Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers

Decent album but feel like American Girl was really the highlight and the other songs all felt a bit flat/underwhelming. They also weren't quite up my street but weren't terrible.

This is so good. The list is providing. Breakdown is a top top top tier song. And yea yea American girl is amazing too. Luna is the only thing on here I don’t love. But god damn do I love breakdown. Breakdown might be a top 100 songs ever written for me.

American Girl is a forever bop. The rest is a good start. I'm not a huge Tom Petty guy and this record didn't change that.

I glimpse at the greatness to come. Tom Petty was an immense talent and song writer.

N/a

Amazing

I like Tom Petty a lot and think he's quite underrated. But this album only has two songs I really care to hear more than once. Every once in a while (Back in Black and Appetite for Destruction come to mind), two songs can carry an album, but it's uncommon, and this is not such a case. 3 stars

Better than I expected. Great instrument sound. Good song construction. Voice gets grating after a while.

I saw Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers in concert right after this album came out. I didn't know anything about him. I was underwhelmed by the music and walked out. I imagine he played this music that night. It's mostly average rock and roll with the hits standing out (American Girl is my favorite song by him). I love everything that came after this and still kick myself for walking out on him all those years ago. My youthful pretentiousness caused me to miss out on his burgeoning genius.

Decent album, but sometimes he puts on a weird voice.

I’ve always thought of Tom Petty as generic classic rock. Stuff the whole family can enjoy if the whole family has no real interest in music, just want the background noise. It’s not bad but it’s certainly forgettable only seconds after a song or the album is over

I always assumed Tom Petty was a Greatest Hits artist. If you’ve heard his bigger songs then you’ve got it. But this was pretty delightful from beginning to end. Not a bad song on the whole album

Debut album. Interesting with some perennial hits. Pitchfork: 7.0 Rolling Stone: n/a Best Songs Rockin' Around (With You) Breakdown American Girl

Yes yes yes, wonderful and great music, mega!!!

Oh heck yeah, love me some Petty! Brilliant rocker with a deep catalog. I would assume this is the first of 2 or 3 albums on this list. This one includes two of classic rock's all-time songs with "Breakdown" (150M listens!) and "American Girl" (426M listens!) along with excellent glue tracks like "Anything That's Rock & Roll", "Fooled Again (I Don't Like It)" & "Hometown Blues". Pretty solid album from top to bottom. Hard to deny his rock and pop sensibilities. He has stood the test of time, is constantly on the radio (along with 3 songs from this album) and has an undeniable influence influence on music. 4 stars.

tom pettys music is awesome. no notes

I simply cannot fathom why this is here. Sure there are some good songs and it's consistent, but it's nothing more than merely fine. It wasn't influential, it wasn't a critical darling, it wasn't a smash hit, it doesn't have much cultural significance. It also sounds out of time from what was going on... no edge like punk, no prog, less power than garage rock, less bombast than Zep. It feels like The Stones, but several years too late. So why is it here?

Overall, pretty average moderate rock. Liked Luna as it felt different to most other tracks which all have a similar tone. American Girl was one of the better songs here. Def not one of their strongest albums.

Good album. Tom was a great artist and we lost him too early.

Pretty good album, Tom Petty to me is not a super groundbreaking artist but it's good songwriting that meshes old school rock 'n' roll with Americana and pop. Quite enjoyable and American Girl is a classic rock staple, although I don't think it's quite consistent enough for 5*, there are few weaker tracks here

Big fan but this is an average album with a couple great songs

A short debut album, the self-titled ‘Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers’ album, is an ok start. (However, it does have the best Tom Petty song in “American Girl). Petty and his brethren deserve more. No ‘Wildflowers’? ‘Full Moon Rising’? ‘Damn the Torpedoes’? Damn this list for only having one, breezy Tom Petty album on here. Top tracks: “American Girl,” “Breakdown,” “Rockin’ Around (With You)”

3 for me but American Girl makes it a 4. Banger.

Final thoughts: This is Tom Petty's only album on the list? Really? ******************************************************************************* --Rockin' Around (With You)...not bad but it's as generic as the title --Breakdown...always liked the keyboards on this --Hometown Blues...shrug. very local bar band --The Wild One, Forever...not sure Tom has the voice for this --Anything That's Rock 'n' Roll...not escaping the dad rock allegations, guys. It does build nicely --Strangered in the Night...like the intro. doesn't light my hair on fire but it's groovy --Fooled Again (I Don't Like It)...I don't like it --Mystery Man...more bar band music --Luna...here's something a little different. I think I can hear Petty's future more on this one than earlier tracks --American Girl...we've all heard it. it's great

More like tom petty and the ear-breakers

Didn't listen to all. Seems nice

You can't ever go wrong with one of the best songsmiths ever.

A strong and confident debut that lays the groundwork for one of rock’s most consistent careers. While not quite a masterpiece, it’s packed with promise and unmistakable charm. Petty’s knack for melody and storytelling is already evident, and the Heartbreakers sound tight and hungry. “Breakdown” and “Fooled Again (I Don’t Like It)” are standout tracks, but it’s “American Girl” that steals the show — arguably one of the greatest album closers of all time. That chiming guitar riff and restless energy hint at the brilliance to come in later albums. It’s a shame this is the only Tom Petty album on the 1001 Albums list, as it only scratches the surface of what he would go on to achieve.

Was alright. Nothing stood out particularly for me.

Rating: 4.2/5 Short Review: Imagine Bruce Springsteen’s kid brother ran away to California and formed a bar band that accidentally changed your life. Favorite Track: “Breakdown” – it slinks, it stalks, and it sighs. Petty turns vulnerability into a weapon.

Not bad for a debut. Overall solid record, but nothing spectacular. American Girl is one of the best TP&TH song, hadn't realized it was the album closer until now.

