Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers

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.

Not particularly exciting. Definitely listenable, but pretty forgettable rock that doesn't feel like it pushes the boundaries of what I'm now used to.

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

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

One of the most unhateable figures of classic rock and I love him. The only good thing to come out of Gainesville FL

Tom Petty is a legend. His songs are either outstanding, or pretty crappy.

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

Pretty good, little blah through the middle. Like Breakdown.

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.

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.

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.

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.

I am very familiar with Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, as well as Tom's solo stuff. This is his only album included on this list. That's crazy, Full Moon Fever is his best album. Free Fallin', I Won't Back Down, Yer So Bad, Love Is a Long Road, Runnin' Down a Dream, The Apartment Song, Zombie Zoo..... That album is a fuckin hit machine. I don't understand this generator sometimes. Utter trash like Pere Ubu or The Jesus and Mary Chain get a couple albums, but someone as huge and influential as Tom Petty only gets one, and one of his weaker albums at that. Don't get me wrong, this album is fantastic (Breakdown, and American Girl are huge hits), but it just goes to show how hard this generator is skewed to obscure British garbage. Favourite songs: American Girl, Breakdown, Strangered In The Night, Hometown Blues, Anything That's Rock 'n' Roll Least favourite songs: Rockin' Around (With You) 5/5

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.

Hahaha he looks like such a dickhead. If it was a snooker player, it'd be Paul Hunter (RIP).

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.

Not terrible, I just don’t think I’m ever gonna be a Tom Petty fan. 4/10

Not really my cup of tea

Breakdown and American Girl on your first record, eh Tom? Not too shabby. The silence and space between the notes in Breakdown are striking. A lot of bands are afraid of the silence and Tom and the HBs use it to their advantage. Everything on this record sounds great. Most of the songs could have been hits and nothing is a "skip." Tom Petty is one of the best and this is such a great debut. The instruments all sound great. His voice is so unique and expertly produced. I really can't say enough. Oh, the Heartbreakers logo with the Flying V is also great. RIP Tom.

Sensational 70’s guitar rock. 5 stars

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.

My awareness of Tom Petty is mostly from the most popular answer to the cruel question “who was the ugliest Traveling Wilbury?” Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers’ mission statement could well have been that evinced by Adhewood’s Nice Pete: “It will just be good music, played well by men.” The choruses, apart from “American Girl”, are polite and colloquial rather than compulsive and rapturous - and this is not a criticism. I can’t explain why “Anything That’s Rock ‘n’ Roll” made me weep a little as I drove across Burrard St Bridge in the rain tonight, but it did. This is music made for bars, American bars, played well by men, American men. Unisex in appeal, possibly sexless. Sometimes comfort is the most one is ready to accept from art. Nice Pete is a serial killer, I must add.

I’ve heard these songs 100 times but they are still fun. I love the riff in breakdown, and of course American Girl is a classic. Short but sweet at 30 minutes. 7/10

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.

Saw the Heartbreakers at Leeds University - touring this album. Fan ever since.

Tom finding his own voice. Great heartland album, closer to Springsteen than what Tom was to later become. Great rock album.

I’m not disappointed, but I expected more.

American Girl

best album of all time in the category of length. breakdown, american girl

It's fine, but it's not Damn the Torpedoes.

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.

Some real basic shit on here. You know where to go if you want some Tom Petty and it ain't this.

First track very Byrdsy, decent, not what I expected. 2nd track onwards, very bar-room Americana, exactly what I expected. Not my thing.

2 good songs. The rest..... not great.

Good stuff. 'Anything that's rock and roll' has been in my top five since 1978, and shows no sign of slipping. 'American girl' is up there too. Never played the whole album before, and it's all pretty good - it probably only deserves 4 stars, but the rest of this list has been so poor, it's easily 5 stars by comparison.

This album is fucking great! Half an hour of really fun rock. There are no duds here, it's all killer, no filler. 'Rockin' Around (With You)' is a catchy upbeat opener. Before slowing things down a bit with 'Breakdown' with an equally catchy chorus. 'Hometown Blues' turns things a bit more country. It's a real toe tapper. A great opening three. 'The Wild One, Forver' is an almost ballad. 'Fooled Again (I Don't Like It)' shows off Tom Petty's harsher vocals. The whole album just oozes classic rock. The reason I started this list was to be able to have more music to listen to and this album is definitely going to be listened to a lot from me.

Brutal

Fab

Tp does it like no other and a lot of good ones on here.

classic rock! a lot of songs I’ve heard before so I can now put a name to the songs. very nostalgic

Can’t believe I’ve never heard this.

The only album of his?!!!!

Great

Perfect!

