Tom Petty is the embodiment of a classic rocker. He and his band, The Heartbreakers, are in the same league as Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band or Bob Seger and The Silver Bullet Band. The personify a certain working class ethos and stuck to their roots, all while codifying their influences to a sound that became singularly theirs. In Petty's case, that was a love of sixties rock that revolved around The Byrds and The Rolling Stones, with the Heartbreakers adding inspired backing.

When the leather jacketed face of Tom Petty first smiled from Tom Petty & the Heartbreakersin 1977, his look and sparse, muscular backing had many prematurely lumping him into the punk camp. But discerning listeners caught on quick, with the chiming "American Girl" and the bluesy "Breakdown" becoming favorites. When You're Gonna Get It! arrived soon after, both the rocking "I Need To Know" and the hook-laden "Listen To Her Heart" flirted with the Top 40 and more eyes came to Petty's talent. "Listen" is an amazing confection, both chiming Byrds-ish guitar and muscular hook.

Even with these signs of greatness, it was Petty's third album that delivered the goods. Damn the Torpedoes remains a classic, the moment when Petty hit his stride as a songwriter and The Heartbreakers became more than the sum of their influences. Four songs from that album are here, the blistering "Refugee," the pleading "Don't Do Me Like That," along with the stellar "Here Comes My Girl" and "Even The Losers."

What followed his turn to super-stardom was the legendary price war with MCA, with the suits wanting to make Hard Promises a premium price release, and Petty demanding it be kept lower...to the point that he threatened to title the album 8.98. Petty won the battle and delivered and album that was stellar, and had a great single in "The Waiting." The real curiosity was that Petty gave up one of his best songs to Stevie Nicks, and their duet on "Stop Dragging My Heart Around" catapulted her solo "Bella Donna" album to number one.

Petty continued to make strong albums, but none in the classic range of "Torpedoes." Long After Dark was one of the most straight ahead rock albums he'd released, yet "You Got Lucky" one of the most new-wavey singles. There was the arty Southern Accents, which found the sitar-accented single "Don't Come Around Here No More" playing out in a deliciously psychedelic fashion (and the "Alice In Wonderland" inspired video). Then there was the rollicking and under-rated Let Me Up (I've Had Enough), with the Bob Dylan co-composition "Jamming Me."

Still, things were starting to feel like diminishing returns. That is, until Petty decided to try a solo album. The stripped down and back-to-basics Full Moon Fever re-certified Petty's greatness as a songwriter, and was as solid from start to finish as "Torpedoes." "Running Down a Dream" is as good a rocker as he's ever done, "I Won't Back Down" is an anthem that threw down a gauntlet (and became a post 9/11 rallying cry) and "Free Falling" could be Petty's best song ever. It was more acoustically based than his Heartbreakers albums, and set the tone for future solo albums like Wildflowers.

That success brought cloning when the band got back for Into the Great Wide Open, which is an OK album that followed a perfect one. Regardless, the creative juices still were flowing for "Learning To Fly" and the title track, which are more fully produced than the "Full Moon Fever" songs. It also brought Petty and the Heartbreakers to the end of their MCA tenure (roughly 2/3's of their history so far). This "Greatest Hits" is basically the same as one issues in 2008, the difference is that a remake of Thunderclap Newman's "Something In The Air" was replaced by "Stop Dragging My Heart Around" (and the great "Last Dance With Mary Jane" is still here). Given that this Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers - Greatest Hits is no longer listed as 'new,' this is a great place to get Tom Petty's singles in one solid swoop and get "Something."

I've gotten into a bit of a classic rock phase and was looking for one CD to satisfy me. This was it. It has some of Petty's greatest hits and I love jammin' to it going down the road.

Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers' music has been with us for a long time. Their first album came out in 1976, featuring songs such as "American Girl" and "Breakdown." Over time, the group's body of work expanded and included some classic songs. This CD, including many of their greatest hits, chronicles the career of Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers nicely.

Some illustrative cuts:

"American Girl": Recorded in 1976. Petty's inimitable voice is in good form here. The band plays with a tight sound and a hard edge.

"Breakdown": This represents a softer sound, and the song is filled with poignant lyrics. One line comes to mind:

"It's alright if you love me;
It's alright if you don't."