Quite liked it, and good to finish on a high with American Girl

It wasn’t bad. Good middle of the road Rock And Roll.

I know this may be a bit petty, but this is his 4th or 5th best album. Full Moon Fever, Damn the Torpedos, Wildflowers - all better by quite a bit and not on the list. Lazy job by Dimery.

Like it 3/5

if i close my eyes this could be Elvis Costello. That is not somewhere i want to be

3.5 stars

It's okay but not really my kind of music 3

These songs don't really sound dated at all, which I guess speaks to their quality, and to Tom Petty's ability as a songwriter.

Breakdown sounds like a rip-off of Moondance by Van Morrison. Album is solid and polished, but derivative.

Classic heartland sound

This album left a lot to be desired, put bluntly. As a debut album, it holds up just fine. A bit on the short side, with a considerable few good songs. However, this album just didn't really deliver. At most points it just felt like background music, not to mention Petty has plenty of other great songs, songs better than those present on this album. For a band's first album, its fine, just not great, especially compared to some of Petty's other works. Overall, a 6/10.

i mean it’s fine, nothing bad really but like pretty forgettable

A lot of dross to wade through to get to American Girl

For a long time Tom Petty seemed like a classic rock figure relegated to radio, a greatest hits artist with massive hits. And to be fair, he’s a monster hit maker. But he and the Heartbreakers are also one hell of a band, taking swamp soul, straight up rock, blues, and honky tonk and masterfully blending them for a hell of a good time. This is a good fuckin’ rock album, and it has me seeing the light on how great Tom Petty was. Can’t wait to dive even deeper.

first listen classic vibes but nothing too standout

I don’t get the point of the first track but Breakdown is probably my favorite Tom Petty song. A friend once told me that it’s impossible for a Rock ‘N Roll fan to dislike this band. I don’t think I have ever listened to an entire Heartbreakers’ album but this is pretty good on the first listen. Also, I had no idea that American Girl was so early

Definitely a 76 album

Eh it was alright. An enjoyable listen nonetheless

Jangly, raw, energetic. A great southern rock sound. Rolling stonesesque with that loose, swaggering, bluesy tone (Mystery Man) or Status Quoesque (Anything Thats Rock N Roll). In fact I can hear a bunch of different bands here. In a good way not in a rip off way. Still maintains that original feel. I like it. Smooth, easy listening rock and roll. Favourite track - Breakdown. 7.5/10

Pretty basic bar-room american rock. Full Moon Fever would have been a better choice.

A good start to a great career

Banger, not that good for doing marine mapping projects tho

5/10 Vanilla rock. Wholly inoffensive, largely forgettable

As I grow older, I gain a greater appreciation for Tom Petty's music. Great stuff.

Rockin’ Around // Breakdown // American Girl // 3.5/5

B/c he resists being completely forgettable, somehow he manages to be energetically memorable. He isn't folksy like Bruce Springsteen, hard like the emergent punks, literary like Dylan or Neil Young, or virtuosic like his fellow Floridian Duane Allman. His invaluable feature is that he's steeped in the history of rock-n-roll rather than rock culture, ironically the reason why he's gotten so much airplay on classic rock stations, arenas responsible for the the outrage that is 'rock' music. The debut is a mere flash of a record, partly b/c it doesn't contain a track exceeding four mins, but partly - or is it mostly? - b/c it's a damn good listen. 'American Girl' is an American classic and even foments exceptionalism in this American negativist. A good one.

The sort of nice-guy rock n roll that reminds me of long drives with my parents in America as a kid. Knew a few tracks from the best of, but don't think there'd be many occasions I'd put this on otherwise- unless I had to drive across Arizona. Like his voice though, and the Hammond organ, and have this idea he's a "nice guy" but this might be because he was also in Travelling Wilburys. And American Girl is a banger Alternative recommendation: Ezra Furman - Day of the Dog.

It started and then it ended. But no, it was pretty generic, middle of the road 70s rock. Nothing offensive, just very much radio music. I would tell Tom Petty to enunciate, but then again some of my favourite singers also don't do that, so you get away with one "Tom". I wouldn't listen to it again, but I also wouldn't hate if it was on somewhere.

Really quite pleasantly surprised by this. Never consciously listened to Petty before. It's a really nice textbook rock n roll album. Not sure what it is about it. Just put me in a nice mood. I also like the production. It feels like lively live music. I probably won't go back to this much, but I would be delighted to find some of these songs on a jukebox in a bar and have a bop to them.

Very much what I think of when I think of dad rock. Only 30 mins but I got pretty bored. American Girl at the end sort of brought it back. Quite catchy and the sort of thing I could (and probably have) enjoy dancing to at Dad Rock at the Hope and Ruin. Over all though, this just entrenched me in my feelings on Tom Petty.

Half asleep in the back of the car while we're on our way back from a family day out" vibes, which is chill 🙂‍↕️ Adequate dad-rock. Wouldn't turn it off, but wouldn't be itching to put it on again.

I quite liked this. It was pretty fun. Not the most interesting, a lot of the songs sounded quite samey. I liked the first few tracks but it got a little dull as the album went on.

Not quite for me — I have an inherited allergy to the '70s rock sound unless Alex Chilton is involved — but I'm not wincing through my listen, either. Like many debut albums, there's an air of trying too hard, but when Tom lets loose the expectation reins, he does offer a good bit of earwormage. "Breakdown" is the one here that I wouldn't mind in a playlist of sorts, and, sure, "American Girl" is undeniable.

A little default music, but pretty solid. Nothing stand out for me, but I enjoyed it

Very middle of the road, mediocre, inoffensive rock n roll from a bygone era.

