A Dollar Price Increase Almost Kept Us From Hearing Tom Petty's Classic Album Hard Promises, Released 40 Years Ago This Week
Stick it to the suits!
When Tom Petty found himself fighting his record label ahead of the release of his fourth album, Hard Promises, which celebrated its 40th anniversary earlier this week, it was familiar territory for the singer-songwriter.
After Petty and the Heartbreakers released their sophomore album, You’re Gonna Get It! in 1978, they found themselves declaring bankruptcy to void their new contract with MCA. The band’s previous distributor ABC, had been sold to MCA, who inherited their contract. Petty argued the contract was void since the agreement was made without his permission.
MCA responded by suing Petty - his solution was to file for bankruptcy to get out of the deal. Eventually, the suit was settled with the band signing to Backstreets, a new subsidiary of MCA, who would release Damn the Torpedoes, the Heartbreakers’ big breakout.
When it came time to hand in their follow-up record Hard Promises, MCA wanted to charge $9.98 per record instead of the standard $8.98. They were trying out a new “superstar” pricing, which MCA had previously used for Steely Dan’s Gaucho and the Xanadu soundtrack, and wanted to take advantage of the Heartbreakers’ new status.
Petty responded by criticizing MCA in the press and threatening to not release the album. At one point, the band was going to name the record Eight Ninety-Eight to force the issue. MCA eventually gave in and placed Hard Promises at the regular price point.
It would have been a damn shame if this record was never released, as it places in the band’s best work.
A key component to Damn the Torpedoes was the co-production by Jimmy Iovine, who got his start working with John Lennon and Bruce Springsteen before going on to form Interscope Records and co-found Beats Electronics with Dr. Dre. Iovine worked the band mercilessly while pushing them to hone their studio chops. It paid off with hits like “Refugee,” “Don’t Do Me Like That,” and “Here Comes My Girl,” and the band sounds even better on Hard Promises, which Iovine co-produced again.
On the album’s first single and opener “The Waiting,” the Heartbreakers perfect their Byrds-inspired take on jangle pop with Mike Campbell leading the way on guitar, who also provides the signature intro to the album’s other big single, “A Woman in Love (It’s Not Me).”
Keyboardist Benmont Tench also comes into his own on the album with his work on the dusty “Something Big” and gives “Letting You Go” its personality.
It’s also the last album to feature the original Heartbreakers line-up as bassist Ron Blair would leave after its recording and wouldn’t return until 2010’s Mojo. Drummer Stan Lynch, a few years younger than everyone else, also takes off on the album with “Nightwatchman” being my favorite effort (this live version is pretty fun).
Some of the album’s finest moments come from Stevie Nicks guesting on “Insider” and “You Can Still Change Your Mind.” The pairing of Petty and Nicks is perfection, who would also team up later in the year on “Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around” from Nicks’ Bella Donna album that also featured the Heartbreakers on multiple tracks.
Though still massive, Hard Promises can sometimes be overlooked in Petty’s catalog. I’m still unsure why “Kings Road” wasn’t a huge hit - it’s the Heartbreakers at their most signature sound. After the awesomeness of last year’s Wildflowers box, I hope Hard Promises receives its deserved anniversary reissue.