Into The Great Wide Open

This was the first Tom Petty album I ever bought. At the time it was pretty difficult to ignore, the singles were all over Virgin Radio (the radio 2 renaissance hadn't yet arrived) and the newly minted Mojo magazine gave it a glowing review.I was however aware of Petty long before this, my image of him informed by the rather odd video (sitting on a tree stump in a wizard hat, wasn't it?) for Don't Come Around Here No More.The images painted, and stories told by these songs are wonderful, expansive, and so very American. My favourite track is Too Good To Be True. It's what the band doesn't play that I marvel at. A beautiful song, with glorious slide guitar.I guess the thing that almost knocks a star off for me is Jeff Lynne's intrusive, ubiquitous production. At the time he was coming to the end of 10 years of golden touch producing, but his drum sound just wrecks everything he works on. It ruined The (3) Beatles' reunion, and turned George Harrison into an ELO extra. On Into The Great Wide Open the drum sound is the only thing that drags the weaker songs down. Listen to Wildflowers, or Damn The Torpedos, it's a different drummer only it's not. It's a shame.This album has a place in my heart for introducing me to the joy of Tom Petty and Heartbreakers, and is like an old friend to go back to, a well read book or comfortable shoes. Simply perfect.

Great cd

Great songs, great production and great band. The late Tom Petty is sadly missed.

Not his best...but a good album album the same.

Absolutely love this album, constantly being played in the car and at home

Takes me back to 93 . Must b getting old.

My wife and I are slowly building up a collection of albums by this wonderful and talented band, as well as Tom Petty's solo albums.There's a few songs on this album we hadn't heard before and, as always with TP&TH, we weren't disappointed.A classic, musically-colourful, rockin' album.

The cd was all I wanted it to be. Tom Petty passed me by when he was touring prior to his unfortunate death. This brings him back.