"Refugee": This is one of Tom Petty's iconic songs. The music is hard driving, Petty's voice is in good form, and he captures emotions as he sings.

"Don't Do Me Like That": Another signature song of Petty and the group. . . . Keyboards add a nice touch to the song. Signature lyrics:

"Someone's gonna tell you lies,
Cut you down to size.
Don't do me like that
. . . .
Well I love you, baby,
Don't do me like that."

All in all, a nice slice of the greatest hits of Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers. I'm not someone deeply immersed in the music of this body of work, I concede, but, to twist what Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart once said of pornography: "I can't define great music, but I know it when I hear it."

I don't think enough folks my age recognize how great Tom Petty really is, but if they owned "Greatest Hits," they'd have a hard time not doing so. Released in 1993, it spans the years between 1976 and 1993. Always mellower than his hard-rocking contemporaries, Petty's irresistable heartland roots-rock has progressed over the years, and he's proved quite versatile as he experimented with pop, blues, new wave, and alt-rock. But what never changes is the charm and appeal of his music, and this is evident through the chronologically-tracklisted "Greatest Hits." Petty is one of the greatest songwriters of our generation. His lyrics are simple but quaint, and he creates perfect hook-heavy song structures that sound beautiful upon first and millionth listen. His music is inspiring and motivational, but he has a great ear for a catchy tune. Credit must also go to the criminally underrated Heartbreakers, who created their own instantly recognizable sound through their talented instrumentation. At least ten of these songs have become rock-radio staples and will be coveted by anyone with access to a radio over the last thirty years. As with any Greatest Hits package, somebody will nitpick about the tracklist (personally I might have given "Yer Bad" the nod), but there's not a single song on this disc ever worth skipping, and I wouldn't describe any as less than excellent. As it was released in 1993, music from Wildflowers and subsequent releases are not represented, so 2000's Anthology: Through the Years is updated. However, "Greatest Hits" is a perfect one-disc glimpse at one of the best rock acts of this era.

Beginning with the sunny Beatles-influenced "American Girl" and the soulful, moody blues of "Breakdown," the listener is treated to the phenomenal singles from 1976's Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers that made him a household name. The fun "Listen to Her Heart" and "I Need to Know" from 1978's You're Gonna Get It! bridge the gap to the legendary "Refugee," a driving, bluesy rocker that became a classic upon its release. Also from 1979's Damn the Torpedoes are the Springsteen-esque "Don't Do Me Like That," the optimistic "Even the Losers," and the awesome "Here Comes My Girl"; each is phenomenal and suggests what a great album Petty had. "The Waiting," from 1981's Hard Promises, is a deep, motivational song that never grows old, while the stingy "You Got Lucky" from 1982's Long After Dark is heavy with the electronic instrumentation of New Age pop. The irresistable mourning of "Don't Come Around Here No More" from 1985's Southern Accents precedes the selections from Petty's 1989 solo blockbuster Full Moon Fever. Perhaps my favorite song of his, "I Won't Back Down" is an inspiring, melodic tune with George Harrison on guitar. "Runnin' Down a Dream" is a gratifying rocker, and his most well known song, the tremendous "Free Fallin'," is an ingenious coming-of-age ballad. "Learning to Fly" and "Into the Great Wide Open" from 1991's Into the Great Wide Open find Petty at his most introspective and philosophical, and both are among his finest material. The album closes with two previously unreleased songs, the heavy alt-rockers "Mary Jane's Last Dance" and "Something in the Air."

"Greatest Hits" is an impeccable selection from one of rock's greatest acts. Any type of music fan will immediately be wowed by Petty's hooky genius, and anyone who has enjoyed rock radio over the past three decades already knows the quality of this music. I can't recommend "Greatest Hits" any more.

same songs as Super Bowl 42 half time performance, every song is great, no bad songs,feels the same as being there again whenever I listen to it which is everytime I'm in the car.

I loved this cd. It is rare to hear a cd where I like every song. But this cd is a great collection of songs. If you where to only buy one Tom Petty cd, it would have to be this one. It's a classic!

