Petty's breakthrough album from 1979 still rocks. Even though it includes the unabashed pop hits Don't Do Me Like That and Refugee, it was at a rare time when you could still be cool and be popular. It's a fine line, and Petty has managed it much of his career. It's also a rare record, especially these days, where big hits don't overshadow everything else on the album. Equally strong are Here Comes My Girl, Shadow Of A Doubt, and the beloved Even The Losers. As we discover in the good liner notes, he didn't even have the killer second line "get lucky sometimes" until he stepped up to the mic to record the song. Sometimes perspiration causes inspiration.
For those with just the Petty Greatest Hits from the olden days, do yourself a favour and pick this up, because there's much to love, including 9 bonus tracks. B-sides Casa Dega and It's Rainin' Again are long-familiar b-sides, the first a good one, the second barely a song, more an idea. More importantly are two never-before released session out-takes, Nowhere and Surrender, either good enough to be on the album, and surprisingly, they were never called apon until now. There's a great little trio of live tunes too, Shadow Of A Doubt, Don't Do Me Like That and a cover of Eddie Cochran's Somethin' Else. The Heartbreakers have always been a smokin' band, I've seen them a couple of times, and these tracks have the excitement of a band breaking big in front of your eyes.
Now, my review copy isn't CD, I got a vinyl one, specifically to get back in the mood, but let me tell ya, if you want to groove on some needle grooves, this is one to do it to. The 180-gram pressing is rich and warm and loud and makes you wonder why you fell for that CD crap in the first place. Quit bugging me, I am enjoying living in 1979 again. I'm so thin!
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