Customer Reviews

Long After Dark

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Seems like this is the closest that Tom Petty ever came to releasing a Lost Album. For whatever reason, even as they stuck around to pick up the comparatively dull _Wildflowers_ and the aptly-named _Echo_ so many years later, not a lot of his fans picked this one up.

I'm not quite sure why this is, because as many times as I've listened to _Long After Dark_, I fail to hear what's so wrong with it. There are some wonderful melodies and powerful lyrics here. Maybe it's that the pseudo-dissonance in the verse of "You Got Lucky" (or all those synthesizers) turned a few too many people off, or that "Change of Heart" was a little too obvious. After all, it's the singles that make or break an album commercially. Still, to leave it at that is to miss wonderful songs like "A One Story Town," "Finding Out," "We Stand a Chance," "Straight Into Darkness," and "Between Two Worlds."

Oops. Looks like I just mentioned half the album there. What can I say? It deserves it.

I'm with most everybody else in the reviews section - what's wrong with this disc? I recall it was panned when it came out, and it's been lumped with the "lower-tier" of Petty's work (Echo, Let Me Up, She's The One). My ears hear something else. This has got a lot more spunk and energy than nearly all the tracks on Hard Promises. The Mike Campbell riffs are solid throughout, and Petty didn't lose any of his ability to write a good melody. You Got Lucky (anybody get tired of watching that video on MTV? - I did), One Story Town, Change of Heart, Deliver Me, and Straight Into Darkness all hold up pretty well after 20 plus years. Sure, Long After Dark isn't Wildflowers or Full Moon Fever or Damn The Torpedos, but if you have a hankering of for a straight slice of American rock, this should meet your needs.

Some people say that DAMN THE TORPEDOES is Tom Petty's masterpiece, but LONG AFTER DARK is just as good. Several songs have inspired me when I was trying to recover from an illness or injury ("Deliver Me", "We Stand A Chance", "Straight Into Darkness"), others are about deceit and disillusionment ("A One Story Town", "You Got Lucky", "Change Of Heart", "Finding Out"), still others have a cautionary message ("Between Two Worlds", "A Wasted Life"), and there's also a pledge of personal loyalty ("The Same Old You"). The fact that Petty advocates sanctions against Indonesia in retaliation for that country's recent trumped-up drug-smuggling conviction of a young Australian tourist seems to add weight to many of the songs on this album. Some people gave LONG AFTER DARK a bum rap, but it's really yet another masterpiece from Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers.

If you had been a Tom Petty fan for 30 years .Like I have . Then you should up date your cass. Buy this great cd from Amazon.com It will sure to get you ROCKING!!!! Thank in getting my order to me fastter then you said you would!! Thank you Amazon.com. Debbie

A solid follow-up to "Hard Promises", "Long After Dark" signified a change in the overall sound of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. The addition of synths and pumped-up rhythms were apparent nods of approval toward the exciting "new-wave" movement which dominated radio and MTV in 1982. Unlike many artists who attempt to cross genres, Petty failed to make a fool of himself as all sonic modifications were subtle. In fact, "Deliver Me" and "Change of Heart" are vintage rockers which would've been at home on any of the band's prior albums. Many long-time fans screamed sell-out upon hearing the hypnotic synth riff of the mega-hit "You Got Lucky". Interestingly, the song has aged quite well. In fact, the entire album, which seemed disappointing when released, holds its own with any Petty album. Other worthy tunes are "Straight into Darkness", "One Story Town" and the melodic finale "A Wasted Life". Overall, while not an instant classic a la "Damn the Torpedoes" or "Full Moon Fever", "Long After Dark" is a strong collection of songs which only hints at the ecclecticism ("Southern Accents", "Wildflowers" and "Full Moon") which would become a Petty trademark.

Released in November 1982 "Long After Dark" seemed to slip through the cracks - no-one seemed to notice it - especially here in the UK - when it's actually a brilliant rock album with all the great Petty trademark hooks and catchy choruses. Tune after tune smacks you in the gob with their economy and brilliance - all of it is just great.

But the reason for this review - and it's pricey value on the open market of the CD hard copy - is that this issue is not the crap 80's CD initially issued, but the 2001 HDCD version (High Definition Compact Disc) - and the difference in sound couldn't be more pronounced.

Remastered by Joe Gastwirt at Oceanview Digital from the original analogue master tapes - the sound on this issue is just stupendous - clear, rockin' and so loud, you may have to turn the stereo down! A truly fantastic remaster job.

The booklet is ok - reproducing the lyrics the original inner sleeve had - and the back inlay picture is different to the 80's issue, but that's about it. Doesn't really matter that because the sound is just so gobsmacking.

An absolute blinder of an album - and not nearly as dated as so much Eighties cack is. Thoroughly recommended - even at a price.