As he will forever be remembered as a Classic-Dad-Rock god, Tom Petty doesn't get enough credit for being a fresh sound in his early years. Incorporating some New Wave flourishes to the tried-and-true Southern Blues Rock formula, Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers were ahead of the curve on a sound that wouldn't fully bloom until the 1980's. He delivered the cheeky sneer of Punk Rock from the North to the swamps of Florida. Add a some New-Wavey hand claps, Poppy vocal accents from the band, and shimmering, heavily chorused guitar licks, and there ya go.

Tom Petty is one of those artists whose music has stood the test of time and aged incredibly well. Rooted deeply in rock traditions, he’s hands down the best artist within the heartland rock genre. His music is evenly balanced and fits perfectly with just about any mood and any time.

Had the distinct pleasure of seeing Tom Petty live at the original Pemberton Music Festival in 2008 and he was absolutely phenomenal. This album is such a raw, beautiful example of one of the greatest songwriters of all time balanced beautifully by the heartbreakers backing him up. Can't like this one enough.

Just bangers. Straight kooky bangers. Early TP is inspiring.

Obviously one of the greatest albums of all time.

Excellent! Has left me wondering why I've never listened to Tom Petty before!

Amazing band, album, and songs!

banger after banger

Pleasantly surprised. Only knew one song. This would be great record if you are chilling outside by a fireplace. Good album.

Love Tom Petty. Just a great talent and a group that I have come to really like. Sad that he passed away. 5 stars because it's a great album.

Un excelente álbum de rock de los '70s. Sumamente pegajoso, Petty toma las tradiciones más clásicas de la producción de los 60s que dejaron como legado The Beatles, sumado por un claro aprecio y cariño por las tradiciones americanas de composición. Podría llegar hasta considerarse como un disco de "Power Pop". Lo escucharía de nuevo.

Legendary

The beginning of some fantastic albums.

So damn good. 5 stars.

A pretty impressive outing for the group! I only knew 2 songs going in, but the whole album rocked! Great guitars and a positive vibe. Definitely will stay in my collection. A solid 5

How is this his debut?!?! Oh man so many good songs, it’s no wonder they’re legends! Listen again: yes Purchase for my collection: I think I have it on vinyl already Favourite Song: Breakdown. Still one of my all time faves.

Classic

Day63 - thank you tom petty for leaving us with such great albums

Great album!!

A short, economical album of blistering rock. What a debut album! Solid hooks and dynamic performances! It is all here. The only complaint I have about this album is that classics like "Breakdown" at only 2:42 are far too short. I could have used one more verse and chorus for all of the classics.

I love Tom Petty and I love his debut. What an introduction to one of America’s premier rock artists.

Opener sounds like a demo for “America Girl”. 2nd tack is breakdown. What a groove. Home town blues is a great track. This is a fatatstic album.

Love this album, classic rock at its best

I knew I'd love this one. Fave Songs "Breakdown", "American Girl", and "Hometown Blues" 5/5

I mean, duh

me gusta mucho

Forgot how much I love Tom Petty! This was great.

Finally some good old rock and roll on this list. Great riffs, catchy tunes, and the unique sound of Tom Petty. Waiting for gems like this to pop up is what keeps me going on this list.

Fantastic- one of the best of all times

Bas feel good

Amazing how this record encapsulated who Tom Petty and his band were. And American Girl is one of the best songs ever written.

American girl wins the 5!

Good old school rock and roll

Great album. Highlights are "Breakdown" and "American Girl".

5/5 for Breakdown and American Girl alone.

I always knew I liked Tom Petty, but had never sat down to listen to a full album. This whole thing was great, start to finish.

Great

I can see why this is a classic. It's engaging, catchy, and what you think a 1970's rock album should be.

Felt like a solid 4 for most of the album, but American Girl pops up as a late banger to take all 5

ace

#PettyForever

I don't think I've ever listened to a Tom Petty album, but I'm glad I did now. I'm really only familiar with his biggest hits, but there are so many other great tunes that don't get the same airplay. 🔥

Good

Mega!!!!!!

Wonderful debut. American girl still an all time favorite.

had no idea this was such a fine album. 1976?!?

Grew up on tom petty

Great

love it. didn’t know this was 1976!

9/10

Tom and the boys debut finds them in perfect stones meets byrds meets rockabilly form. I especially love the spacious organ driven Luna.

Diverse tunes and arrangements, you can tell that they were still sharpening the Tom Petty sound and vibe at this time. That being said the song are well executed, well recorded and make for an enjoyable listen.

Tom Petty debut “new wave” album. You can really hear his R&B roots here on tracks like “Luna” & “Fooled Again”, but the classics “American Girl” and “Breakdown” are also present. The rest is sweet icing on this delicious cake.

Solid 5 stars. All songs are great!

Always a 5.