Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers

Ok rock album, 3/5, not that interesting.

I heard several different bands on this album, and one of them won the contest to become Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers.

A rare first album that really feels incomplete or in progress with the exception of the two breakout singles; Breakdown and American Girl. Both are great songs, but American Girl closes out the album with a strong indication that there is more to come from this band. If I were hearing this at the time, I think this would be enough to make me want to hear more... although, I don't think he really comes into his own until the 90s.

A few classic tracks wedged between a bunch of average ones.

American girl is about the only song I got excited about, but Jesus he has an iconic voice.

In the words of Tom Petty himself, "It's alright." At least it's short.

It’s alright.

Finally puts a voice behind the name

3.1 A bit cringe, but it's actually ok. Not 100% sure why it's on this list but I guess I'll find out in the comments.

Not what I expected. This has two incredible songs and a whole lot of nothing else. The only perk is that the songs and the album are short. Breakdown and American Girl saved this album from a much lower rating.

I am a huge Tom Petty fan and this is by far neither his best nor his most influential work. Full Moon Fever should have been the album on this list. If you arent a Petty fan, stop listening to this debut Heartbreakers album and go listen to Full Moon Fever. I find the front half of this Heartbreakers album to be quite boring compared to other Petty stuff. This album also doesn't make the good use of Petty's unique voice. I saw another reviewer say this was his "Springsteen-influenced" era, I agree. Petty sounds best when he's doing Petty. I also think it's wild that this album is categorized as psychedelic rock, I don't hear that at all. It's pretty classic, meat and potatoes hint-of-blues rock to me.

Classic. Great to listen to this album the full way through rather than the 2 songs that endlessly play on classic rock stations.

I lived with a guy who loved Tom Petty for 2/3 of my middle school years, and relentlessly teased him for it. When Petty died however, I have a vivid memory of him sitting at our kitchen table listening to free-falling with a beer, staring off into nothing. To this day the song makes me cry at the thought of the look of devastation on his face. That being said, this album is alright. You can hear the potential though! American girl is a classic.

pretty average stuff here. favorite track: hometown blues. Overall score: 5.5/10

Very, very steady rock, but enjoyable for what it is.

3.5/5

2 great songs

A few good songs here, but his vocals on the middle tracks are…not great. 3.5

I'm not a big Tom Petty fan, but he always put out some really solid albums.

Was ok, but nothin special

Such good heartbreak

Great album

Despite hearing his music from the time he started, I didn't become a Tom Petty fan until decades after his debut. I was missing out because I think that he and the Heartbreakers are one of the greatest American bands of all time! This was an excellent debut with multiple great songs right off the bat. They were strong signs of the greatness yet to come. 4.5/5

[Music]

noise

Petty's debut album features a couple of Tom's best songs (Breakdown, American Girl) and it's an impressive accomplishment so early in his illustrious career. The record shows promise and a blueprint to the style of music and direction he and his Heartbreakers were headed. It's a bit of a surprise this album made the list because it's a tad uneven with more throwaway tracks than his next several albums. I just feel the next album, "You're Gonna Get It!" is even better, followed by "Damn The Torpedoes" which is his best record. The first album is good, in fact better than most debuts, but lacks the complete effort that would deem it essential.

I love this album! it's really fun to listen to and great background music or dancing. Each song was a mood booster. My favorites by far are breakdown, anything rock and roll, and mystery man. American girl is also top tier.

Couple of good singles, but overall a typical average first effort. They were capable of, and achieved, better.

I was disappointed by this album. Lackluster country rock. No life in this record whatsoever. There are much better Tom Petty albums out there

Have never listened to this album in full. Great rock. I might be scoring it too low.

Felt like it blasted by - good stuff overall! Not 100% for me, but still cool

two great songs, lots of mediocre....

It’s good but I’ve heard American girl a bajillion times because of work

Not as good as his solo stuff imo but still enjoyable. 3.5 stars

Hmm, het begint best wel lekker met Breakdown en Hometown Blues. Ik begon zelfs naar 4 sterren te neigen! Maar de 2e helft van het album vind ik dan weer echt matig en ondermaats. Ook het populairste nummer van het album, American Girl, vind ik dus echt helemaal niets aan. Jammer Tommerd, maar het begin van het album met iets meer bluesy nummers pakte me wel echt, hou je er toch 3 sterren aan over, ook omdat het album lekker kort is en ik weer over kan tot de orde van de dag. FAVO: Breakdown, Hometown Blues, Anything that's rock 'n roll,

This album has Breakdown and American Girl which are two of Tom Petty's best songs. The rest of the album I would say is good but not great. I would listen again, but I would pick some other Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers albums before this one.

I have never heard this before. It doesn't suck completely. It just failed to grab any of my attention. The whole album just flew by and I was waiting for it to either catch on in any way with me or to just end. Boring and uninspiring.

