Damn the Torpedoes

by Tom Petty, Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers

Overview

Not long after You're Gonna Get It, Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers' label, Shelter, was sold to MCA Records. Petty struggled to free himself from the major label, eventually sending himself into bankruptcy. He settled with MCA and set to work on his third album, digging out some old Mudcrutch numbers and quickly writing new songs. Amazingly, through all the frustration and anguish, Petty & the Heartbreakers delivered their breakthrough and arguably their masterpiece with Damn the Torpedoes. 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. 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. Their musical suppleness helps bring out the soul in Petty's impressive set of songs. He had written a few classics before -- "American Girl," "Listen to Her Heart" -- but here his songwriting truly blossoms. 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. Yet there are purpose and passion behind the performances that makes Damn the Torpedoes an invigorating listen all the same. 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. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Product Details

Release Date:	06/02/2017
Label:	Geffen / Island
UPC:	0602547658302

Tracks

1. Refugee
2. Here Comes My Girl
3. Even the Losers
4. Shadow of a Doubt (A Complex Kid)
5. Century City
6. Don't Do Me Like That
7. You Tell Me
8. What Are You Doin' in My Life?
9. Louisiana Rain

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers   Primary Artist
Tom Petty   Primary Artist,Guitar,Vocals,Harmonica,Lead Vocals,Vocal Harmony,Guitar (12 String),Vocals (Background)
Donald "Duck" Dunn   Guest Artist,Bass
Stan Lynch   Drums,Vocals,Keyboards,Percussion,Waterphone,Vocal Harmony,Vocals (Background)
Mike Campbell   Organ,Guitar,Accordion,Harmonica,Keyboards,Lead Guitar,Slide Guitar,Guitar (Bass),Guitar (12 String),Vocals (Background)
Benmont Tench   Organ,Piano,Vocals,Cymbals,Harmonium,Keyboards,Vocals (Background)
Jim Keltner   Percussion
Ron Blair   Bass,Guitar (Bass),Bass (Electric),Vocals (Background)

Technical Credits

Sharon Sheeley   Composer
Shelly Yakus   Mixing,Engineer,Producer,Recording
Bob Cochran   Composer
Chris Bellman   Mastering,Mastering Engineer
Joe Gastwirt   Remastering,Mastering Engineer
Greg Calbi   Mastering,Mastering Engineer
Jon Mathias   Assistant Engineer
Jimmy Iovine   Producer
Mike Campbell   Composer,Producer
Thom Panunzio   Assistant Engineer
Tommy Steele   Art Direction
Tom Petty   Composer,Producer
Skip Saylor   Assistant Engineer
Ryan Ulyate   Mixing,Producer
Gray Russell   Assistant Engineer
Lynn Goldsmith   Photography
Gary Russell   Assistant Engineer
Aaron Rapoport   Photography
Dennis Callahan   Photography
Glen Christensen   Cover Photo,Photography
Tori Swenson   Assistant Engineer
Noah Shark   Engineer,Recording
Dennis Callaghan   Photography
Charles Kaplan   Engineer,Recording