Not terrible, I just don’t think I’m ever gonna be a Tom Petty fan. 4/10
On 'Fooled Again', Petty sounds like he's doing an impression of Keith Richards doing an impression of Mick Jagger. The rest of the album is similarly ersatz, or nostalgic, depending on how amenable you are to watered down r'n'r.
I ruddy love Tom Petty, he's wonderful. This is a fantastic album with some of his best.
I'm now listening to the debut album of Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers from the year 1976. All I can think is how much I miss Tom Petty and everything about him. I'm not sure I can ever get tired of listening to Tom Petty. The songs sound fresh and it's a joy to hear these legendary hit songs within the context of the album as a whole. Listening to his voice, it's unique and I'm wondering how in the world it should work. I don't know what I'm trying to say. Sometimes you can look at something on paper and wonder how it could possibly work in real life. If I was building a rock star out of clay, I feel like I would end up with something very far away from Tom Petty. It doesn't make any sense the more I think about it. But it's all here to start in the first album. I'm enjoying this immensely. As we all know Tom became a legend, and one of the greatest rock musicians ever, he looms large even though he has passed. It's very simple and awesome. I'm very fucking excited to hear American Girl in it's original context at the end of the album.
Love Tom petty and the heartbreakers! love american girl! and breakdown!
I was surprised by how much I liked this. Only knew a few of his songs before but I keep replaying this album.
I've got plenty of Tom Patty's songs in a playllist, but ive never ever listen to whole album
Ah. A classic. And I know it's basic to say American Girl is my favorite track, but it is. My only gripe is that the album is so short. Easily could have listened to Tom Petty for another half hour.
I enjoyed every single song on the album, but none of them are giving me strong emotions just yet. I don't think this will ever reach 5 territory, but it is so solid I can't give it anything below a 4.
This is an American classic from a man who is an American classic. What a debut album for Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers… What can I say. This is one of the great rock records of the 70s. Fantastic!
I never think of Tom Petty. I don't dislike him but I never feel the need to listen to a whole album. Seems I've been depriving myself. I knew the singles Breakdown and American Girl (the latter of which I love...except when I'm driving alone at night and it comes on the radio and I start to sing along and then I realize I've seen someone sing along to this song driving alone at night and I don't want to put the lotion in the basket and so I turn it off real quick) but I didn't know any of the others. From the first drum beat, I loved this great mix of songs. And at a scant 30 minutes, this album goes down super easy and is never boring.
I generally like Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, but I didn’t know that I would love this album. So good, track after track!!
When I was growing up I thought of Tom Petty as an old guy that got played on the classic rock stations with sleepy tunes like "Free Fallin" and "Mary Jane's Last Dance." But I'll be damned if these aren't bangers. My mind has been slowly changing about him over the years, and this album solidifies my fandom - I feel like I finally "get it." My favorite is probably "American Girl," that song is addicting.
I already know 5 and it's a damn shame this is his only entry on this list
Brilliant, hard to believe it was their first album - it sounds so focused and complete. Breakdown and American Girl are stand outs, but it is all great!
It does not get much better than this! A 5 star album any day of the week. I saw Tom and the Heartbreakers supporting Nils Lofgren when this album came out. Nils was great, but impossible to follow Tom!
Classic Tom - could not love more. He ranks in my top 10 (maybe 5) live performances.
If the only two songs of worth were American Girl and Breakdown, the debut from Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers would have been a classic. There is, however, so much more here. At the time this was released, Petty's brand of roots-oriented rock didn't really fit with most AOR or even Southern Rock stations. At least in the Metro NYC area, his music was heard on the emerging New Wave stations such as WNEW. As southern fried as he was, he appealed more to the punks and new wave crowd for his fresh sound.
I can easily see how Petty’s voice isn’t for everyone, but I personally love his simple, catchy music paired with his difficulty with pronouncing words
Tom Petty’s debut album! It’s a little all over the place, some songs aren’t my favorite, but some songs just hit me like a ton of bricks. I fuckin’ miss you Tom. Super short, never overstays its welcome.
I’m out of town and didn’t have a chance to listen to this, but am just going to assume it’s at least 4 stars because of the Silence of the Lambs connection.
i mean its TP, what's not to like. some filler in an already short album though
I'm too used to American Girl being the start of an album that it feels really weird to have it be the end of the this album.
8 out of 10 very chill would listen again minus 2 points cuz hes white
Had only casually listened to Petty before...whatever was top 40 playlist stuff. Really liked the Wildflowers album that came up... Will listen again
This is a pretty great listen with a lot of variety for the genre. There’s some great songs on here and while I don’t love all of them this is still a great album!
The songs that are quicker in beat are killer. Some of the slower songs just sound like a whiny skinny white guy.
Pretty enjoyable album, fun tunes even though it probably won't change my life
I liked this album . I already have four or five Tom Petty albums but never heard his first until today. 4 🌟
Not sure I ever listened to this cover to cover with decent headphones. Obviously, a lot of great material here but I'm loving the sounds and production too.