Tom Petty is just one of those guys. By ‘those’, I mean 1970s/80s heartland rock artists. You can’t pretend that the music is spectacular, but by God, if it isn’t extremely fun. Huge hits Breakdown and American Girl will stand out the most, but aren’t fully emergent against the heavily consistent backdrop of (I could name any of the others here) things like Anything That’s Rock ‘n’ Roll and Fooled Again. This hasn’t swayed me from thinking Petty’s finest moment was his Last Dance with a certain M. Jane about 20 years later, but it has opened me up to further Heartbreakers listening. Excellent.

Excellent album, not familiar with Tom Petty and perhaps I should give it more time

It's ok

Great addition

I thought this was fun and lighthearted. Sometimes what I'm looking for is easy listening, and not some profound creation that was foundational to music history. I enjoyed this album through and through!

It’s okay I guess, just a bunch of catchy, non-offensive tracks.

The singles are cool, like "American Girl" has that timeless introduction that just builds and builds, and "Breakdown" is a cool jam, the rest is just kinda there.

I'm curious if anyone out there has a strong opinion on Tom Petty. Like if anyone has him as a S-tier musical artist. Because I feel like he's generally well-liked (like A or B tier) but don't think many people consider him as one of the great artists of his generation. Anyway, that kind of encapsulates my feelings about this album. It was enjoyable listen at a tight 30 minutes. American Girl is a classic. Breakdown was another one I've heard quite a bit over the years. Also enjoyed Anything That's Rock n Roll and Mystery Man. Solid album all the way through.

This album was pretty mid in all respects. Never offensive, but often just there. The singles are quality: Breakdown with its layering, keys, and slinky guitar riff is top-notch dad rock. American Girl is fantastic anthemic outro track. High points outside of the singles were Mystery Man and Luna. First is a bit southern rock with the twang; the latter sounding more like a Talking Heads spinoff. This is firm low 3 territory.

This is a short and sweet album. Breakdown and American Girl hit hard. I give this 4.5 stars.

Quintessential classic rock. American Girl = banger. Wasn't super excited about much else.

Have listened to a lot of Tom Petty's hits but never a full album. His hits definitely carry a lot of weight on this album for sure , but there were a few nice surprises. Still think it is a pretty middle of the road American Rock album. American Girl is so dang catchy though it has been a top song for me for a long time

Some easy ass listening. Never been a huge Tom Petty fan but he sure does have his hits. Breakdown is an all timer along with American Girl.

5/5 great album

Nothing to complain about here, but it's pretty tame all things considered. You'll have a good time with it, but you could also listen to something else that would be more interesting.

Really like ”Breakdown”, and American Girl is pretty nice. Can live without the rest.

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers > The Beatles

Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers (1976) – 3.3/5 This debut album from Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers delivers solid, easygoing rock with a laid-back charm. The sound is undeniably smooth, blending rock and roll with a touch of new wave energy. While the album is enjoyable to listen to, none of the songs left a lasting impression on me. It’s good background music—pleasant but not particularly memorable. I can appreciate the craftsmanship, but it’s not an album I see myself returning to often.

This one was good, I guess.

I love Tom Petty. This is not is best work overall, but Breakdown IS one of his best songs...so for that, American Girl, and the fact that he's so dang pretty, I'll still give it a 3.

Interesting choice, because most of it is pretty unremarkable. The two singles are as great as anything he ever did but the rest sounds like an ordinary band (unlike, say, the Cars or Van Halen whose first albums presented an entirely new sound). I'd take Damn the Torpedoes any day.

im not sure why this is here but damn the torpedoes isnt

Fine. Goes down smooth. I find it difficult to listen to the American rock boys who aren’t Springsteen because they just make me want to listen to Springsteen. I thought this was a really nice, good vibes, light rock album, but nothing really blew me away.

This is truly one of the rock and roll records of all time. I don't know what it is about Breakdown. It's a great song, to be sure, but it always makes me think that it wants to be a Pretenders song. And the Killers shamelessly ripped off the intro on American Girl for Last Nite, so there's that.

Da ist ja nicht mal Learning to fly drauf

Solid rock album. Enjoyed nearly all of it 1001 album worthy: Yes - 46/81

Good

Not really interesting, but still ok

One good song. Maybe two?

Pop rock (derogatory). Yeah, that's an album that... exists. I don't know what I was supposed to get out of this one. The band clearly didn't know either. This might be the most mid piece of media I consumed in the past year. It's far from good, and it's also far from bad. It's extremely hard for me to imagine someone going, "Yeah, this is fire" over this, but also nobody is going to despise it. It's just so painfully... okay.

not bad, short by todays standards

Oh yeah! Alright!

very solid tracks, sounds fun to drive to and like almost every song could be a hit in clubs and bars back when it came out, as a studio album experience it lacks a little bit of variety and is rather shallow. but then again, it probably wasn't really intended to be listened to front to back multiple times. the writing in this isn't too great either. 6/10

Not bad

A wonderful album that must be on any list of remarkable debut albums. Copy/paste to read more: https://tinyurl.com/4znkehys

Awesome debut

Ich bin mit mir selber uneins. Es sind klasse Titel vorhanden wie Brakedown, American Girl. Aber ich wünsche mir Tom Petty and the Hardrockers. Die Heartbreakers sind eine so lahme Begleitband... Dazwischen dann so Lückenfüller-Rockn'Roll Songs *augenroll

point2.