If you looked up the definition of “average” in the dictionary, you would find a picture of The Heartbreakers’ debut album in there. That’s not meant to be disparaging. This is actually a good old all-American 70s rock album, rooted in Blues and Americana, that is quite engaging. There are a couple of standout tracks ('American Girl', 'Breakdown') and a couple of sketchy ones ('Fooled Again (I Don’t Like It)', 'Luna'), but overall, it’s a nice little listen.

70s rock. Debut. Decent but nothing special.

I was surprised at how much I enjoyed this album. Some classics on this one.

I'll be honest: It's a debut album. It's not a revelatory debut album, but it's a promising one. When it's good, it's great ("Breakdown" will always be one for the ages), but when it's undercooked, it plods along like so many other debut albums before it (if I were in the band writing "Fooled Again," I really would have argued for a chord change literally anywhere). It's probably more of a crucial album for its prescience of greatness than for the acceptable amount of greatness within it.

There's a lot of cool stuff here. The organ sound is great, and the harmonies are so unique and beautiful. However, I find myself wishing some of the songs were tighter or even broken into smaller songs. Of course, that wouldn't be Yes, then, would it? Standout Track(s): Yours is No Disgrace, I've Seen All Good People

More Like Tom Petty and the Earbreakers Note: I have no clue how culpable The Heartbreakers were in making this album, so I have left them out to protect their pride and sanity. The title is just a joke. This mid ass album doesn't even deserve that nomenclature. This is my first album out of the 1001, chosen randomly, and it tells me that this list is at least partially picked by a boomer. Because only nostalgia glasses could make someone put this mid album on a "1001 best albums ever" list. Then again, this wasn't even in the top 1000 albums released in 1976, so said boomer had pretty shit taste to begin with. For reference, I'm smack dab in the middle of millennial. The songs that did make it on my Liked Songs list (and gave this album any points at all), I suspect is because I've heard them thousands of times in the 90s on staticy radio stations. It was pretty surreal hearing them in HD after only hearing them in the lowest possible quality. The best thing about this album is that it is mercifully short. Tom manages to shove 10 songs into a 30 minute runtime. I don't know if my brain is just broken by being used to longer songs, but hearing a song be done after two and a half minutes is bizarre. I think I would be more upset if the songs were actually good. I feel like if this were released today, it would be openly mocked. The basic music with Tom Petty whining in his weird voice over it sounds more like parody than earnest music. I feel like Tom Petty & Co are at their best when they aren't trying so hard. In the end, I believe this was before they really found their sound, which makes sense: it was their first album. It sounds like an amalgamation of all of the popular rock released at the time, which doesn't make it particularly memorable. Also, there's a song that's pretty racist. It's 1976, Tom Petty. Do better. Scoring out of 20, the album got two points: I added Breakdown and Luna to my Liked Songs. I wanted to give them an extra point for reminding me that their best song, Mary Jane's Dance, existed. Unfortunately, that song was not on this album, so it doesn't count. 1/5

Good Rock N Roll album, Production is good, Songs selection is good, some songs sound too similar, songs an be too short. Overall a good album.

It sounds like debut album of a young American dude who liked Rolling Stones, Bowie, and Bob Dylan. I know Petty was capable of much more so this feels like a very odd inclusion on this list. Every song is short and slightly underdeveloped. Very mediocre and forgettable. Huh. I really expected much more from this.

Tom Petty once said he liked "... the particular noise the Heartbreakers make." Me too, Tom, me too.

Solid. Couple new ones I didn’t know before

Hometown blues, the wild one and American girl are enough to give this album 4 stars

Does what he does. Sounds how he sounds.

Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers

2/5. I think this album wouldn't be as remembered if Petty didn't continue down his musical career. American Girl would have been a one hit wonder and that would be that. I can respect the young blood energy and he doesn't act gross lyrically like a lot of rock groups around this time, talking about young girls, so bonus points. But the songs are not great overall, and I wouldn't listen to most of these, just skipping to the end. It's an okay album but don't think it deserves the praise it does. Best Song: American Girl, Fooled Again (I Don't Like It), Breakdown

Well I guess I am finally diving back into Tom Petty thanks to the 1001 albums to hear before I die challenge. I feel I should preface that Tom Petty is by no means a great or even good singer, but man does this guy have some killer lyrics up his sleeve that really help make up for his lack of singing ability. I feel that aspect actually makes Tom Petty a much more relatable rockstar of sorts as he is kind of like the average joe with a sharp as a knife pen game. The songs here aren't ever meant to be anything super extraordinary or grand, they are simply some nice and laid back Rock songs to pass the time. I can totally understand why some people wouldn't dig this album, but they are honestly missing out on a pretty solid Rock album. Some of my favorite tracks are Breakdown, Mystery Man, and of course American Girl. If you don't want something that is straightforward and to the point I would suggest listening to something else, but I can happily say that is sometimes exactly how I want my Rock music to sound.

I think Tom Petty put it best when he said, "I don't like it". Favourite Track(s): Breakdown, Fooled Again (I Don't Like It) Least Favourite Track(s): Hometown Blues

Less groundbreaking than I expected. There's some great hits on here (American girl, breakdown) and a couple surprises (Luna) but overall not too memorable of a record

Not bad actually. I didn't go in with super high expectations, but I had a fun time. Nothing that wowed me but I did quite enjoy Rockin' Around (with you). 2.5/5 stars.

Vil ekki tala illa um látinn mann, en þetta er ekki tónlist fyrir mig.

Ikkje mitt nye favorittalbum

Great songs incredible singles just wish they were longer

I’m aware of Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers and that’s about it, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect when I hit play on this, although this somehow sounded about how it ought to, and I’ve enjoyed listening. My first listen was broken up a bit but finished strong so I put it on again, after all it was only 31 minutes. Reminded me of the Rolling Stones in places and also one of the tracks sounded very close to Stuck in the Middle With You, vocally. It’s pretty straight up in many ways which makes this easy to listen to and familiar sounding, I feel this is one that is close to 4 stars but might need more convincing before I upgrade.

