Let The Day Begin...Let The Day Start!: Day 307 - Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers (#4)

Long After Dark - Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers

Backstreet Records / MCA

Produced by Jimmy Iovine and Tom Petty

US Chart #9

UK Chart #45

    Tom Petty – lead vocals, 6 and 12 string acoustic and electric guitars, lead guitar on "We Stand a Chance", Prophet 5 synthesizer
    Mike Campbell – lead guitar, 12-string guitar, organ on "We Stand a Chance"
    Benmont Tench – acoustic and electric pianos, Hammond and Vox organs, synthesizer, backing vocals
    Stan Lynch – drums, backing vocals
    Howie Epstein – bass guitar, backing vocals
    Phil Jones – percussion
    Ron Blair – bass guitar on "Between Two Worlds"

Singles on Long After Dark

You Got Lucky / Between Two Worlds
    Released: October 22, 1982

US Chart #20

Straight Into Darkness / A Wasted Life

Released: 21st December 192

UK Single

Did Not Chart

(UK Picture Sleeve)

    Change of Heart / Heartbreaker's Beach Party
    Released: February 1983

US Chart #21

The single was released on Red Vinyl in the USA on Backstreet Records

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So, this is the fourth time this year we've had a look at an album of Tom Petty (Southern Accents in March, Full Moon Fever in April, Into The Great Wide Open in July). This time around it's his fifth Studio Album along with The Heartbreakers - Long After Dark. Had to dig it out to remind myself of it because it is not necessarily one of his most popular albums.

Long After Dark was the third album in a row that they had Jimmy Iovine as Producer - Damn the Torpedoes (1979) and Hard Promises (1981) were the precious two and he would also produce Southern Accents (1985). One song that is absent from the album, Keeping Me Alive, Tom Petty wanted it and felt that the album would have sounded better if it was on it but Jimmy Iovine vetoed it! The song would remain unreleased until it turned up on the Through The Cracks Disc 5 on the 1995 Playback Boxset. The disc was reissued via Tom Petty's Website as a Digital Only album in 2015 along with the Nobody's Children Disc (originally Disc 6 on Playback).

Long After Dark also saw a personnel change as Howie Epstein (formerly of Del Shannon's backing band) came in on Bass following the departure of Ron Blair. Blair was originally the band's bassist from 1976 to 1982. In 2002, he returned to the group after a 20-year hiatus, replacing his own replacement, the late Howie Epstein. He rejoined the Heartbreakers on March 18, 2002, to perform at the band’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony. The reunion led to Blair’s return to the group for its 2002 summer tour. He helped finish The Last DJ album and has been present for all subsequent albums and tours. Ron did play Bass on one track on the album.

On September 1, 1982, Howie Epstein made his live debut at the Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium in Santa Cruz, California, on the tour to promote the up-and-coming album, Long After Dark. Epstein played (and sometimes sang) with Petty for 20 years and was with the Heartbreakers when they were inducted in March 2002 to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. A little less than a year later (23rd February 2003) he died of complications relating to drug use.

As to the music on the album I love A One Story Town, Change of Heart, Straight Into Darkness and The Same Old You but wasn't overly fussed by You Got Lucky when the album was first released but have grown to like it a little (it wouldn't be in my Top 20 favourite Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers songs).

Compared to the albums that had come before it is probably not as strong and that's probably why it's not necessarily regarded as one of his best. There's enough on it though to justify posting about it today.

Let The Day Begin...Let The Day Start!