Disco de Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers: “Hard Promises (Re-Issue Remastered)”

"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."

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.

. . . 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.

Many folks cite "Damn the Torpedoes" as the best album Petty and his band have ever made, but for my money, it's this disc instead.

Why? I think it has more texture and a little more sophistication - plus the smart, tuneful hard rock songs Petty fans know and love. For every hard rocking "Woman In Love" - which moves in crescendos and fits and starts -there's also "Something Big," a moody, enigmatic tale fueled by Benmont Tench's organ. Other highlights include "The Insider," featuring Stevie Nicks, "A Thing About You" which barrels ahead and goes straight for the throat, and, of course, "The Waiting," which mixes the rock n roll with a little folk-rock sensibility.

If you love that last song, I'd suggest the live compilation, "Pack Up The Plantation," which contains a wonderful live version.

Song for song, I think this is the best of the "old" Petty albums - the ones that range from the group's debut to "Long After Dark." After that, the group - now with bassist Howie Epstein in tow - charged off in different musical directions, like the concept album "Southern Accents" or Petty's Wilburyish solo album, "Full Moon Fever." "Hard Promises" is the best of the old guard.

This is without a doubt Tom Petty's finest recording. From the opening Byrds riff of "The Waiting", every song is a winner, and several are absolutely breathtaking. Two years after coming into their prime with what many would say is their best album, "Damn the Torpedoes", Petty and the Heartbreakers raised the bar lyrically while remaining at their musical peak. The worst songs were as good as their earlier material, while the best transcended anything done previously or since.

Some of the songs would have fit well on "Damn the Torpedoes" - the same sound, great performances, fine lyrics, and simply more of what TP fans loved 20-some years ago. Others went in new musical or lyrical directions and succeeded well, from the lighter pop sounds of "Letting You Go" and "You Can Still Change Your Mind" to the Dylanesque storyline in "Something Big". The icing on the cake, though, are the heartfelt and increasingly sophisticated lyrics that range from moving to passionate and even sublime on "The Waiting", "A Woman In Love", "Letting You Go", "You Can Still Change Your Mind", and especially the glorious "Insider".

"Insider", a duet with Stevie Nicks, is a quiet song that builds to a passionate, gutwrenching climax of understated but profoundly moving bitterness. I consider it the best song here (actually I consider it the best song ever written by Tom Petty), and the album title was taken from its lyrics. I can't imagine a better song about the pain of a relationship gone sour or lost.

"Hard Promises" was the last of 4 nearly-perfect albums of increasing quality between 1976 and 1981. This is Tom Petty grown up, but not old. After "Hard Promises" the band began a slow decline, producing 4 inconsistent and even bad albums before Petty's comeback with the Traveling Wilburys and Full Moon Fever. There were some really good songs even in that period of decline, and I respect the way TP tried going in new directions and took chances. But if you like the early sound of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, it simply doesn't get any better than this.