Songs of my youth.

Tom Petty's music is a fun experiment in "imagine if the American heartland was good, actually"

Nothing outstanding, but good old fashioned Rock n Roll.

All American but forgetable other than the two hits on the album.

At his best he’s charming and personable, at his worst his singing is a little harsh on the ears. Oscillates between the two extremes from song to song. “Breakdown” is a classic and is surprisingly short. Even with the weird accent he’s attempting. “The Wild One, Forever” is a good song through and through. Probably my pick from the album. Emotive and well-performed. Just kinda standard rock 3/5

Came into this expecting to hate it. It surprised me. It comes across a little less over the top than guns n roses or Bon Jovi, which was the sort of uninspired 70s/80s hard rock I thought I was in for. Generally I can't stand this sorta music but this was pretty good. Fav Track: Luna 6.5/10

Love TP. Not the best and not my fave but still iconic and a great listen

Enough to like on here but it’s kind of a worse Bowie to me. Love some of his songs but whole album is meh

God I love tom petty so much, what a loss. Loved this one. American girl is top tier

Really liked it. Nice vibe, some songs were really really good especially for a genre I don't really love

A couple of great tracks here - 'Breakdown', 'American Girl' - I could listen to either of them on repeat for a long time. Saw TP & the HBs in the early '80s - great band, great show. I think 'Damn the Torpedoes' is a stronger album, but for a first record, this one ain't bad at all!

Tom Petty sounds like he’s drunk and has a few marshmallows in his mouth. The production and songwriting is great, though.

Hell of an album. Every song is great. Love TP.

Meh

2.5 stars A solid, inoffensive bit of rock n roll that has 2 stand out tracks and a bunch of others that are not bad. That’s about it.

Lots of classics here.

I'm gonna be real with you, I was a moron. For the longest time, I just never got into Tom Petty. He was just... there, you know? On the radio. Never really took the time to listen, and I figured I wasn't missing anything. Then I wised up. It might've had something to do with him being on King of the Hill as Lucky, but whatever it was, it made me go back and give him a real shot. And man, was I stupid. I started with the first album, this debut. And it's just amazing. It’s got that raw, hungry sound. It’s not over-produced; it's just a band playing great songs. Tracks like "Breakdown" and "American Girl" are classics, but the whole thing is good, from start to finish. I'm now going through his whole catalog, and I can't believe I missed this for so long. This is just a great rock album, and I was a fool for sleeping on it.

Awesome

It's got Breakdown and American Girl, but the rest of the album is really forgettable. Lots of filler, but it's still Petty, so it's not bad. 3/5

First album by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. One of the better debut albums to ever come out. Every song has merit, no filler. "Breakdown" one of the best rock n' roll songs ever done.

Enjoyed it

Just a bit bland

Ouais c’était pas si mal au final

Some of the tracks felt a little strange compared to his later work. You can already hear the Tom Petty rock style in this album that would make him a legend.

This was a good listen

America's greatest songwriter. I feel like he was just starting to hit his stride here. Breakdown and American Girl are timeless. There were a couple strange ones in here that prevented this from being a regular front to back listen. But damn I love me some tom petty

A bore and a half

Stabilt, ingen storfavorit men inget jag stör mig på heller

Liked a few of the songs but not a huge fan of the general sound

Solid album, to me Breakdown, and Fooled again are the standout tracks. Makes me want to mow my lawn with my shirt off drinking a PBR.

Tom Petty rules. Incredibly consistent front to back with American Girl being a standout closing track, and a longtime favorite of mine. Not much to say beyond that. Just rock solid classic rock music. Not earth shattering, so it doesn't crack a 5, but very very good.

More easy feeling rock-n-roll tracks than I ever would have expected from Tom Petty. Feels incredibly American youth circa 70s, makes me nostalgic for an idealized time that never existed. Two true classics in here. Fooled Again (I Don't Like It) is maybe the whiniest song I've ever heard from the pre-pop-punk era.

I'm a known Tom Petty denier because they overplay him on classic radio stations. However, when the first track started playing I was excited to have my mind changed, it was such an interesting composition compared to other things I heard from him. After that, it devolved into typical pop rock but I enjoyed more than expected

American Girl is not enough to rescue the blandness of the remaining songs. Breakdown could have been more enjoyable if Tom wasn’t putting on some kind of try hard suave accent.

Wasn’t as blown away by this as I thought I’d be.

Breakdown will forever be one of my favourite songs. It seems to be pretty unique in a sea of strummy Americana pop. The only Tom Petty album I ever owned was Full Moon Fever and I was totally unaware that he was recording albums in the mid-70s.

I liked this album. I didn’t love it I liked it enough that I’m looking forward to listening to album that came out after this!

Aggressively fine

Nifty album. Very Americana and classic rock. Honestly don't have much more to say about this album. Favorite track was Breakdown.

Classic

Muy buen disco, el primero de Tom Petty. Sonido clásico de la banda

Pretty good, pretty fun. American girl is classic.

First Tom Petty album I’ve ever heard, awesome album! Mystery Man is my favorite but zero misses

Classics throughout. Starts strong and ends strong.

Brilliant

Not alot much to say when I checked this record out. I’m sure people in 1976 were finally gunning for listening to a softer rock sound while your Zeppelins and Hendrixes of the time started blasting their amplifiers with that hard, psychedelic rock. This record was fine, i only liked American Girl and Luna and Tom Petty sounds like a slightly worse Bob Dylan.

not my cup of tea

nis spec

Did not finish, just not for me and just pretty generic I think- don't think rock and roll will really be for me

I have a bit of a blind spot with 70s classic rock. Plus, I haven’t always loved Tom’s voice. But this is a fun little album! Breakdown is especially great.

