![]() The hard-edged heartland rock of Petty’s previous few records was augmented by a California gloss, banks of acoustic guitars, washes of Lynne background vocals, and drums that sound like tambourines are chained to the snare. Full Moon Fever (1989) – Shine it up, Jeff Lynne! Let’s make a pop/rock masterpiece! The ELO mastermind had Tom without the band (except for the liberal use of guitarist Campbell) and crafted a smashing hit. HIDDEN GEMS: “Shadow of a Doubt (A Complex Kid)”, “Louisiana Rain”Ģ. It is the album that made superstars of Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers.ĮSSENTIALS: “Refugee”, “Don’t Do Me Like That”, “Even the Losers” and “Here Comes My Girl” They recorded live, in the same room, take after take. Producer Jimmy Iovine worked the band endlessly to get the sound he wanted. And an album cut like “Shadow of a Doubt (A Complex Kid)” sounds just as good as classic rock radio choices. The songs that became classic rock radio staples have stood the test of musical time they still sound essential. Is it his best record? Always debatable but I’d have trouble saying there is one better than Damn the Torpedoes. Damn the Torpedoes (1979) – Straddling intersecting lines of power pop, rock and roll, and new wave, Petty made the record that, all these years later, more than any other album, defines him. Here for you, my friends, is the RockForward list of Petty’s 7 Essential Albums (and a couple that were too good to leave off).ġ. Petty and his boys owned the package of accessibility, writing, passion and sweet-ass rock and roll hooks. Giving them the nod as the quintessential American rock and roll band is no small honor. It is a band with a long history one that made music that goes back to the original Mudcrutch days. ![]() Petty could also sweat and smile at the same time. Sounding not from one place (belying the band’s strong Florida roots), and instead sounding like they were from everywhere enabled them to connect with rednecks and hippies, East coast attitude and West coast shine. Let’s rewind and take a listen to the band that has best represented American Rock music for 40 years – a deserved title for Petty and the Heartbreakers. ![]() In the two-plus years since Tom Petty’s passing, his music rings true as ever, and sounds just as it was meant to be -timeless.
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