"Long After Dark" is the sound of a band in transition and perhaps just past its youthful peak. Not far past it - if you like the band's early sound, already have "Damn The Torpedoes" and "Hard Promises", and perhaps the first two albums, you may want this one in your collection for variety if not for quality. It's a definite step down from earlier work. Not way down, and it's aged better than the first album to my ears. But this would not make my list of Tom Petty's 5 best CD's. I'd buy it only for the sake of completion - it's the last recording (except for bits of Echo) that featured the band's original sound. If you're primarily a fan of the "Full Moon Fever"-and-later Petty, this one may not be for you at all.

The sound is occasionally a bit harder here than on earlier albums, and as such may have some appeal to those who (unlike me) are fans of "Let Me Up (I've Had Enough)". Jangling guitars give way here and there to power chords. Sometimes, as in "Change of Heart", this makes for a great sound. But something is missing. The lyrics are lighter than on "Hard Promises", the level of emotion reduced. The band tries to sound tough, but the passion sounds artificial, the songs overly crafted with perfect hooks, and there are often catchy choruses with nothing very interesting between them. This was the first of their CD's I didn't think was consistently good all the way through.

Most of the songs sound like "Damn the Torpedoes" material to some extent. "One Story Town", "Deliver Me", "Finding Out", "Straight Into Darkness", and "The Same Old You" could have fit into that album musically, though the lyrics are less inspired. "Change of Heart" is probably the best song here, but even good lyrics don't sound as heartfelt as on "Damn The Torpedoes" or "Hard Promises". "You Got Lucky" is the synthesizer-laced song (there's only the one - not sure why some reviewers here go on about synthesizers) that just doesn't fit in. It ruins the flow of the CD for me and I didn't like the 80's pop sound, but it was a hit and odds are that you like it and won't find it as annoying as I do. That new guitar style comes out a bit on "We Stand A Chance" and "Between Two Worlds", and the album closes nicely with "A Wasted Life", a lovely gentle song with a catchy chorus and maybe even some earnest feeling.

I see "Long After Dark" as the first sign of a really great band starting to slip toward mediocrity. Some consider the following two albums, "Southern Accents" and "Let Me Up (I've Had Enough)" to be a brilliant concept album and a return to a great hard rock sound, respectively. For those of us who consider "Southern Accents" a largely-failed effort with a few great moments, and "Let Me Up (I've Had Enough)" a dismal and misguided attempt to recapture the band's youth, "Long After Dark" is the first sign of the band's gradual decline before a a delightful comeback and a new grown-up sound on "Full Moon Fever".

This often overlooked TP and the Heartbreakers album is one of thier best. There are some new elements (the often mentioned synth that Benmont Tench plays like a pro, and a new bass player, the late Howie Epstein) but the essentials, good songs and strong guitar work by Mike Campbell, are all here. I've always loved this album and now I have the remasted CD.

In 1982, TPATHB had reached the turning point, from their youthful exuberance and rocking spirit to their maturation as rock artists finding a balance with their music and their vision.

This album marks the transition as good as any after "Hard Promises" visited commercial pop/rock territory perhaps in response to the overwhelming success of their masterwork, the essential rock album, "Damn The Torpedoes".

It kicks of with the midtempo rock of "One Story Town" sung in Petty's familiar drawl. "You Got Lucky" was the albums hit and features a good dose of 80's synthesizer, it is a track people either hate or love, despite its relative success, I think people do not appreciate this song as much as they should. "Deliver Me" is romantic rock and roll and features an outstanding bridge and outro.

"Change Of Heart" starts of with some crunching guitars and is a spirited love song, incidentally released around Valentines Day as the albums 2nd single. It was a live staple of the time and recently dusted off as a suprise on the Last DJ Live at The Olympic show. "Finding Out" recalls earlier spirited rock and is a fast paced rocker with some great backup vocals from new bassist, Howie.

"We Stand A Chance" is perhaps my favourite songs off this album. With its crunching guitar and dark vibe It could have been on "Your Gonna Get It", Petty delivering a menacing vocal. Back to midtempo with "Straight Into Darkness" which is a popular track that is Bruce Springsteen even loved. "The Same Old You" may have attitude but misfires in my opinion, some of the singing sounds sloppy and it doesnt hold up.

"Between Two Worlds" is the albums other nadir, I just never got into this song. It is not terrible but the album could have done without it for sure. The closer sounds Ferry/Bowie inspired and is one of the most unique songs Tom sung. "A Wasted Life" will draw you in and will not let you go.

In the end we have an overlooked rock album, one of the best from 1982 that has at least 8 fantastic songs and 2 weaker tracks which seperates this work from say, "Damn The Torpedoes". For new Petty fans make this purchase as your 4th or 5th Petty album. You won't be dissapointed.

If I choose "The Best of Tom Petty"; it would be this CD, really moves you...