Fire aber hat nicht so gezündet bei mir Heartbreakers bevor es cool war i guess? Okkk aber was geht bei american girl Banger

Look at that smug face lol Not a fan, it has a couple of pretty good songs tho

Perfect album! I never heard it before. Thanks.

Very solid blues-y rock debut from a band that I know will go on to write and record many hit songs. "Breakdown" and "American Girl" are classics and one of my other favorite is "Strangered In The Night"

Some mid rock. Tom's got some bangers but they aren't on this album IMO.

Really liked this, fun to listen to

Artiste / groupe inconnu. Rock très standard, rien de remarquable. Je n'y reviendrais pas. =>2/5

That was actually pretty solid

Two big hits but the rest is kinda mid. 3.5, rounded down

Couple of slappers

Nasally and terrible. So so songwriting for supposedly one of the greats. Sorry not sorry, 0 stars.

Run of the mill, dated rock.

I was looking forward to this as I own a Tom Petty Greatest Hits that I enjoyed but had not ever delved deeper into an album. Was unfortunately a little disappointed. "American Girl" is a classic and stands head& shoulders above the rest of the album - which is a little bit vanilla by comparison with no real stand out tracks after 4 listens. A solid 3.5.

Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers I don’t really like saying why is X on the list and not Y, and obviously I’m a fan so I would say this but I do think it’s odd that this is the only Tom Petty album on the list, when Sonic Youth have 5 and Elvis Costello has 6 and considering how good Damn the Torpedoes and Hard Promises are. I do love this album, despite some roughness around the edges and some patchiness in song quality. There are some excellent songs; Breakdown, The Wild One, Forever, Anything That’s Rock’n’Roll, Fooled Again, Luna and Last Nite, I mean American Girl, but it definitely sounds like a debut album. You can hear elements and signals of the future in those songs, but even the patchier tracks have moments and ideas that make them interesting, the rhythm on Rockin’ Around, the Springsteen pastiche of Hometown Blues, the backing vocals on Strangered in the Night, the doo-wop groove of Luna. It also feels a bit inconsistent in production and sound in places, particularly Mike Campbell's guitar, the sense he’s searching for a sound, eg the tone on Strangered in the Night just doesn’t quite sound right. Musically this is easily a high 4, and any album that has Breakdown, The Wild One, Forever and American Girl is a banger, but as this is their only album on here and I want to acknowledge how great they are as a band, it's a 5. And if you don’t like that you can tongue kiss my shithole. 💘💘💘💘💘 Playlist submission: Breakdown

American Girl has basically set the blueprint for every Strokes song, 25 years before the Strokes wrote a song; as well as the intro being lifted wholesale for Last Nite. It's probably the only real classic here. But punchable face on the cover aside, this album has the hallmarks of everything I like: compact, polished garage-rock, still a rawness, catchy melodies, no guitar wankery. It is very naive but charming. It has a few throwaways (Fooled Again, Anything That's Rock n Roll) Hmmm. Scrapes a 4 for it's ramshackle charm, naïveté, and lack of pretension, alongside a handful of good tracks.

I'm a Tom Petty enjoyed but this very much feels like a debut. When it's good it is very good though. American Girl is undeniable.

3.5/5

Man this list really loves its American blues inspired guitar rock doesn’t it?

cool, aber nichts davon hat mich so abgeholt wie "Runnin, Down a Dream" was bisher der einzige Song war, den ich von Tom Petty kannte.

There are three songs where they use their own voice. "Breakdown," one of the most memorable TP tunes of all - a heavy, soulful tune with a hint of shuffle, lonely and frustrated. "Luna," the only real artistic risk, has that 4 AM can't sleep feeling, trippy, evokes the Eagles at their best. "American Girl," the double-time raver that got them a punk rock trading card. We get some Beatles, Stones, Springsteen, Van Morrison (listen to Mystery Man again). All to good affect, though. Everything has Petty's Jagger-soaked drawl and that... Americana wash. Before it was called Americana. Good, even great in places. I look forward to seeing what these guys will do in the future, lots of potential here if they can find their own style! ;)

• I love Tom Petty. I listened to him a ton as a little kid and he was probably one of my first favorite artists. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve gone back to checking out the full LPs more. This shit rocks. Has an edge and grit to it, but then there’s the vocal harmonies and the keyboards? Hell yeah. I don’t like this as much as Damn The Torpedoes, but it’s still great. And ten tracks in about 30 minutes? • It isn’t power pop, but it has that element there. • Guitar and bass tones on this rock. Gritty, jangly, chimey

такое ощущение что я скоро сдамся

It was fine. Didn't think it was anything special.

Middle-of-the-road white rock'n'roll for middle-class white people.

American Girl >>>> Otherwise the rest is ok, not a huge fan of the vocals in some areas.