It was grand. Prefer the “Best of” which makes me a real lightweight Tom Petty fan I guess

Make it last all night (make it last all night) 4/5 Highlights: Fooled Again (I Don't Like It) Mystery Man American Girl

Two things I appreciate about this record is how straightforward it is and that it's only 31 minutes long. There's something almost punk-ish about the fact that it's very much doing what it says on the tin and doesn't try to waste your time, half the songs are almost two minutes long. That being said, half of the songs are honestly great and amazing straightforward rock and roll, and the other half are hokey annoying Rod Stewart sounding shit. So half and half averages out to a 3.

Ihan ok, taas. Tuli kuunneltua toiseen kertaan, mutta tuskin jää kiertoon.

Debut Byrds

Я вже давно хочу якось уважно послухати дискографію Тома Петті, можливо це буде якраз початок, якраз дебютнік. Мені сподобався звук і деякі пісні (наприклад перша), загалом доволі стандартний РОК вайб (місцями сильно нагадало роллінг стоунз), але слухається приємно.

Beginn einer großen Karriere. Tom fehlt!

Just okay

++: Rockin' Around (With You), Stranger in the Night, Luna, American Girl +: Anything That's Rock 'n' Roll, Fooled Again (I Don't Like It), Mystery Man +-: Breakdown, Hometown Blues, The Wild One, Forever 6,3/10

Soundtrack of my youth

The music was incredible, not a big fan of Tom Pettys singing, but i understand why hes a legend. 7/10

huzz album

Feels like sitcom music in the best way possible.

Not bad just kinda boring

Not my fave

This entire album is 30 minutes long, so I guess within the span of my life, I can find 30 minutes to listen to it. This isn't what I think about when I think of rock music, but I can imagine myself cruising down Route 66 with it on while i'm not really thinking about anything. It feels like default easy listening. Not threatening, not controversial, very safe, the kind of rock music your Christian grandmother probably likes because she saw it on Good Morning America. Nothing groundbreaking here. I think this album was included simply because the author thought people should know who Tom Petty was.

For me this record is pretty darn good. It's not my favorite of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. However, I think it has the best song ever written and sung by Tom Petty in "American Girl"

I enjoyed this and would revisit.

Some nice casual classic rock tunes, quick listen.

Just one hit, very WOD-esque

Some genuine classics on here, all timers - the rest is as others mention- very debut album filler

When I first played this album years ago, I nearly wrote it off as too understated, too modest in its ambitions. It’s not a record that clamours for your attention at first listen; rather, it quietly creeps up on you, gradually revealing its depth. The song writing is sharp, the arrangements finely crafted, and the performances confident. For listeners who take the time to engage and return to these tracks, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers’ debut proves itself a rewarding listen. Yet, I can’t help but feel there are moments where the album holds back just a little too much. There’s a restraint, a politeness that keeps it from bursting into the upper ranks of great rock albums—moments that could have benefited from more volume, more abandon, a looser edge. Still, what it may lack in wildness, it makes up for with craftsmanship and heart. Four stars. Would I listen to this album again? Yes. Would I buy this album? I did. 1 "Rockin' Around (With You)" - 4 2 "Breakdown" - 4 3 "Hometown Blues" - 4 4 "The Wild One, Forever" - 4 5 "Anything That's Rock 'n' Roll" - 5 6 "Strangered in the Night" - 4 7 "Fooled Again (I Don't Like It)" - 4 8 "Mystery Man" - 4 9 "Luna" - 4 10 "American Girl" -4 Total - 41 Average - 4.1

5/10 To me this all but confirmed that Tom Petty is best enjoyed by listening to the singles and not bothering with full albums, although I'll probably give some of his work another chance at some point. I've always absolutely loved 'Breakdown' - it oozes style and sex appeal in a way that few songs can - but beyond that the rest of this album was filled with disappointingly middle-of-the-road soft rock filler. Even American Girl, by the time I reached it, had me questioning whether I'd ever enjoyed the song at all – although I'm pretty sure that was just me being jaded by the rest of the album. Impossible for me to go higher than a 5 here despite the strength of the singles. Best songs: Breakdown, American Girl Listens: 1

2.5/5

Good debut album. Petty only got better over time. R.I.P.

Gotta love a short album.

Full of classics! Maybe it’s because I didn’t grow up with him, but the whininess in voice gets to me sometimes.

This isn't my favorite of the Tom Petty I've heard but it is immediately a very hard hitting album. Really unique, sort of hard to put among its contemporaries in 1976. Its got elements of classic rock, maybe some precursor to glam? It comes fast and sort of jets all over the place. I liked it, but it was a little hard to figure out what they were going for.

OK but forgettable 🤷‍♀️

classic

Too American for my taste

Kinda disappointed by this one because I always kinda liked most of Tom Petty's 80s/90s singles. At its worst, it sounds like anything else from the 70s. At its best, it sounds like if Elvis Costello was stupid

Not bad but not my fav

Moui. Du rock à papa, sympa mais sans plus. Je lui mets la moyenne avec le 1/2 point que je ne peux pas ajouter à l'étoile

6/10 Favorite: Mystery Man

Gonna preface this by saying that I was on a road trip with family when listening to this album so it was hard to fully pay attention (which likely affected my score so don’t take this review too seriously)… I don’t have much to say here I never really got too much into it and by the time it started to warm up for me, it was almost over already I don’t want to be too harsh because I found the album listenable but I didn’t really connect with any one song in particular Favorites: None

I'm surprised at how average this is... Some hits on there though. Highlights: Breakdown, American Girl

I was not expecting this genre - I genuinely thought Tom Petty was a crooner - I have no idea why I thought this and I even know some of the songs on this album. Completely forgettable, I will probably forget once again that Tom Petty is not a crooner Fav songs: Breakdown

Bof... Je ne vais surement pas réécouté.

