Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers (album)

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers is the debut studio album by the American rock band Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, released on November 9, 1976, by Shelter Records. The album was recorded and mixed at the Shelter Studio in Hollywood, California.

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
Studio album by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
Released	November 9, 1976 (1976-11-09)[1]
Recorded	1976
Studio	Shelter (Hollywood)
Genre	Rock and roll[2]
Length	30:38
Label	Shelter
Producer	Denny Cordell
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers chronology
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers (1976) You're Gonna Get It! (1978)
Singles from Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
"Breakdown" Released: November 1976 "American Girl" Released: February 1977 "Anything That's Rock 'n' Roll" Released: April 1977 (UK only) "Rockin' Around (With You)" Released: August 1977 (Germany only)

Release and promotion

The album received little attention on its release in the United States. It climbed to No. 24 on the UK albums chart following a British tour, and the single "Anything That's Rock 'n' Roll" became a hit in the UK. After nearly a year and many positive reviews, the album reached the U.S. charts, where it peaked at No. 55 in 1978 and eventually went Gold.

"Breakdown" was released as the lead single and cracked the Top 40 in the U.S. and "American Girl" became one of the band's signature songs.^[3]

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[4]
Blender	[5]
Chicago Tribune	[6]
Christgau's Record Guide	B+[2]
The Essential Rock Discography	6/10[7]
MusicHound	[8]
Pitchfork	7.0/10[9]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide	[10]
Sounds	[11]
The Daily Vault	A−[12]

Reviewing in Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies (1981), Robert Christgau said, "Addicts of updated nostalgia and rock and roll readymades should find this a sly and authentic commentary on the evolving dilemma of Harold Teen. The songs are cute, the riffs executed with more dynamism than usual, and the singing attractively phlegmy. And like they say at the end of other cartoons, that's all, folks."^[2] The album was included in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.^[13]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Tom Petty, except "Rockin' Around (With You)" co-written with Mike Campbell.

Side one

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Rockin' Around (With You)"	2:28
2.	"Breakdown"	2:42
3.	"Hometown Blues"	2:13
4.	"The Wild One, Forever"	3:01
5.	"Anything That's Rock 'n' Roll"	2:23

Side two

No.	Title	Length
6.	"Strangered in the Night"	3:32
7.	"Fooled Again (I Don't Like It)"	3:48
8.	"Mystery Man"	3:01
9.	"Luna"	3:57
10.	"American Girl"	3:33

Personnel

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers

• Tom Petty – vocals, electric guitar, acoustic guitar, Hammond organ on track 9
• Mike Campbell – electric guitar, acoustic guitar
• Benmont Tench – piano, Hammond organ
• Ron Blair – bass guitar on tracks 1–2, 4–5, 7–10, cello on track 4
• Stan Lynch – drums on tracks 1–2, 4–5, 7–10, synthesizer on track 9

Additional musicians

• Jeff Jourard – electric guitar on tracks 2, 6–8
• Donald "Duck" Dunn – bass guitar on track 3
• Emory Gordy – bass guitar on track 6
• Randall Marsh – drums on track 3
• Jim Gordon – drums on track 6
• Noah Shark – maracas, tambourine, sleigh bells
• Charlie Souza – saxophone on track 3
• Phil Seymour – backing vocals on tracks 2, 10
• Dwight Twilley – backing vocals on track 6

Charts

Chart performance for Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers

Chart (1976–77)	Peak Position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[14]	57

Certifications

Certifications for Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[15]	Gold	500,000^
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.