5/10

I don't know if this is one of those things where I find it boring because it sounds like just standard music, but it really doesn't do anything for me. I don't really like Tom Petty's voice, I kinda hate this sound. It sounds like it smells bad or something. It just kinda feels like classic rock filler.

Before listening to this, I was indifferent to Tom Petty. I didn't really have any opinions on him or his band. This debut actually makes me hate the band. Every song outside of American Girl is absurdly boring. Best Songs: American Girl Worst Songs: Strangered In The Night, Mystery Man

Respect but not my style

Kinda boring to me

T.P. Is on my Mount Rushmore, but this is not my favorite album, great songs as always, but I think his compositions and Campbell’s guitar sound reach higher peaks on the next couple of records particularly. The mix on this is super nice.

American Girl is the big hit from this and it's obvious why. It far and away clears the rest of the songs which are a mixed bag in terms of quality and sometimes sound similar. Overall, a pretty good album.

I really liked it

quintessential 70s rock. makes me feel like I’m in a dive bar in late August, playing darts and bumming a cigarette outside.

American Girl and Fooled Again favourites! Really cool straight-up American rock music.

weird stuff. didnt even get me especially didnt like the whining in the songs

What's not to like about Tom Petty

There are definitely other TP&tH albums I prefer more.

A few good tracks, and a lot that's just fine to listen to.

Not their best, overall

Tom Petty's first album, not as polished as other debut's in terms of songwriting, but you see the potential on legendary tracks "Breakdown" and "American Girl" 3 stars

Out of the gate with some hot rock and roll. song craft, jangle, the boy had a knack and a pleasantly phlegmatic voice or somethign according to big christgau. I new the big ones not the other except the one that was a hit in in england?!?!? odd for such an american ass mother fucker.

Ensin olin että onpas kiva meininki, sitten heti unohdinkin kunnolla kuunnella. Ei siis vetänytkään mukaansa niin kuin olisi voinut. Harmi. Kunnon rockia. Melkein kuin kuulisin jo kasarin (onneksi ei paljoa, kasarityyli tappais tän vilpittömyyden). Kaks puol.

"Take it easy baby, make it last all night": melkein noloa, kuinka paljon pidän tästä koukusta. Mystery Man oli jo hyvä kantrirock-pastissi, mutta American Girl sai minut lopulta nauttimaan koko levystä.

Just about fine, some catchy tunes in there but some forgettable ones as well. 5/10

топ

i enjoyed this a lot, would want to listen to more by him and maybe listen to this again

Whst it is album. Great album. Starter band full of promise. Charismatic front man. Solid backing band.

The crowd goes mild.

Meh. The front half feels like the songs are all half baked or ended because a producer said "that's enough," the back half feels like "generic" rock. Sonically I get it, but the lyrically/vocally he just doesn't capture me. Breakdown is the best song on here, and I actually like it less in its album context cause it highlights the fact that its actually a half written song. Actually, the only fully formed song is "American Girl," and good thing they saved it for last. 3/5

3.5/5 stars

American Girl is such a genius closer.

I am beginning to hate the fact that every 70s album seems to be connected to love in some why, or rather love disappointments. Talking about breakups and living the life. Then again more breakups and again getting to know yourself. Seems overly played out, but this was one of the pioneers, if you assume that music started in the 50s. Back then the albums had structure, they were not a collection of singles, no coherence whatsoever. I respect that. It feels that, lyrically, you are making circles, not progressing as you go through the album. But if you focus on the background music, every single musical piece has sth to add. At some point they stop pushing for the beautiful narrative and they switch to what I can assume is their version of true love, one that does not care of jewels, of gold and diamonds. I have to say that with this type of start I did not expect the album to continue this way. The melody of Rockin' Around seems like the perfect start of an album that has ups and downs, yet those are not noticeable afterwards. The entire album, though, is different enough that its sound becomes memorable.

Das Debütalbum Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers von 1976 zeigt die Band in ihrer rohen, energiegeladenen Anfangsphase. Mit Hits wie "Breakdown" und "American Girl" liefert es zeitlosen Rock, der sowohl eingängig als auch authentisch ist. Ein starker Start für eine legendäre Karriere!

Awww hell naw only good song was "american girl"

petty /pĕt′ē/ adjective, of small importance; trivial. 3/10

didn't fully finish, but would probably enjoy as car ride music or just chillin. probably wouldn't buy a poster, but being lifted one isn't too bad

Damming with faint praise, I know, but it wasn't as bad as I was expecting 🤣. Recognised & liked American Girl (added to playlist for our American road trip).

I love Tom Petty - let's just put that out there right away.. his debut album is full of promise of what is to come, shining w Breakdown and American girl. It just keeps getting better from here.

I’m a big fan of Tom Petty, but this album isn’t one of my favorites. His other work is so iconic and unforgettable. Luckily, this one wraps up with American Girl, which is captivating...you can't help but sing along. His voice is truly one of a kind.

