Hard Promises

Tom Petty, Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 25, 1990)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Mca
• ASIN: B000002PBL
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (39 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #26,712 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Waiting

2. A Woman in Love (It's Not Me)

3. Nightwatchman

4. Something Big

5. Kings Road

6. Letting You Go

7. A Thing About You

8. Insider

9. The Criminal Kind

10. You Can Still Change Your Mind

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Tom Petty's love affair with the more pop-oriented output of the Byrds and Dylan at their mid-'60s prime continued to find an increasingly wide audience in the '80s--and damned if some people didn't persist in calling it "new wave." Go figure. If writing hook-laden, instantly memorable pop-rock songs was both a sign of genius and one of music's toughest feats, Hard Promises (and its FM evergreens, "The Waiting" and "A Woman in Love") confirmed that Petty was one skinny, little, hard-working prodigy. Picking up effortlessly where Damn the Torpedoes left off, Petty and the equally conscientious Heartbreakers took nothing about their newfound fame for granted, delivering their fourth strong effort in a row, this one increasingly seasoned with touches of their Southern roots. The title hints at the tough underbelly beneath the jangly veneer of Petty's ever-accessible songwriting, exemplified here by "Nightwatchman," "Something Big," and "The Criminal Kind." All tracks on this edition have been upgraded via digital remastering, and the album's original inner artwork and lyrics have also been restored. --Jerry McCulley

Product Description

Japanese only SHM-CD (Super High Material CD - playable on all CD players) paper sleeve pressing. Universal. 2009. --This text refers to an alternate Audio CD edition.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars HIS FINEST WORK!, July 5, 2006

By 

James T. Mott (O'Fallon, MO USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Hard Promises (Audio CD)

I have been into Petty since day one and I can honestly say that this is the one. Every band has that one album that is brilliant. Torpedos came close, but this is it. Best song in my opinion is Kings Road. A close second is Something Big. Other noteworthy tracks (I mean classics) are

The Waiting
A Woman In Love
Letting You Go
A Thing About You
Insider

If you've heard Petty over the years and haven't purchased anything. Don't start with the best of collections. Start right here. It doesn't get any better.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A TRUE Classic !!!, December 29, 2005

By 

Music God (Phoenix, AZ) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hard Promises (Audio CD)

This is, without a doubt, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers' finest moment! I can still remember the battle he had with the record company over the pricing of this album! Due to the rise in oil prices (a main ingredient used to press vinyl albums), the record companies raised the standard list-price of an album from $7.98 to $8.98. TP fought his record company, going as far as threatening to name this album "$7.98"! Finally, the record company relented and priced the album at $7.98, thus allowing "Hard Promises" to be released to the masses! In addition to the classics "The Waiting", "Woman In Love (It's Not Me)" and "A Thing About You", also included is arguably the best TP & THB recorded song: "Something Big". BUY THIS DISC NOW!!!!!

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Second Peak Album, June 12, 2005

By 

Misfit Kid "Mark" (North Carolina) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hard Promises (Audio CD)

"Hard Promises," in my opinion, refers to the tough task TP&HBs had in following the greatness (artistic and commercial) of "Damn The Torpedoes." They completely made good on that "promise" with this record. I personally like "Hard" more than "Damn," which may only be because it received slightly less overkill/exposure when it was released. Both are absolutely outstanding. Back in the day when bands were allowed (by their record companies) to develop their sound over the course of a few albums, greatness was often born. That is the case here. "Damn" marked the beginning of their peak creativity, and "Hard" found them calmly enjoying the view from the top. Most bands quickly slide downhill after they peak, but TP&HBs mananged to remain there for this album and then slowly (very slowly) "descended." Over the years they've managed to hit other career peaks as well but never as naturally and confidently as on "Hard Promises."