Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers

[The New AimeeAndBeatles]

Note that I said "and the Heartbreakers." I mean, where would Petty be without his Heartbreakers?

Back after Mudcrutch (his early 1970s band) broke up, but before the Heartbreakers formed, Petty tried his luck as a solo artist. It didn't work out.

Then he was called in to help Benmont Tench (the pianist of the Heartbreakers) with a recording. And the Heartbreakers were there, except they weren't called the Heartbreakers yet. And Petty stole the band.

[fifthofnovember]

They're playing at the Superbowl..so excited.

Yeah, pretty much TP is awesome, so are the heartbreakers. Damn the Torpedoes is his best album, and once again, Tom Petty rules.

[Zimmerman The Gnome]

Well, I would say Tom Petty doesnt really need the Heartbreakers although they probably need him.
Best albums are Full Moon Fever, Into The Great Wide Open and Wildflower

[fifthofnovember]

His self titled and Damn the Torpedoes are his best, but his Greatest Hits is also an excellent place to start (the one with the red cover from 93)

[The New AimeeAndBeatles]

Well, I would say Tom Petty doesnt really need the Heartbreakers although they probably need him.

Those solo albums came out after he became successful. The reason Full Moon Fever is a solo album is because he couldn't find the other Heartbreakers, and when he did, they were upset because he used session musicians. (That's what it seems like.)

Wildflowers is just a Heartbreakers album without Stan Lynch. (The drummer. He left sometime in '93.)

I think Highway Companion was meant to be solo.

Full Moon Fever and Wildflowers have the other Heartbreakers, just less so. And Mike Campbell is on all three solo albums (FMF, Wildflowers, and Highway Companion.)


Damn the Torpedoes is probably his best Heartbreakers album. In fact, a friend's father thought it was some kinda Greatest Hits first time he heard it.

[sourmilkpinky]

my favorite WdTYcnUBADw

[The New AimeeAndBeatles]

I could tell which video it was from the 'cap', but its not available! Unless you go to the actual site. Maybe its because embedding is disabled? Here's the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WdTYcnUBADw

It's creepy the first few times you see it, but eventually you just start laughing. Especially the part where he's trying to get her to watch TV, and she just falls over.

I don't have a favourite, but here's one I really like. The look on Stan's face when his drums start running away is priceless! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AjYqAAEAEVA

[FPSHOT]

It's nice to go back in time for Tom's albums. Often we stick to his period as from Full Moon Fever.

In that case I prefer his 1976 first album "Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers" which I first heard in a (then) famous bootleg record store here in sunny Rotterdam back in probably 1976 or 1977 and got the LP which was a US Import back then quite fresh. Never would think back then how he would later be involved with 'my' George.

Songs like "Breakdown", "Hometown Blues" are just awesome and "Anything That's R&R" is pure Rock & Roll.

"Fooled Again (I Don't Like It)" is maybe my favorite or maybe "Luna"

[The New AimeeAndBeatles]

Hometown Blues is not a true Heartbreakers song, at least I don't consider it one. It was late Mudcrutch. (Mudcrutch was Petty's early-1970s band. They released I think 2 singles, and some more on Playback. They reunited just a few months ago, gonna put out an album.)

"Luna" was Tom and Stan (the drummer) just jamming.

My favourite Heartbreakers record? I don't really have one. They all got their own...feel.

[Zimmerman The Gnome]

The reason Full Moon Fever is a solo album is because he couldn't find the other Heartbreakers, and when he did, they were upset because he used session musicians. (That's what it seems like.)


Sorry, but that is just a made up statement!

It was meant as a solo project and was recorded with the help of Jeff Lynne, who he had enjoyed working with on the Wilbury album.

[FPSHOT]

I agree oh silent Scot.

Full Moon Fever was more than "he used session musicians"

I believe the "Heartbreakers" knew at the time very well what Tom was doing and some were involved...that happens?

Studio Musicians?

ok let's have them again

George Harrison – Roy Orbison – Jim Keltner – Del Shannon - Jeff Lynne

Well....