I have never loved Tom Petty but I have liked him for as long as I can remember. The guy writes great songs that are well played with thoughtful arrangements. A little old. A little new. Deliver with a voice that is inexplicabaly effective. A couple of classics on an album that moves along - simply. He and Bruce share more than a little DNA - and career arc - though it comes off a bit different in the final product. Tom Petty is just a likeable guy that has something for everyone with trying to appeal to everyone. A great listen.

It was alright. A bit samey after a bit. 3/5

Rimelig ligegyldig men den er også kort nok til, at man ikke føler, at man spilder sin tid. Der skal være plads til den her slags far-rock! American Girl er et klassenummer

Der er et par virkelig fede sange på, men det meste er altså lidt benløst. I sådan en tidlig punk-tid er det her måske den mindst punk lyd jeg kan forestille mig

Strong end to a pretty short album.

Not really exciting. It is listenable, but unless the hits pretty forgettable which doesn't push any boundaries. The known songs are bangers but the remainder of the album is just filler.

Two increíble songs surrounded by drivelled filler. If only they’d spent more time in the studio!

he's scaring me rocking around with you- 5 breakdown- 5 hometown blues- 5 the wild one forever- 5 anything thats rock and roll- 5 strangered in the night- 5 fooled again- 4 mystery man- 5 luna-5 american girl- 5

Pretty fun

Nisam ih do sada slušao ali nisu loši.

I LIKE.

Pretty good! American girl really is a classic. They are described as heartland rock and I can see that. Overall he is a weak singer and better off solo

I've never heard the link with Bruce Springsteen below but some of this sounds like Springsteen's early albums, some like Petty.

Hell yes Tom Petty is atop Rock Royalty. Effortlessly poured out important music his entire life.

★★★★½

Good, catchy, classic rock. Also I like the old style of albums which are like half an hour. Favorites: Breakdown

Gainsvillian legends!

enjoyed it tho it wasnt my fav

Loved the hits.

Front cover is what I imagine you get if you ask AI to generate an image of a classic cunt. Album lived up to expectations.

Meh

Good background music for work

There's nothing particularly bad about this I can point towards, but all of it is just so safe and mild, that it ends up feeling a bit spineless.

de una qsy 7/10

Tom Petty looks kind of like my mom circa 1983, but my mom never put out a banger like this.

I’ve been waiting for good ol’ Tom to pop up! Love it. Such a perfect album.

3.5 ⭐

I’ve only listening to Full Moon Fever by Tom Petty before nothing with his group. This is fine but not anything spectacular Light 3/5

y'know what, tom petty? hell yeah.

Tom Petty is one of those people who's hits I was familiar with but had never listened to an album front to back. This one was pretty good, nothing spectacular. The last track is the standout.

Surprisingly average, coming from Tom Petty no less. The more known songs are absolute rock-classics but the rest of the album is just average filler.

I have such a soft spot for Tom Petty. The peculiar voice, the soft feathery blonde hair, those teeth!! Adorable 😊 I enjoyed this album. I don’t really have anything negative to say about it. It wasn’t spectacular, but it was good, and it kept my interest the whole way through and I just really like his weird voice 😅 I would definitely listen to it again and I can’t usually say that for albums on here

Durchschnittliches Album mit soliden aber unauffälligen Songs. Ein bisschen Rock und ein bisschen Country.

As a huge fan of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, I'm disappointed. I expected much better. It's still a decent album, and starts off with a bang, but tapers down as the album goes on. Favorite Song: "Breakdown"

meh.

Ok

view of things to come

Quintessential Tom Petty. A poet with a knack for entertainment and top-class lyricism and song writing. BREAKDOWN has one of my favorite intros in all of the Rock and the Roll genre.

Good old American Southern Rock, Gainesville style. Tom Petty has done more to save and educate the music listener on American Garage, Soul, and Funk music. His initial outing on this album cites many of the influences. Full Moon Fever introduced a lot of people to his music, but this freshman release is a great raw introduction. 4/5

Ok so I listened to this album once and kinda forogit whay it sounded like but I enjoyed on the first listen so

The album cover of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers presents a striking image of Petty with a magazine of bullets slung across his chest, aiming for a bold and edgy aesthetic. However, while the concept is intriguing, the execution feels somewhat dated and lacks visual depth. The overall design is simplistic and fails to engage the viewer beyond its initial shock value. Ultimately, it serves more as a nostalgic artifact than a compelling piece of art, warranting only a two-star rating. Album artworks rated: 9/1001 Music's kinda whatever.

Very good debut album. Third album “Damn the Torpedoes” was my intro & cemented Petty and the Heartbreakers as one of the favorites in my pantheon. Then I got to go back to this & the 2nd album to discover what I had been missing. This album had the sounds of a band that was going all the way.

Algunes cançons estan molt bé. Molt rock dels 80-90. Pero moure el cap i el cos, però lletres ahí ahí

Great music from a lost era

The beginning of a masterclass in Rock & Roll. The first line of 'American Girl' defines the U.S.A.

