Hard Promises

Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, Tom Petty

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 25, 1990)
• Original Release Date: May 1981
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Mca
• ASIN: B000002PBL
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #101,512 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Track Listings

1. Waiting

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

3. Nightwatchman

4. Something Big

5. Kings Road

6. Letting You Go

7. Thing About You

8. Insider

9. Criminal Kind

10. You Can Still Change Your Mind

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It's Hard to Top This Stuff, July 22, 2000

By	Sal Nudo (Champaign, Illinois) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

If you enjoy Tom Petty's music, you simply can't go wrong with "Hard Promises;" some might even contend that Petty and his band have never sounded better than on this album in 1981. The drab cover shot of Tom Petty in a record shop typifies his non-glamorous style, yet his music has held up solidly from the very beginnning. His tunes grab you with their tunefulness and hooks instantaneously, and his ability to make songwriting seem so effortless is unrivaled. Amazingly, no two Tom Petty songs usually ever sound that much alike, despite his unchanging style.

As for the actual songs on this great album, it's hard to go wrong with the leadoff 80's gem, "The Waiting," yet the album boasts even better songs. As usual, the lyrics are hard luck, the sound much brighter. "Nightwatchman," however, is a Tom Petty shot at humor and observation, a truly funny and astute song. His vocals sound great all over, yet particularly shine on "Something Big," where a tinge of typical Petty country-type sounds seep in. This album features its share of feel-good tunes as well, like on the bold sound of "Kings Road," where Petty flashes that classic jangly rock and roll that sounds perfect in the car as you're driving too fast on a beautiful day. "Kings Road" would sound awesome live, and actually is a precursor to future Petty classics off the album "Learning to Fly." "Letting You Go" is an endearing 60's style breakup song, containing bleak lyrics, yet featuring another feel-good type sound. The awesome "A Thing About You" keeps up the frollicking rock and roll pace, with an immensely catchy chorus and a rocking/honky tonk sound; check out Petty really letting loose on the guitars midway through. "Insider" is a very pretty ballad with Stevie Nicks contributing her perfect accompanying vocals, upping the true emotion in the song and blending perfectly with Petty's own emotional voice. With greats like "Insider," it's hard to believe only one hit escaped this album. Even second rate Petty tunes like "The Criminal Kind" - with its lazy slide guitar and observational lyrics - have an engaging quality that appeals to many people.

"Hard Promises" ends dramatically with another emotional gem, "You Can Still Change Your Mind." With such insightful and passionate lyrics, it's inexplicable why critics over the years have blasted Petty's words as being trite and meaningless. I happen to think he writes some of the best lyrics in the history of rock and roll. As I said, if you're looking for classic music, pick this one up.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Not the best Byrds album . . ., April 2, 2000

By	"spicoli323" (Out in LA) - See all my reviews

. . . but possibly the best Tom Petty album. This underappreciated piece of work just barely edges out the much more acclaimed Damn the Torpedoes, in my humble opinion. There's nothing really revolutionary going on here: just ten of the best songs from one of the rockingest bands that ever rocked. The two singles, "The Waiting" and "A Woman and Love", that open up the album are restrained, emotional ballads. And the album has a few more: the gorgeous "Insider", the wistful "Letting You Go". But even more fun are the harder songs like "Kings Road" (possibly my favorite Petty song), the gloriously reckless "A Thing About You", and the self-assured "Nightwatchman". The Heartbreakers have never been better, ranging between subtle beauty and hard-charging power. Definitely buy this underheard album; if you like Petty at all, you won't be disappointed.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Another solid album from Petty, May 16, 2000

By	Brian D. Rubendall (Oakton, VA) - See all my reviews (TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Following his breakthrough album "Damn the Torpedoes," "Hard Promises" is equally good with a number of first rate songs. The band has rarely sounded better. "The Waiting" is the best known song, but others stand out such as "Letting You Go," "A Woman in Love," and the Stevie Nicks duet "Insider." Petty's best albums are remarkably consistent, with no bad songs. This one is no exception.