But you know...since 1976 when Tom & The Heartbreakers had a first album also many other leading artists had other projects? So yeah sometimes it is hard even for the latest albumms of Tom Petty to name them a solo album. He is just as weird as The Beatles were and like Ron Wood who on most of his solo albums had half of the Stones at least?

[The New AimeeAndBeatles]

Sorry, but that is just a made up statement!

It was meant as a solo project and was recorded with the help of Jeff Lynne, who he had enjoyed working with on the Wilbury album.

All the following information comes from CD booklets and liner notes, the Runnin' Down A Dream book, and Conversations with Tom Petty. And probably one or two things I got somewhere else. Probably Wikipedia.

I have Conversations with Tom Petty right here. Petty said that after they recorded Free Fallin', they tried to get the other Heartbreakers into it.

It was Christmas, so we didn't know where the band was. I think Stanley was in Florida. And that was a real kind of a weird thing for me, because it was a big deal for The Heartbreakers.
I remember calling Howie because I thought we had better get as many of [The Heartbreakers] as we can....And I guess they had already talked among themselves, and were pissed about it. This is pure conjecture on my part, but I think they had probably talked among themselves, Stanley and Ben and Howie. There was a vibe.
So I got to Mike's [FMF was recorded in "Mike Campbell Studios," which was really his house], and Howie was sitting outside the door of the bedroom. And he seemed kind of preoccupied, like he could be in those days. He was waiting, almost like a doctor waiting in the waiting room. And he said, "You don't really need me for this, do you?" And he said, "I don't like it."
I said, "Well, if you don't like it, I don't need you."
And he said, "Okay, I'm gonna go," and he left.
Right then I went, well, this is going to be a Tom Petty solo record, because I like it.

Here is the lineup from the time FMF was recorded.

# Tom Petty - lead vocals, rhythm guitar
# Mike Campbell - lead guitar
# Howie Epstein - bass guitar
# Benmont Tench - keyboards
# Stan Lynch - drums

(I'll also note that Tom. Howie, and Stan were the main harmony singers. Benmont did a little bit, but I think only on "Damn the Torpedoes" which has a different line-up.)

Also, I've got the credits right here. From the original LP. Not the CD.

CREDITS:
Tom Petty - Lead & Background Vocals, Acoustic and Electric, 6 & 12 String Guitars, some Keyboards and Tambourines
Mike Campbell - Guitars (solos), Mandolin, Bass, Slide Guitar and Keyboards
Jeff Lynne - Bass, Guitars, Keyboards, and Background Vocals
Phil Jones - Drums and Percussion
George Harrison - Acoustic Guitar and Background Vocals on "I Won't Back Down"
Jim Keltner - Drums, Maracas, and Tambourine on "Love is a Long Road"
Howie Epstein - Background Vocals on "I Won't Back Down" and "Love is a Long Road"
Benmont Tench - Piano on "The Apartment Song"
Kelsey Campbell - Scream on "Zombie Zoo"
Roy Orbison - Background Vocals with the TREMBLING BLENDERS on "Zombie Zoo"
Alan Weidel, Jeff Lynne, T.P. - Hand Claps on "Feel a Whole Lot Better"

This part is from the CD booklet:
T.P., Jeff Lynne & Del Shannon -- Barnyard Noises on "Attention CD Listeners."

Stan is completely missing, and Howie and Benmont are only on certain songs. (Kelsey Campbell is Mike's daughter, if anyone was wondering. Alan Weidel is also known as "Bugs". He's Tom's roadie, basically. Since the Heartbreakers started. On FMF he's listed as Assistant Engineer and Guitar Maintenance.) Also, note that FMF was recorded before the Wilburys. Tom said that the Wilburys were really happy guys, and the Heartbreakers were more introverts.

And the only other Heartbreaker on Highway Companion is Mike. (Mike is like Tom's right-hand man.) And Wildflowers is a Heartbreakers album without Stan, although Steve Ferrone is on it. Steve became a Heartbreaker. He's still with them.

I know what I'm talking about, too.

Last thought -- If Full Moon Fever is "Traveling Wilburys Volume 2," is Mike Campbell a Sidebury?