Not the best Petty album, but it showed the promise of what was to come. The older I get, the more I appreciate Pettys music - with or without the Heartbreakers

8/10

Very early Room Petty. The signs were there...

Yep, that's classic rock.

I didn't get the point of this album. Generic, middle of the road, dad rock. There was nothing particularly good or bad about it.

I’m a die-hard Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers fan. This album is interesting because I can hear the makings of what the band became when they were fully fleshed out and at the top of their game. Petty’s songwriting is exceptional and I throughly enjoyed it throughout the album. The only reason it’s not a five-star album for me is that I know their potential. It’s about a half-star shy of brilliance, which they achieve with later albums.

Chill

3.5

This is a classic case of great artist good album, but, with only one entry, it's the wrong album. Damn The Torpedos not only showed the band coming into its own, but it was the album that cemented Tom Petty as a major figure in rock history. The self-titled is a stellar debut, but I think only hints at the greatness to come. This could have been sequence better. I think "Strangered in the Night" would have been a better opener for the album, and kept the rest of side one the same. Then open the second side with "Fooled Again (I Don't Like It)" followed by "American Girl" and bury the other three at the end of side 2. (8.6)★★★★ Tom's solo Wildflowers should have been on the list but it also got snubbed

"Breakdown" is the highlight, but there are better Tom Petty albums. 4 stars

4.5/5

It's a great album, but maybe not even a top 5 Tom Petty album, so it's inclusion as the lone Petty album is an odd one. Obviously, "American Girl" and "Breakdown" are awesome. The rest of the album is solid too, with "The Wild One, Forever" being the other big highlight. 4.5 stars.

An okay debut with Breakdown and American Girl being the best of all the okay songs. Tom Petty would go to be the weakest member of the Traveling Wilburys. I would have put Full Moon Fever in this list over this.

Great music of days gone by!

I've always thought that Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers have universal appeal but is also basically no one's favorite act. They're great, and the sheer number of undeniable classics across the catalog. I had never listened to this album in its entirety, but like so much Petty, I'd say it's overall good not great. American Girl is obviously fantastic, and many of the other songs are very good. I don't see a lot in this (or most Petty) that's inventive or innovative, but damn if the man can't just write a ton of extremely good rock songs.

Nice classic rock album, nothing really original here. I don’t dance but if I did this would be good. Favorites : - Rockin’ around (with you) - Fooled again (I don’t like it) - American girl

it was pretty good i think, i didnt pay all that much attention to it. it was yet another car listen

Vintage Americana with a couple of incredible hooks and guitars that have jangled on the radio and movies for 50 years. Crispy clean production that just sounds amazing. High highs that are overfamiliar but still rip and then a lot of pretty boilerplate 70s rock. He's definitely a Greatest Hits artist - has a lot of them, but they're spread out over a ton of albums over several decades...

Classic tom petty

Day 25 First listen- So many classic bangers in this album! Found some really good songs to jam to! (3.5/5)

This is pretty dross. Generic high school rock with some country aspects. Not doing much for me. And Freefallin isnt even here! And nearly every track ends with a fade-out... And a song about a murderous black guy... jeez Best track - Luna? 2 stars

I don't have an opinion on this one...

Its Tom Petty, whats not to like?

It was fine. Classic Dad Rock.

Great music, but the voice doesn’t match the genre.

i agree with the spotify minority that on this album, "Breakdown" is the real pearl while "American Girl" just has a catchy name, guhhhh. straightforward, enjoyable and reduce classic rock.

Not for me, catchy, but I don't think I would listen again

Some true classics on this one, but didn't scream "5"

Ja basic

- For so many other bands, this would be a 5 star debut that they would roundly pleased to have produced. For this group it's nowhere near their best which makes it so difficult to rate. Even the songs that weren't hits are pretty damn solid and there are a few that could have been hits ..... Once again context matters. I'm going give it a 5 just for "Breakdown", "Strangered In the Night" and "Rockin' Around (with You)" - - Also, according to many others on this project, this is the only Tom Petty release on this list .... WTF? They had at least 3 better releases after this one. Considering some of the absolute DRECK that IS included, that's an absolute travesty. -

3 1/2 Tom Petty is finding his voice. It’s a good album. It includes Breakdown and American Girl.

it's nice enough but I really don't get how famous his songs are

A few classics and lot of great rock n roll. Ranking Tom Petty for Tom Petty, this album is great, but not the absolute classic that Tom Petty has released.

I never understood the hype about Tom Petty. In the words of his famous song “Breakdown”. “It’s alright…”

pretty good

For me their first album was a hit machine. The music was so tight and the lyrics were not what you’d expect from a first time album. Saw them in 77 and couldn’t believe how good they were

Didn't realize American Girl was on here! I really liked Luna and the first track.

Petty's voice is an acquired taste and on some later albums it does become palatable. Not on this snorefest. A difficult listen.

The standouts are indeed standouts, but the rest of the album fades into the background.

So... when I opened the app yesterday I thought "Oh good, I like Tom Petty, this one will be an easy one." But... I guess I don't? This album just sucks outside of American Girl, which I don't believe is in the top 10 Tom Petty songs. I like a few of Tom Petty's hits well enough.. Free Fallin', You Don't Know How It Feels, Mary Jane's Last Dance, etc... but I really don't like this album.

Fav song: weirdly 'Luna' I don't know I needed to hear this album before death. I've never been a TP fan but I don't despise him. TP feels authentic. Still, I will listen to other Listers who advise there are better TP albums to choose. I feel this is likely correct but will not suggest it shouldn't be on the List either. It's pretty standard rock even for its time.