I am not a huge Tom Petty fan, but this is one great CD. EVERY song is a good song, and there are tons of tracks on this CD. I guess that's one reason it is such a great "driving" CD. I pop this in the CD for road trips!

Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers Greatest Hits (1993). Yeah buddy, this is the way it's done! Digitally remastered. The songs are in chronological order. An on target song selection. A couple of new songs. Liner notes that tell you what album each song was on and when it was released. Lots of photos. Why doesn't everybody do it this way?

It all starts off with American Girl (1976), Petty's first hit single (he also opened his performance at this year's Super Bowl with the song). It's quickly followed by Breakdown, Listen To Her Heart, and I Need To Know. There are four songs from his breakthrough album, Damn The Torpedoes (1979), including Refugee, Don't Do Me Like That, Even The Losers, and Here Comes My Girl. The Waiting from Hard Promises (1981) is followed by one of my favorite Tom Petty songs, You Got Lucky from Long After Dark (1982). The rocking Runnin' Down A Dream with its great guitar solo, and the swaggering Free Fallin' are both here, and both are classics that still get airplay on classic rock radio. All of these songs do, really. Learning To Fly and Into The Great Wide Open from the album Into The Great Wide Open (1991) wrap up the classic song section of the album. The two new songs are the electric guitar and harmonica driven Mary Jane's Last Dance and the revolution-call-to-arms Something In The Air. Both sound great, and fit right in with the classics.

Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers' music was a big part of the late 1970s and the decade of the 1980s rock music sound, and it continued into the 1990s as well. This album is a well-done documentary of the best of Tom Petty's music from that period. Digitally remastered to perfection, the songs sound as good today as they ever have. Or maybe even better!

I've always liked Tom Petty's music. This is great to have all of them on 1 cd.

The kind of music I listened to in the 70's. Good music never gets old

Heard Tom Petty at the Superbowl and decided to purchase this album. Purchased the downloadable MP3 album two weeks ago and I have been listening to this Greatest Hits album every day on my way home from work. I like all of the songs, but Free Fallin and Learning to Fly are my favorite tracks.

There are few songwriters named so well as Tom Petty. His position as elder statesman of a nearly defunct genre belies the general insignificance of his writings, flaccid skeletons of songs defined entirely by their chord progressions. Perhaps the amicable and rote churnings of his backing musicians are simply not meant to withstand much scrutiny, and perhaps Petty's failure to adopt the style of a song to its lyrical content is clever juxtaposition, or perhaps these songs are simply so innocuous and weightless that their radio ubiquity has led to their canonization by supposedly serious music listeners. For those whose enjoyment of music derives significantly from structure and thematic development, Petty's tunes offer very little, as they are generally four minute loops of a thirty second passage. Distinctions between verse and chorus can be known almost exclusively through lyrical repetition; vocal melodies and instrumental backing certainly don't register any change. Petty's voice is slight on all accounts: slightly nasal, slightly smarmy, slight in range and slighter still in comprehension of the words it proclaims.

Of the songs themselves, "I Won't Back Down" is ill-conceived posturing, declaring that "You can stand me up at the gates of hell" in a manner so light and goofy that I almost believe Petty wrote this song in the voice of a Sunday School smart-aleck. Similarly, "Learning to Fly" sounds nothing like aerial pedagogy, "Free Fallin'" is stagnant and restricted and employment of the "Refugee" metaphor is downright insulting to people who have fled war-ravaged nations. The dubbed backing vocals that inevitably begin to echo Petty one-third of the way into any of his songs guarantee trivialization of whatever subject he may be addressing. This collection of Petty's alleged best work solidifies his position as a pleasant and worthless third or fourth tier American songwriter.

What can I say? As a TP fan it doesn't get much better than this collection. Enough said.

Some of the greatest hits albums always miss the mark. Do not read into my title wrong, for the most part it truly is a great hits collection. I just guess that I like this band so much that some of their songs I truly love are not on here. Can't complain too much though, you get the hits minus a few near hits is what I am trying to say. I would also recommend the box set instead of this if you really love Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers.

Firstly, I suppose I am kicking myself for not being aware of the 2000 Anthology by this band...and that Anthology addresses some of the criticisms I have of this compilation.

