April 19, 2021

1979 - November: Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers “Damn the Torpedoes”

35 minutes

Damn the Torpedoes is the third studio album by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, and is the album where the group truly broke out into serious commercial success. They had done well with their first album, with "Breakdown" breaking into the top 40, and "American Girl" receiving some air play. But this album took the group to a different level. Damn the Torpedoes was their first top 10 album, peaking at number 2 on the Billboard album charts for 7 weeks. They were unfortunately kept out of the number 1 slot by the release of Pink Floyd's The Wall.

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers are Mike Campbell on guitars and keyboards, Benmont Tench on keyboards and backing vocals, Ron Blair on bass, Stan Lynch on drums and backing vocals, and of course Tom Petty on lead, rhythm guitar, and harmonica. Petty also produced the album.

Damn the Torpedoes takes its name from Admiral Farragut's famous Civil War quote, but also reflects an attitude that the band was feeling. At the time ABC Records was their distributor and assigned the contract to MCA. Petty said that they couldn't assign the contract without permission. MCA sued, and Petty declared bankruptcy as a strategic move to keep MCA at bay. They finally settled by signing a new contract with Backstreet Records, which was an MCA subsidiary.

The times were good for Petty's style of throwback rock and roll. Disco was quite commercial and beginning to wane, and New Wave was just beginning its run. MTV would also be a couple of years in the future. The rock world was starved of solid rock and roll, and Petty was ready to step into the void with tight, radio-friendly singles

We think this album is a winner, but as you know, even the losers get lucky sometimes!

Refugee

This is the second single from the album, released in January 1980. It went to number 15 on the Billboard Hot 100. Petty and Mike Campbell wrote this, and it was one of the first songs Campbell wrote. The song reflects the band's reaction to the pressures of the music business, and the struggle they had with MCA.

What Are You Doin' In My Life?

A deeper cut, this track is about a stalker girl that the guy can't make go away. "Well, you're the last woman in the world that thrills me. Now you got my girlfriend trying to kill me. Honey, my friends think that I've gone crazy. Can't you figure out that you ain't my baby?"

Even The Losers

Believe it or not, this was not released as a single on the album outside of Australia. There's a story behind this song. Petty had a crush on a girl named Cindy in junior high school. Years later in Gainesville, Florida, he hooked up with Cindy. The next morning, Cindy told him their relationship consisted of only that night. During that night, Petty realized that he needed to be in a rock and roll band, and this song sums up that night.

Don't Do Me Like That

This is the first single from the album. Petty wrote the song back in 1974 with a band called Mudcrutch. This was Petty's first top 10 hit, reaching number 10 on the Billboard Hot 100. The singer relays the story of a friend who got his heart broken, and asks that his girlfriend not do the same. I really like the sound of the organ on this piece.

ENTERTAINMENT TRACK:

The Rose by Bette Midler (Main Theme from the motion picture The Rose)

The song was a huge hit for Midler. She played the main character, Mary Rose Foster, in this movie loosely based on the life of Janis Joplin.

STAFF PICKS:

You're Only Lonely by JD Souther

Rob starts off the staff picks with a track from Detroit born, Amarillo raised JD Souther. His former roommate, Glenn Frey, sings backup on this song, along with Phil Everly and Jackson Browne. JD Souther co-wrote a number of songs for the Eagles, which explains why this song may have a bit of an Eagles sound to it.

Driver's Seat by Sniff N' The Tears

Wayne's brings us a one hit wonder. It maintains a simple chord structure throughout, but builds in intensity as the song progresses. Although we think of it as a driving song, the lyrics are really about disjointed feelings following a breakup, and not understanding how things would be over with someone you had been with so long.

Good Girls Don't by The Knack

Brian's staff pick was the follow-up to the massive hit "My Sharona." Lead man Doug Fieger wrote this song in 1972, but couldn't get anyone to pick it up at the time. He hated it by the time The Knack tried it, and they got it right in one take.

Jane by Jefferson Starship

Bruce brings us a hit from Jefferson Starship while Georgia native Mickey Thomas was front man. It peaked at number 14 on the Billboard Hot 100. Bassist David Freiberg wrote the lyrics (along with Jim McPherson) inspired by an old girlfriend.

INSTRUMENTAL TRACK:

Is There Anybody Out There by Pink Floyd

When The Wall kept Damn the Torpedoes stuck at number two, Tom Petty told Westwood One, "I love Pink Floyd but I hated them that year."

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By Rob Marbury, Wayne Rowan, Bruce Fricks, John Lynch

4.9

4747 ratings