Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers - Hard Promises

SOMETHING BIG ??????????

This is the album, that made tom petty, a really good writer of songs and different subjects. BUT !! What does , " SOMETHING BIG " ( THE SONG ) mean? What does it refer to ? If someone writes a review or comment tell me. The song is good, but I don't understand it. BUT !! This album really is "SOMETHING BIG" !!!!!!! September 2, 2008

PETTY KEEPING HIS PROMISE!

"Hard Promises" released by Tom Petty in 1981 had the seemingly impossible task of following his 1979 commercial breakthrough "Damn The Torpedoes." What's amazing is that Petty follows up his best work with another classic and finds himself searching deeper with more soul-searching lyrics than before and delivering them with a voice that displays true emotion proving the point that he just may be one of the most underrated singers in rock. Although not as consistent as "Torpedoes," "Promises delivers a punch and wallop that isn't too far behind. Opening with one of Petty's finest moments, "The Waiting" could easily have come off of it's predecessor with it's streamlined, radio ready sound. "A Woman In Love (it's not me) and "Letting You Go" were two minor hits for Petty but no less listenable than any of his major hits. In fact the latter is one of THE most underrated songs in Petty's catalogue. It's one of those songs that when you hear it, you remember it but it's sort of a forgotten gem and one of the best songs of his career.

By this point in his career Petty was proving himself to be just as effective at writing heartfelt country-styled ballads as he was rockers. "You Can Still Change Your Mind" and "Insider" pick up where "Louisiana Rain" left off. "Insider" is a particularly moving ballad with incredible counterpoint vocals from no other than Stevie Nicks. This is quite easily one of his most emotional and poignant songs up to this point and of his career. "Kings Road" and "A Thing About You" are great, fun rockers, the latter bordering close to the generic but Petty was still fresh enough at this stage of the game to keep it from falling into that category. The remaining songs include the humorous tongue in cheek "Nightwatchman" and "The Criminal Kind." "Something Big" showcases the sort of acoustic direction that Petty would explore further in his late 80's and 90's work and right up through his most recent Mudcrutch release. The remastered sound is crystal clear and as usual the dependable Mike Campbell provides the perfect licks where appropriate whether it be a subtle note or the stinging guitar lines in "A Woman In Love."

Tom Petty confirmed with "Hard Promises" that he was no one-hit wonder. If "Damn The Torpedoes" proved that Petty belonged in the big leagues, "Hard Promises" did nothing but confirm that he was here to stay! July 27, 2008

He was working on something big

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers' breakthrough to superstar status via Damn the Torpedoes gave him a newfound clout. He joined in the ranks of Mellencamp and Springsteen as "people's rockers," and MCA was ready to take advantage of that. "Hard Promises" was going to be an album that the suits wanted to release at a higher list than regular LP's, and Petty famously resisted. If you look closely at the box of albums in the lower right corner of the cover art, you'll see $8.98 in black marker, a threat Petty made to title the album if MCA did not back off the price increase. Petty won, and "Hard Promises" arrived on the wings of the triumphant sounding "The Waiting."

Just as "Torpedoes" signaled Petty and the band's maturation into greatness, "Hard Promises" shows them on a hot streak that bore the album into the top ten and firmly entrenched them as one of America's finest bands. However, the album starts to sputter as it gets closer to the end, with "Letting You Go" and "Insider" sounding something close to filler...the first time one could say that about a Tom Petty album. It was also noted that, when Stevie Nicks asked Tom to write a song for her and they recorded "Insider," Nicks was disappointed that she didn't get a "Tom Petty" song. So Tom turned around and wrote "Stop Dragging My Heart Around," they recorded it together, and Nicks got the better of the deal (a number 3 hit and the number one LP Bella Donna. In contrast, "The Waiting" peaked at 19 and the album at 5). Had things worked in reverse, this album might have rated the fifth star.

Not to say the songs are bad here, as Petty was still on a solid stride. Both "The Waiting" and "A Woman In Love" have deservedly become classics in Petty's catalog. "Something Big" sports a lyric worthy of Dylan. "Thing About You" got covered by both Emmylou Harris and Southern Pacific. "You Can Still Change Your Mind" brings the album to a beautiful close. What "Hard Promises" lacks is anything that matches the visceral punch of "Refugee" or "Listen To Her Heart". It is still an excellent 4 star album, but not a classic like "Torpedoes" or the debut were. July 12, 2008

A Must Have!

You wont see this album on your friends shelves. Absolutely one of Tom Petty's best work. The theme is of somewhat bitter pain most likely relating to an emotional breakup. True Petty fans must have this one. November 23, 2007

EARLY CLASSIC

TOM PETTY'S SOUND HAS EVOLVED THROUGH THE YEARS AND SUCH IS THE OVERALL QUALITY OF HIS WORK THAT HE HAS ONE OF THE BEST BACK CATALOGUES IN MUSIC.
'THE WAITING 'DEFINES HIS CLASSIC SOUND.I DISCOVERED TOM PETTY'S MUSIC THROUGH HIS ASSOCIATION WITH DEL SHANNON.HE'S A TRUE AMERICAN ORIGINAL.THIS ALBUM IS ONE OF HIS BEST.DO YOURSELF A FAVOUR AND INVEST IN A COPY. July 24, 2007

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