tom petty and the heartbreakers shadow of a doubt (a complex kid)

This was the first of three Petty albums originally released by the Backstreet Records label, distributed by MCA Records. Few mainstream rock albums of the late '70s and early '80s were quite as strong as this, and it still stands as one of the great records of the album rock era.Damn the Torpedoes is the third studio album by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, released on October 19, 1979. Yet there are purpose and passion behind the performances that makes Damn the Torpedoes an invigorating listen all the same. Most of the songs have a deep melancholy undercurrent - the tough 'Here Comes My Girl' and 'Even the Losers' have tender hearts the infectious 'Don't Do Me Like That' masks a painful relationship 'Refugee' is a scornful, blistering rocker 'Louisiana Rain' is a tear-jerking ballad. He had written a few classics before - 'American Girl,' 'Listen to Her Heart' - but here his songwriting truly blossoms. Their musical suppleness helps bring out the soul in Petty's impressive set of songs.

It helped that the Heartbreakers had turned into a tighter, muscular outfit, reminiscent of, well, the Stones in their prime - all of the parts combine into a powerful, distinctive sound capable of all sorts of subtle variations. Musically, it follows through on the promise of their first two albums, offering a tough, streamlined fusion of the Stones and Byrds that, thanks to Jimmy Iovine's clean production, sounded utterly modern yet timeless. Amazingly, through all the frustration and anguish, Petty & the Heartbreakers delivered their breakthrough and arguably their masterpiece with Damn the Torpedoes. He settled with MCA and set to work on his third album, digging out some old Mudcrutch numbers and quickly writing new songs. Petty struggled to free himself from the major label, eventually sending himself into bankruptcy. Not long after You're Gonna Get It, Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers' label, Shelter, was sold to MCA Records.

Tom petty and the heartbreakers shadow of a doubt (a complex kid)