One of my criticisms is that this compilation does NOT have Tom Petty's duet with girlfriend of the time, Stevie Nicks, of Fleetwood Mac fame ["Stop dragging my heart around"]. Just btb-I do remember hearing in a short radio series about New Zealand super-group Split Enz [whom I consider to be in the same league as Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers] that when the two groups toured together at one time, Tom Petty was a really big pain to them.

This is a band that continually gets lots of their songs played on commercial FM radio over here in Australia...songs like: Refugee; I won't back down; Runnin' down a dream; Free fallin', and Don't come around here no more.

For me, TP&THB is one of those good bands which don't quite have the large catalogue of good songs of the supergroups like The Beatles or AC/DC or Midnight Oil etc, but they have more good songs than you might give them credit for.

E.g. one of my fave songs of theirs is "Don't come around here no more". It features a Beatle-esque or George Harrison-ish Indian guitar or sitar opening. If you get the chance, you should have a look at the memorable video for this terrific song-it heavily references the book by Lewis Carrol "Alice in Wonderland". The video trickery is wonderful to watch.

I'll write down some of the notes I made for this compilation when I was listening to it:

"Anything that's rock'n'roll" reminded me of the guitar sound of, I think, Australia's The Ted Mulry Gang [David Hasselhoff murdered a terrific song of theirs called "Jump in in my car"...maybe this is the song that the TP&THB song reminds me of in some ways. Tom Petty also seems to have Elvis Costello style vocals in this song. I should point out that it looks like MY version of this compilation has an EXTRA song-the one above-I THINK that my version may an earlier version of this compilation or perhaps a later one, or perhaps the version released here in Australia. ****** Actually, I've just browsed the list of Tom Petty albums here and I found the version with this song on it...it's the one with a bonus track for Germany. Here's the URL:

http://www.amazon.com/Tom-Petty-Greatest-Germany-Bonus/dp/B0000072VI/ref=m_art_li_13/102-8091430-9505726

"Listen to her heart"-the guitar intro to this song reminds me of the guitar work for the song "Needles and pins".

"I need to know"-here Petty has Bob Dylan-esque vocals. The same goes for "Refugee". Just by the by, I've never heard a bad song with "Refugee" in the title! Check out the Australian band Cold Chisel's song with this this word in the title. Petty's song has a distinctive keyboard sound to it.

"The waiting"-another good song I like from this band. It has a "Turn, turn, turn" style guitar intro.

"You got lucky"-the synthesiser introduction to this song reminded me of The Police's own synth sound for their song "Spirits in the material world". I reviewed The Police's new compilation today at this site.

"I won't back down"-this song has the feel of an E.L.O. song-and seeing as E.L.O's lead singer Jeff Lynne has production credits for this Petty compilation, it is perhaps Lynne's influence which comes out strongly on this song.

"Running down a dream"-another song that you will hear on Australian commercial FM radio. I made a note that this song features an AC/DC style menacing guitar sound.

"Free falling"-another one of my favourite TP songs. It has nice backing singing and some nice guitar work.

"Mary Jane's last dance"-features harmonica, a Neil Young sound to it and a guitar intro reminiscent, I think, of Young's song "Heart of gold".

Lastly, there is a decent cover of the 60's political song "Something in the air".

Overall, this is an album of accomplished pop/rock which is standing the test of time, judging by the fact that this artist is such an FM staple in Australia.

Have the cd in our car so can listen to it often! Love it! Has all the good songs on it, any Tom Petty fan should have this one! My favourite cd rite now!

