Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers - Let Me Up (I've Had Enough)

ALL MIXED Up ???

The song "all mixed up" should be on a hits collections. It's a fan favorite ( NOT MUCH AIR-PLAY ). Man, what a treat it is, on this very fun album. This album is alot like the rolling stones album " It's only rock an roll "........BOTH never get the credit they deserve , WHICH IS 5 STARS in this case. The only song I dislike is the song "JAMMIN ME", which was a single release. STRANGE !!! August 20, 2008

Gettin' Sloppy

Prior to recording "Let Me Up I've Had Enough," Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers did a tour as Bob Dylan's backing band. Petty clearly relished being a bandleader instead of the front man, and became friends with Dylan. It was a wish of many at the time that Petty's tight discipline would rub off on Dylan's work, but it seems to have had the opposite effect. A little of Dylan's well-worn sloppiness seemed to have stuck on Petty and the boys.

"Let Me Up" is the last album by Petty to really rock, and is the loosest and most free-wheeling album they'd done since You're Gonna Get It!. There's certain joyousness to "Jamming Me" (co-written by Dylan) that stays with song long since the topical references have faded. The title track is a howl of blues-rock pain and kicks the CD to close.

The rest of the songs tend to be hit or miss, but the general feel of the album is fun and personal. You get the inclination that, after the slick and artful Southern Accents, The Heartbreakers were thrilled just to enter the studio and jam on some fresh material. "Runaway Train" is among Petty's best non-single tunes, with both "All Mixed Up" and "The Damage You've Done" also strong. Easily as underrated as Long After Dark (but looser and more fun), this was the album before Roots Rock fully enveloped Petty from Full Moon Fever and The Traveling Wilburys to the present Highway Companion.
July 16, 2008

Quit Jamming Me...You're Jamming Me!

One cannot play "Jammin' Me" loud enough !
Howie Epstein, Benmont Tench, Mike Campbell,
Stan Lynch, oh, and yes, the guy named
Tom Petty.
"Take away that country club Trump is
building outside MY DOOR"! April 27, 2008

Solid Effort - Not a Classic!

Interesting effort put forth by Petty. An album sandwiched between raw energy of earlier albums, and the folksy Dylan influences overtly portrayed later on (though Jammin' Me was Co-written by Dylan). A live feel with the gloss of an 80s album, but not new wawe. Lacks the raw energy of earier recordings. A good listen though.

Jammin' Me - Clearly an album oriented rock hit and single from the album. Catchy, glossy ear candy. Pop culture references impactful in 1987, outdated today. 4 stars

Runaway Trains - 80s influence with a keyboard / synth intro reminiscent of Miami Vice / Beverly Hills Cop. 4 stars

The Damage You've Done - Bluesy. Torn and broken hearted. Too much repetitive of chorus. Still a good song 4 stars for the guitar work of Mike Campbell.

It'll All Work Out - A feel of eastern Asian influence. Slower ballad but with a positive spin. Is it a tale of love lost or of internal optimism or both? 3.5 stars

My Life / Your World - Really enjoyed the bluesy intro with slide guitar. That ends, then the song restarts. Another 80s fluid, glossy tune. Sounds like a duet. 3.5 stars

Think About Me - Upbeat tune. Classic tune that has a feel (to me) or earier Petty work. 4.5 stars

All Mixed Up - Formulaic pop tune. 3 stars

A Self Made Man - Country influenced. 3 stars

Aint Love Strange - Short filler song to fill out the album. Not much too this frothy song. 3 stars

How Many More Days - Another filler song. This song and the last have a B side feel to me. Not a top A list song. 3 stars

Let Me Up (I've Had Enough) - A highlight to end the album. Blues riffs to cut your teeth on. I can bond to this song when times get rough. 4.5 stars.

Worth the price.
April 18, 2008

Favorite

It is hard to say anything bad about this CD for two reasons. First, it is a very good CD. Secondly, it contains my favorite Petty song "Jammin' me". A good buy. February 10, 2008

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