Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers: Greatest Hits
Editorial
Release date: 28 June 2008 (Geffen)
There is a feeling of familiarity when listening to the (extremely) originally titled Greatest Hits from Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, which does not come from prior listening experience, but from the vibe associated with this era of music. 'That era' of music is not even the highpoint for rock'n'roll, but it was the era, I suppose, of corporate refinement - which, in the music industry, was a terrible thing even though it meant more opportunities for artists. To hear Tom Petty crooning away with a convincingly fake disregard for this corporate agenda is quite entertaining.
This is all well and good, but is the music really all that, or did the corporate takeover of the late '60s and early '70s ruin Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, and prevent them (or him) becoming something incredible? To suit the style that was popular between '76 and '85 or so, there are lots of cheesy synthesizer sounds with relatively grandiose arrangements. Everything sounds big on this album, which has nothing to do with the 're-mastering' process it's been put through and everything to do with the compositional skill of The Heartbreakers with Petty running the lyrical show.
The most enjoyable aspect of this album is the variety - Peter Gabriel style variety! You've got that blues-influenced rock in Breakdown, the big cheesy pop of Refugee and some more eclectic influences in You Got Lucky (inspired by the Police?) and Don't Come Around Here No More. Most greatest hits albums are not for purists, but for everyone else - why not?
Tracks:
1. American Girl
2. Breakdown
3. Listen to Her Heart
4. I Need to Know
5. Refugee
6. Don't Do Me Like That
7. Even the Losers
8. Here Comes My Girl
9. The Waiting
10. You Got Lucky
11. Don't Come Around Here No More
12. I Won't Back Down
13. Runnin' Down A Dream
14. Free Fallin'
15. Learning to Fly
16. Into the Great Wide Open
17. Mary Jane's Last Dance
18. Stop Draggin' My Heart Around
There is a feeling of familiarity when listening to the (extremely) originally titled Greatest Hits from Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, which does not come from prior listening experience, but from the vibe associated with this era of music. 'That era' of music is not even the highpoint for rock'n'roll, but it was the era, I suppose, of corporate refinement - which, in the music industry, was a terrible thing even though it meant more opportunities for artists. To hear Tom Petty crooning away with a convincingly fake disregard for this corporate agenda is quite entertaining.
This is all well and good, but is the music really all that, or did the corporate takeover of the late '60s and early '70s ruin Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, and prevent them (or him) becoming something incredible? To suit the style that was popular between '76 and '85 or so, there are lots of cheesy synthesizer sounds with relatively grandiose arrangements. Everything sounds big on this album, which has nothing to do with the 're-mastering' process it's been put through and everything to do with the compositional skill of The Heartbreakers with Petty running the lyrical show.
The most enjoyable aspect of this album is the variety - Peter Gabriel style variety! You've got that blues-influenced rock in Breakdown, the big cheesy pop of Refugee and some more eclectic influences in You Got Lucky (inspired by the Police?) and Don't Come Around Here No More. Most greatest hits albums are not for purists, but for everyone else - why not?
Tracks:
1. American Girl
2. Breakdown
3. Listen to Her Heart
4. I Need to Know
5. Refugee
6. Don't Do Me Like That
7. Even the Losers
8. Here Comes My Girl
9. The Waiting
10. You Got Lucky
11. Don't Come Around Here No More
12. I Won't Back Down
13. Runnin' Down A Dream
14. Free Fallin'
15. Learning to Fly
16. Into the Great Wide Open
17. Mary Jane's Last Dance
18. Stop Draggin' My Heart Around
Vincent Giles, August 2008
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