He duetted with Stevie Nicks. He’s pioneered stoner animation videos. He’s run the gamut of styles from pop to country rock to, well, just about everything. And he was a Wilbury. But, how well do we know the guy who wrote Mary Jane’s Last Dance, Refugee, American Girl, and countless other classic rock staples? Well, I don’t know him nearly at all. Hence the latest Listening Post. Let’s dive in.
Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers – You’re Gonna Get It – 1978 (Buy It)
“You’re Gonna Get It” starts off with a sure foot and moves right into the familiar Petty sound on the title track. It’s got that “You’ve Got Lucky Babe” feel to it.
The entire exercise could be called Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers 2 as was the pattern with many acts in the 70s. After all, 30 minutes is not a lot of time, by today’s 70+ minute CD standard. So, it could be easy to see some of a band’s A stuff spilling over from a strong debut to a tight sophomore entry.
That said, this record takes a long time to get going. I didn’t key in until the fourth track, Magnolia, where they album begins to really show some heart. I think, without TP&tH, the Gin Blossoms might have had to find another line of work.
Everything on this record seems to be setting up the TP we will come to know over the last part of the decade.
Ultimately I have to agree with reviewers who say that, in the end, after the record is over, you might forget you even listened to it.
The missteps are few, and innocuous, indeed. A piece of piffle like “No Second Thoughts” wouldn’t have made it onto a b-side of a George Harrison single. Before you can realize that you don’t want to hear it anymore, it’s over, so that’s nice and no one really needs to hear “Restless” ever again.
Grade C+
A Side: I Need to Know, Listen to her Heart
BlindSide: When the TIme Comes, Magnolia
DownSide: No Second Thoughts, Restless
