the Heartbreakers
Damn the Torpedoes
Year: 1979
Format: Vinyl
Grade: A-
There are hits to burn on Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers' 1979 slab, Damn the Torpedoes, with "Refugee," "Here Comes My Girl," "Even the Losers" and "Don't Do Me Like That."
Those tracks alone stand for nearly half of the record, but most of the rest of it holds its own.
"Century City" builds on a blues tempo and features a hooky chorus. "What Are You Doin' in My Life" treads similar ground without Benmont Tench's piano work adding a jovial flavor.
There aren't really any ballads until the closer, "Louisiana Rain," which is the weakest track in the pack.
With "Refugee," "Here Comes My Girl" and "Even the Losers" to open the slab, side A works out to be a touch better than side B. While the change in quality is noticeable, it's only because the three A-side singles are so memorable.
Petty faced frustration with recording labels at the time of Damn the Torpedoes, but he must have used it as fuel for the fire because Damn the Torpedoes is among his finest work.
Tomorrow's entry: Astro, Astro
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