Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers is the debut studio album by the American rock band Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, released on November 9, 1976, by Shelter Records. The album was recorded and mixed at the Shelter Studio in Hollywood, California.
The album received little attention on its release in the United States. It climbed to No. 24 on the UK albums chart following a British tour, and the single "Anything That's Rock 'n' Roll" became a hit in the UK. After nearly a year and many positive reviews, the album reached the U.S. charts, where it peaked at No. 55 in 1978 and eventually went Gold.
"Breakdown" was released as the lead single and cracked the Top 40 in the U.S. and "American Girl" became one of the band's signature songs.
Reviewing in ' (1981), Robert Christgau said, "Addicts of updated nostalgia and rock and roll readymades should find this a sly and authentic commentary on the evolving dilemma of Harold Teen. The songs are cute, the riffs executed with more dynamism than usual, and the singing attractively phlegmy. And like they say at the end of other cartoons, that's all, folks." The album was included in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
Additional musicians