Ive always been a Tom Petty fan. This was my first time listening to this album start to finish. Overall it was good- reminded me a little of Bob Dylan. He has a good way of telling a story through song. And the hits were definitely hits. Overall- solid rock album with some blues elements. Probably 3.5/5 but not quite a 4

I was familiar with his 90s work and his work with the Traveling Wilburys, so I didn't expect much from this. It didn't blow me away, but it's good enough to stop making fun of people who like Tom Petty. Favorite song: American Girl.

Pretty solid but not Petty’s best work

4/5

Most of this record is forgettable landfill '70s-recollection-of-the-'50s nostalgia-rock filler, and Tom Petty sings like he has a cold, but like. "American Girl" is an unimpeachably perfect song on an album whose cover is a leather-clad man with golden hair eye-fucking you, and somehow neither song nor album hit the charts? This is madness

overrated, uninspired. not inventive.

6-10 один трек додав в плейлист

Does anyone else find it odd that the band name uses “and” while the album title opts for “&”? Inconsistencies aside, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers is a significant debut, marking the start of a career that would shape heartland rock and American music for decades. The album lays the groundwork for Petty’s signature blend of jangly guitars, wistful storytelling, and emotional urgency. It opens strong with Rockin’ Around (With You), a punchy introduction full of energy and charm. Breakdown, a sultry, bluesy groove, showcases Petty’s talent for creating atmosphere, while American Girl closes the album with a career-defining anthem of youthful longing and drive. These two tracks, in particular, have become cultural touchstones, cementing their place in movies and TV. While the album captures the raw, unpolished energy of its time, it also has flaws. A few tracks (The Wild One, Forever, Mystery Man) feel underwhelming, and the final stretch drags until American Girl delivers the payoff. Some moments veer into derivative territory, drawing heavily from bands like The Byrds and The Rolling Stones, and the lyrics, while solid, lack the depth of Petty’s later work. Later albums were more polished and commercially successful, but this debut’s rawness and spirited energy make it an endearing release. Despite its missteps, it’s a crucial piece in understanding Tom Petty’s rise to greatness. Did/Do I own this release? No Does this release belong on the list? For its historical importance and the cultural impact of American Girl and Breakdown, maybe. But there are likely better albums to pick from his catalogue. Would this release make my personal list? No Will I be listening to it again? Yes, occasionally.

The first song threw me off. Less Tom Petty rock and roll and more harmony pop. I enjoyed the rest of the album. This is what I think of when I think of straight forward rock. I’ve always liked Breakdown and American Girl just slaps!!

Has the iconic "American Girl", but the rest of the songs were not particularly exciting.

Solid all around musical work.

American Girl is an all-time fave. I didn’t LOVE the rest of the album but liked it enough to round up to a 4z

On first listen Friday, liked this a lot, was leaning to a 4. Listened to it again today and wasn’t as impressed. A decent debut.

Little known fact: “fooled again (I don’t like it)” is about the people who bought this album on the strength of “breakdown” and “American girl” and then learned the rest of the album wasn’t good. Still three stars because it’s pleasant enough. A genre I like, an artist whose hits I enjoy, doesn’t overstay its welcome, this was never going to be below 3. But it’s two great singles and not a lot else. Yes, Bob! Reviewing in Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies (1981), Robert Christgau said, "Addicts of updated nostalgia and rock and roll readymades should find this a sly and authentic commentary on the evolving dilemma of Harold Teen. The songs are cute, the riffs executed with more dynamism than usual, and the singing attractively phlegmy. And like they say at the end of other cartoons, that's all, folks." Correct! He gave it a B+. Arguably, B+ = 4, but I’m sticking with my 3, despite my concurrence.

Fun!

meh

“American Girl” is one of the most staggeringly perfect songs ever written that it makes up for a pretty mid album. (Fine, “Breakdown” is pretty good too)

Seems good so far (song 2) Verdict: Good 7.5/10

I really liked it, it gave me a different change of pace and the songs were nice.

I like Tom Pertty’s later output far more than this first record. Still some good stuff but a lot of this feels like filler. 3/5

Not bad but also not an album I'd miss I think.

a typical rock album but nothing that stood out to me especially

No me gustó.

It's listenable alright, but give me the ones from the heyday of their/his commercial success - late 80s / early 90s. Standout tracks: Breakdown, Fooled Again (I Don't Like It), Luna.

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

This shit slapped, I have nothing else to offer other than that.

Promising debut, but not as great as "Damn the torpedoes" or "Wildflowers"

Ideal para una escena de transición en una película setentera. Nada mal, nada extraordinario 2

Muy monótono, plano y no entiendo por qué está en la lista. Definitivamente podía morir sin haberlo escuchado.

Good stuff.

Pretty good

30/100 but nicer...

Didn't know much about Tom Petty other than the big ones so was surprised by how much I liked this album.

I can see why this is on here, but Tom Petty is just not my favorite singer or guitarist and this is also not his best album imo.

Niet hun beste. Het meeste klinkt wat te basic, buiten Breakdown en American Girl natuurlijk. 3.0

meh

7/10. Some classics, and a good overall album but nothing blows me away with it.