Quick album at only 31 minutes

American girl. Classic song.

yee haw

I don't really get why Tom Petty became a star. To me his stuff seems competent and listenable but straight down the middle, with his odd voice the only distinguishing feature. "American Girl" is a classic, but I don't think he approached it again until "Free Fallin'," many years later.

How do you bury American Girl as the last track. You have to wade through a lot if meh to get to the one standout.

3/5 - I’m pretty sure I didn’t need to hear this album before I die. Breakdown and American Girl are obvious standout hits, and Strangered in the Night is pretty good, but this isn’t an album of hidden gems. I love dozens of Tom Petty songs, but the debut is a bit thin for me.

Great album! Never listened to tom fully

Decent album. No need to listen again

Easy listening and agreeable, but I didn't get much more from it than that.

Eh it's okay

2,9/5

Pretty solid debut. You've got "Breakdown" and "American Girl" leading the way, and both are still instantly recognizable nearly 50 years later. That kind of staying power doesn't come from luck. The songs are just that good. The rest of the album isn't packed with radio staples, but it has enough energy and heart to keep things interesting. Petty's voice already had that laid-back, everyman charm, and the band plays with confidence throughout. The album closes strong with "American Girl," which might be one of the best final tracks on any debut rock album.

It kinda reminded me of the generic music you hear in a supermarket. Its not offensive, but not very interesting.

Yeah

So the 00s “meet me in the toilet” lot were part of the extended Tom Petty cinematic universe this whole time, hey; who knew? (Tom Petty knew, as it goes. He had the grace to take The Stroke’s ‘musical quotation’ in the flattering way it was undoubtedly intended, maybe he knew Julian’s dad.) There’s a fair bit Beatley about the opening track of this record; the buoyancy of “Rockin’ Around (With You)” would slot neatly into the first side of “Help!” (or any record by Vampire Weekend or Razorlight for that matter). It’s a short lived dalliance with the Fab Four though, as from “Breakdown” on this is very much Tom and his Heartbreakers’ show – short sharp shocks of tuneful pop that feel like a great American songbook all of their own. Ever since reading Dan Charnas’ history of sampling-cum-hagiography of Dilla – “Dilla Time” – I’ve enjoyed telling anyone who’ll listen that it was Tom Petty playing on some of the earliest drum samples. Turns out I’d remembered that story only half correctly: the playing of Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers is featured on some of the earliest drum machines, but only the sound of their clapping made it into the final sound packs (and, therefore, appears on innumerable records – many of which you’d expect to find here on the 1001 list…). I’m grateful of the reminded; appropriately enough, it’s a warm applause from me.

Awesome. 2 of the best hits with decent enough songs through the rest of the album

pretty dull

Some bangers. Some snoozers. A lot of Temu Bruce Springsteen. Glad TP found his own voice after this.

OK, they are not ALL great songs, but Breakdown and American Girl are worth the listen.

classic rock, liked it

Genre: Heartland Rock This album is almost bite-sized compared to some of the behemoths within, and I appreciate it. This is a color-by-numbers, pop rock album, with a big hit (American Girl), that is inoffensive and very easy to listen to. Some people will herald this as something truly essential. I don’t buy it. But it’s not bad. 3/5

Excellent early Petty

Straightforward and genius.

I'm not familiar with Tom Petty outside of the radio hits, but for my life I've found him irritating at best. Tom Petty's debut with the Heartbreakers is, well, a debut. There are, what I would consider, filler songs, that just go absolute nowhere like "Rockin' Around (With You)", "Hometown Blues", "Strangers In The Night", and to some extent "Fooled Again (I Don't Like It)", which lyrically, sounds dumb, but I'd be lying if I said the guitars didn't rule and Tom's energy is admirable. And then, there are flashes of brilliance in songs like "Breakdown", "The Wild One (Forever)" that feel downright poetic and establish exactly why Tom Petty is held in high regard. To his credit, no two songs sound the same. Petty proves his range between screaming on "Fooled Again" and doing a Kermit the frog impression on "Mystery Man", though the latter is still a jam. It's decent. I was so tempted to give this a 4 based on the strength of the songs I did like, but it's impossible to ignore that the rest of the album is C- work at absolute best. 3 "BREAKDOWN!!"'s out of 5. Oh, and "American Girl" rules. Highlights: "Breakdown", "The Wild One, Forever", "American Girl.

Durchschnittsmusik 2,5

Not my vibe really. Classic rock and roll affair.

At first, i thought Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers was just going to be a 3 star album but the more i kept listening to it, the more i leaned towards 4 stars. I do know of this band quite well but not much of this album, the most i have heard relating to it is hearing Stevie T's cover of Breakdown which i didn't even know was a cover until i listened to this album. This album is a pretty great one as it has the perfect mix of both soft and hard rock in all of the songs and they all had some pretty great melodies. This album also went at a good pace with the album only being 30 minutes and not feeling like its too long or too short. This was certainly a really good listen. Best Song: Fooled Again (I Don't Like It) Worst Song: Rockin' Around (With You)

Not sure what to say about Tom Petty. I don’t dislike him, but I can’t say I really like him, either. I guess most of what I do like is on other albums.

This is a pretty low bar album. I feel like Breakdown is verrrry mid-tier at best, even though it's a familiar tune. And then American Girl hits. And it HITS. One of my favorite songs of all time. How that is the last track instead of the first, I'll never know. This lingers in the 2/5 range until track 10, at which point it jumps a full star up to a 3.

Very Rolling Stones sounding ’70s Rock music. Decent.

Legend. Period.

4.5 I like it

Jedan od izvođača koji su više utjecajni nego kvalitetni. Album je većinom kratke i bezidejne pjesme, ali ništa ne zvuči toliko loše.