One boom BOOM💪

I'm not an American girl so while American girl might have been a bop in high school for me, i'm no longer as into it. And these other tracks are just not hitting either. And also, men and their weird vocals back then, im all set. Giving this a 3 because i could see myself coming back around to it someday

Well, it's Tom Petty, so it was great. I love some of these songs. Others I had never heard before.

Good, but not their best album

The instrumentals are unremarkable, but I really cannot stand the vocalists voice. Terribly grating. Best: Rockin' Around (With You) Worst: Hometown Blues

It's a solid debut album. Not the best Tom Petty album tho. I would've put Damn the Torpedoes instead of this.

A classic. Great first album.

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.

Great album - not his best but it’s solid.

Average

Κλασσικο ροκ των 70s, 80s Οκ καποια καλα κομματια οχι κατι ακραιο. Rating: C-

Liked how the songs said what they needed to say then moved on, no needless fat on them. Each song had its own vibe too which was nice. Would give 3.5 if I could

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.

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

american girl is a classic song that feels comfy and nostalgic. the rest of the album is boomer heart land rock

Americana at it’s best, corny and stale at times but make up for it with pure catchy rock. iconic classic album

Not my thing, at least, not right now.

Kevyttä ja helppoa rallattelua, ehkä liiankin. Niukasti kolmonen.

Aika basicsettiä mulle, gagonen ilman sen kummempia analyyseja

Eh, I don’t get the appeal. I find his vocal style rather obnoxious. “Luna” is better than the others.

Kinda lacklustre as a full album, but still love Tom Petty

I think ive heard these songs too much. Tom Petty seemed like a cool dude tho.

I very much enjoyed most of the songs and how it was played. A good album to have on in the background when guests are over.

Skitterend

Nice and enjoyable heartland rock. Short 30 minute record which makes it concise and high quality.

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.

uninteressant aber halt nicht schlecht

There's a couple of good tracks, Breakdown and American Girl are classics. Most of the rest didn't do too much for me.

Brutal

Competent but basic except for American Girl 3.3

Era bueno el Petty éste. No sé porqué nunca me gustó cuando estaba vivo. Creo que porque salió en la banda sonora de la película ñoña She is the one. Prejuicios míos.

Breakdown and American Girl are stone-cold classics. Most of the rest of the songs struggle to distinguish themselves by hewing a little too close to classic rock n' roll forms. The next tier of tracks are definitely better than filler, but they lack the spark of Petty's best work. I argue that you could hear them on a number of other artists' records at the time. Finally, I'd say there are a couple of throwaways but I'll leave that exercise to the listener. This album really is just 3 stars as a whole, reaching for greatness but not there yet.

not bad

Heel leuk, want kende het niet. Toffe sound.

rockin and fun. classic stuff

There are quite a few classics here, American Girl without a doubt the most famous. Late 70s American rock.

Pretty good. The songs Breakdown and American Girl are strong enough to bump this album up to 4 stars for me. Those two songs feel like something that people will still be listening to in 100 years. Is Tom Petty another artist who would be best represented on this list with a best of compilation? That would be wall to wall five star songs.

Can’t deny Tom Petty has a talent for a catchy tune. This isn’t quite on the level of subsequent albums, but still really good.

I’ve always liked Tom Petty just fine and I agree there probably should be at least an album of his on here. But shouldn’t that album be Wildflowers? (I bet that’s on here too) Listening to this album, I thought to myself. “Are there 1001 albums I’d rather listen to than this?” That hard to actually answer, but this is a three album if I ever heard one.

2.5

Solid songwriting and some welcome gems considering that I have only heard the hits in the past. Tighter band than I would have expected.

2.5 stars

Nice riffs, but a really short album. I did not find it bad, it was interesting and very fast paced. Good album. Especially for a debut, he clearly has potential.

2 of the best rock songs of the 70s and 8 other fun but mostly forgettable songs (strangered in the night the best of them imo).

4.4 Great album, maybe 1-2 standard rock and roll songs that keep it out of 5 star rating

Generic rock, nothing special. 2.5 rounding down to 2

Ah, I hate to give a Tom Petty album a "middle of the road" kind of rating, as there's a lot of his stuff that I really like. But this LP is just... kind of forgettable? Forgettable despite how slick the production is, and how well the pop sensibilities mix with the rock 'n' roll flavours that Petty is channelling. If there's anything that sets this album apart from its peers and influences it is just how dynamic the sound is. From the clean and fun vocals (the harmonizing chorus' on some tracks are absolutely astounding), to the music featuring smooth riffs, solid bass lines, and seamless compositions. The only problem is that, while all of these elements are done really well, they've been done before with better material. It's like watching the current day Lakers with LeBron James - sure, they're entertaining to watch and they play relatively clean basketball. But if I have the option to watch the Bulls with Michael Jordan dominating during a more "f*** you" era of NBA defense I'll probably pick that one. Personal highlights: ‘Breakdown’, ‘Strangered In The Night’, ‘Mystery Man’, and ‘American Girl’. It was good, enjoyable 70’s rock with just enough of a peek into what was to come in the 80’s. Fun to listen to as background music - to drive to, even. But as a serious listen it feels like very throwaway material. I’m a Tom Petty fan, but this isn’t the greatest representation of his output; and with the huge discography he has there’s much better LP’s that are, hopefully, on the list. 3/5

classic

Short, but had a few very good moments. 3/5

Classic Petty and an introduction to his brand of straight forward loveable rock.

Tosi hyvää ja rentotuulista rokkia, mutta onhan American Girl ihan omalla tasolla muuhun levyyn nähden. Parhaat: American Girl, Mystery Man, Strangered In the Night

I was kind of on the fence here for the 1st half, but this album is really back loaded. It would be a 3.5, but going with a 4.

Good album - not really heard a lot of Tom Petty before, but a good classic-rock album, some good songs and his gritty vocals. Good listen, will probably explore more

Excellent debut album

This first offering by TP & the Heartbreakers has a refined sound without being over-produced. I think this is in large part due to the songwriting, arrangement, and performance by the band. Songs are fresh and a little punchy.

Haven't heard this all the way through before. Quick, easy to listen to, solid throughout. Great crafting of songs. I feel like it’s a strong four, four and a half, but being rooted in classic rock and roll, and not being really, well, weird, it might have a hard time standing out in my memory.

New favorite: "The Wild One, Forever" What a good musician. Loved this. 4 1/2 stars.

Some banger rock songs and a bunch of alright rock songs.

Un peu déçu, j'espérais que les deep cuts allaient être plus intéressantes que ça. Il reste que les singles de cet album sont bons, mais la balance des chansons ne sonnent pas tellement unique ou originale en comparaison à tout ce qui se fait en terme de heartland rock. 5.5/10

Middle of the road. Classic rock

A bit hit and miss, and a bit too Springsteen-y in places. Not terrible but probably not worth a re-visit.

Ok, mid-70s rock and roll. Doesn’t feel like it breaks new ground or improves on anything before. It doesn’t really have any edge, it’s a bit dull and vanilla. It’s just decent songs from a decent band. Something you can put on anywhere, except my own headphones. Listenable but mostly forgettable, with a song or 2 that have a particularly catchy hook. I also hate this album cover and his stupid face.

I’m glad Tom Petty is on this list - I feel that he’s the American answer to Van Morrison - but I am very puzzled by this album’s inclusion. It’s their debut - while it has hints of what might come, it’s definitely inferior to Damn The Torpedoes or Into The Great Wide Open. I think someone at the NME needs their head checked.

6/10. I love 1970's hard rock. However, this one didn't really get to me. It didn't match my vibe very well. :)

Forgettable run of the mill rock n roll songs indeed, generally speaking. Yet four cuts in it can be considered as iconic--and this in such a striking manner that I could almost consider including the album in my own list. Those highlights are the lively "Breakdown", "Strangered in the Night", whose lyrics about a deadly confrontation between a white and a black dude could admittedly raise a few eyebrows (yet Petty was certainly no racist, he made it clear again and again with his collaborators and on a number of takes related to the confederate flag), and also "Luna", a moody, impressionistic nightly and mysterious ballad that sticks out like a sore thumb in the tracklist, but in a good way. And of course, there's the all-time hit "American Girl". First time I heard the song, it was when I watched *The Silence Of The Lambs* as a teen. Its use in the movie told you everything you needed to know about a certain character in five seconds. That's how good and evocative the song is. 3/5 for the purposes of this list of essential albums, rounded up to 4 8/10 grade for more general purposes (5 + 3). Number of albums left to review: 33 Number of albums from the list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 418 Albums from the list I *might* include in mine later on: 243 Albums from the list I won't include in mine: 310 (including this one -- Let's be honest, I don't have room for it now)

Classic, timeless storytelling. Good album, good sounds, good songs.

Solid Album. Classic and Fun!

Enjoyable and instantly forgettable

Didn’t hate it, but did immediately forget every song.

American Girl is definitely the best song on this short debut album, but I kind of like Rockin' Around (With You) more. The album is so short, but very listenable. Overall, nothing too inspirational for me, but an enjoyable listen.

Some good ol fashioned rock n roll music. Tom Petty does a good job of it, and the guitar playing is great on this record. Perfect length too, just 30 minutes. All you need

Enjoyed this. Although wasn’t as petty or as heartbreaking as you’d expect. 3.6

The known songs are ok, the rest I forgot about before they finished. Middling 2.

Fab

2 major hits. The rest was ok, but solid debut album. Much bigger things to come.

I don't have anything against Tom Petty. Nor do I have anything for Tom Petty. I am neutral lol

dad music

Just thought it really dull

mid kinda idk

Just a great classic rock record with a great mix of new and old.

Unremarkable

A breezy 30 minute debut. Like most Tom Petty its up and down. However - ending your debut record with a banger like American Girl is great.

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