Legend. I miss him.

I’ve never listened to a full Tom Petty album and was excited. But this was just… fine. I definitely prefer his hits to full albums

American Girl is the standout, a huge hit, the rest of the album has some good songs and some underwhelming ones, Tom was a great hit writer, this isn't his best album but shows promise of what was to come.

honestly i was quite a bit bored while listening to this

Boring asf 2

Didn't find a very godson, but Free falling from ,another album remains very good

that was a great album! I did not know this group and it gave me a lot of energy

I was enjoying the songs. A little bit repetitive but still I liked the melodies and the tunes

An amazingly short album, with lots of mediocrity. Perhaps not the punchiest debut; better things were ahead.

Not the best album in his discography, “Breakdown” and “American Girl” were the only noteworthy songs

A good album but at 31 minutes I would have begrudged paying for it

It was fine. Nothing special stood out. I wouldn't complain if it was on but I wouldn't purposely listen to this album.

Wow, J'arrive pas à comprendre que ce gars là soit dans les légendes du rock.

Bonne prod mais album un peu beige all around. Rien de désagréable, rien de fabuleux.

A very good album.

Was ok

A little grittier and more soul than the later commercial stuff. Can tell why American girl got picked as the single, much more poppy than the rest of the album.

A Tom Petty tribute band played at my bard three times a year for more than a decade. I know all the hits by heart at this point and honestly, they sound better live than this record. Aside from a few major hits, I found the record messy and short.

The radio-singles were great, but the “deep cuts” didn’t hook me as much as I hoped they would.

Gets better with multiple plays, but it’s a little frustrating that Petty heads for an outro after a bridge, instead of singing another verse.

Good stuff, particularly for a debut album. Worth 4* for American Girl alone.

His voice can be so annoying

Nice! I can see it inspired so many other rock albums. Particularly not a fan of it, but it's good music.

Biz a Petty das es dezwüsche doch so viel country element dinne het. Und das de Tom freud dran het all die Heart z breake. allgemein klassische biz unterdurchschnittlichs Album dasi nüme lose wird. Darum zwei Heartbreakdance ihlage uf de parkett

Das isch spassiger als erwarted gsi. Hed mini füssli fast chli zum tanze bracht und s herz afo breake. Das sind scho fiesl lüüt, professional heartbreakers, tom pitty würd vlt besser passe :/ Aber classy fall vu 3 nussgipfel. Guet gsi aber eich wieder alles vergesse gha und wirds au nümd abcheggn

4 lieder glost, zum glück hani aber grad no rechtzitig d'fenster chönne schlüsse bevor alli wiisschopfseeadler inegfloge sind und mir mit eme bud light mundgruch d'vorteil vo lockere gun laws hend welle is ohr schreie bliebed dusse, eu wotti da nie meh gseh!

Classic

Two phenomenal hits on this album, but the rest is kind of feels like filler

This is a great album, but Petty hasn't quite hit his stride yet. He's got so many albums that edge this out. He really gets going by Damn the Torpedoes.

Petty is always solid

3.5

On the one hand, as a fan of Tom Petty's work with and without the Heartbreakers group, I enjoyed this album for more than just the hit singles. There were some impressively written deep cuts, particularly in the second half, running from the biting groove of "Strangered in the Night" through the Hammond organ-led sway of "Luna". On the other hand, I can still recognize this as a debut album, where the writing isn't as strong in places, particularly in the number of songs that are about playing rock and roll and blues music. A little more detail in the storytelling and stronger compositions in a few areas would have elevated this record to match the quality of its closer, "American Girl". Taking both sides into account, I consider Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers' debut record to be good if not great. I know they will reach greatness with Damn the Torpedoes, but for now, this was still fun to revisit.

Nothing to blow me away but a fun listen. Not sure if I’ll come back to these a ton but I liked hometown blues

Well that was remarkably unremarkable. The album just finished playing and I literally can’t remember ever listening to it. I gave it two stars because it didn’t have Free Fallin’ on it. If it did, I would have given it one star.

Off the cuff remark: splendid blasts of American guitar pop-rock. Standout track: saving the best to last, American Girl Revisit?: Yes. Genre-bending life-changing classics? No, but driving (literally and figuratively) good time tunes that are worth revisiting they are.

Pidän

Pettyn eka levy ja isot hitit vielä edessäpäin

Monipuolinen ja helposti kuunneltava rokkikätty!

Great album. Beautifully mixed. Great songwriting. Must have inspired a lot of subsequent indie rock. Lovely layers of sound on most songs.

A good listen. A few songs I hadn't heard beforethat I liked, the second track for example (iirc). Old rock that didn't really stick out except for the few tracks ai mentioned.

certaines chansons sont bien mais d'autres sont oubliables

Pretty solid debut, not as good as later albums like full moon fever, wildflowers, or damn the torpedoes

Fun?

Fuck I don’t remember anything about this album, I think it was alright

Non-offensive and there are some good tunes but nothing that's too interesting. Couple of stand out tracks. 6/10

A solid album from a music legend. It's not Petty's best work, but it benefits from the presence of two all time Petty tracks, "American Girl" and "Breakdown." The rest of the album is quite forgettable. Petty would go on to better things.

I'm still looking for a bad Tom Petty Song. I'm afraid I couldn't finde one on this album... PLUS: The Album ends on a very nice reminder to Scrubs :^)

Tom Petty is an American legend for a reason. One of his many great albums. Most of the songs are memorable, with a few classics. He is truly a fan of any music that's originally American and wears his influences on his sleeve. Listening to this album, you can also hear how influential he is on later artists. I wouldn't say this is a perfect album, but it's a great album anyway. 4/5

It's giving mid. 3.