People. Your supercillous main man Seer is back. And don't be a wise acre and say I'm more cill-y then super. I can deal fine with the barbs. It's the jibes I have a hard time with. Then again, true reflection is an arduous task- not for the meek or faint of heart. And you may not read this review-especially if you have a pacemaker. If you think your Metamorpho has money to pay lawsuits - you are sourly mistaken. There are spirits of the dark (bill collectors) after me as we squawk. But, fortunately for you, I reserve the right to purchase more music for your benefit and live in virtual squalor. Who cares if I have to seek shelter in an abandoned high rise apartment building? You benefit- so stop that whining!
You all know by now how music works. It seeps into your mind. Then, at a later predestined time, you just have to revisit it. It gets into your blood, or synapses, or, into your need to escape and just have fun. And, music should be a pure joy for you as well as something to delve below the surface for. Sometimes we have to do some work too, but if we didn't, it wouldn't be as rich, or rewarding. This is what the whole thing is about. And I've found that I'm allegic to clown wigs. I'm sure the tabloids will have a field day with that.
This album is a testimony for the faithless, an alimony for the penny-less, a contrition for the heartless, and just plain shock treatment for the synapse-less. And, you heard all that first right here from your informative Metamorpho.
I listened to this loud and it shakes and kicks the fibers of your soul into some outer-metaphysical place beyond human comprehension. It is rock, for sure, but such a damn near perfect addicting form of it that it's hard to explain- or comprehend, for that matter. Most of the subject matter centers around relationships - which are nothing new in the rock arena. But, it's what Petty and his fine band of musicians have done with it. They've molded it into generous hooks and alluring melodies that extend beyond the reach of the beautiful and cutesy. This is rough and hard rockin', make no mistake. Petty has never sounded more impassioned than on most of these songs. Listen to his vocals on "The Waiting". Pleading and insistent. But, with his Dylanesque and McGuinnesque influences, he's molded and found his own, unique voice. And swagger. Listen to his warning on "You Got Lucky" and his urgent, gutteral plea on "Refugee". Petty is giving us buckets of his emotions into these songs. The greatness lies in him, and a superbly competent band that knows exactly what to do - time and time again. They are true treasures of rock. It gets my aged Seer's blood flowing once again. Something I haven't felt since the dragon got loose in my castle. It was a good thing I had garlic at my disposal.
Most of these songs are so well written that it makes your favorite Seer's Seer hat do somersaults. It is so incredulous. Everything has a place and a place for everything. No grandstanding here. The band flows - effortlessly - giving us true gems at every turn.
I must admit, I have a certain affection for "Don't Come Around Here No More". The same haberdasher made my Seer's hat as well. But I am not mad.Even if my guides debate that point.
So, the end of this petty tale is that this is certainly a very fine representation of a true, American rocker. Succinct,sonorous,satisfying. Tom Petty has rocked since this offering, but, I feel, never as hard and spectacular as he does here. But he is mega in rock music. Give a listen - then send accolades to me in care of my scottish castle.
Until then.....

I won't back down ---your numbing but happy -Metamorpho

This is the best single-disc compilation of Tom Petty that you can find. It's got all of the hits and no filler. Of course, there are more comprehensive compilations out there, but this does well for a single disc. It is definately a very good overview of Tom Petty and the great artist he is. The sound is also very good. I would definately recommend it.

I love Tom Petty. This a good collection of his music. Particularly nostalgic for a dino rocker like me

Great CD. One of the few greatest hits CDs were you get so many of the best songs. Highly recommended.

I bought this for my husband for Christmas and after listening to it, it's now one of my favorite CD's. There's not one song that isn't a great tune. It's upbeat... great for hanging out. If you're in a bad mood, it gets you right out of it. I love it!

I am listening to the CD now, reliving my youth. Fantastic sounds, good condition, timely arrival.

This is truly his greatest hits. I have worn out several copies of this even before CD's came out. A must have for Petty fans.

Not a bad one in the bunch. Tom Petty's Greatest Hits is an awesome collection of songs -- you want to sing along to all of them. Petty has a way of creating likable songs that speak to all of us.

This is a great CD for any Tom Petty fan or for anyone who wants to become a Tom Petty fan. You can listen to this CD over and over! A definite worthwhile purchase!

If you have ever liked anything Tom Petty did, you'll love this!!

I have owned this CD for years, this purchase was a replacement for one that was "borrowed" never to be seen again. Well worth the money.

I once thought this CD had every Tom Petty hit. Unfortunately, it does not have "I'll Feel a Whole Lot Better," "Yer So Bad," "Depending on You," and the "Apartment Song" from Full Moon Fever. It also does not have "You Don't Know How It Feels" from Wildflowers. It doesn't have "Walls" from She's The One Soundtrack. It also doesn't have "King's Highway," "The Dark Of The Sun," "Built to Last," and "All The Wrong Reasons" from Into the Great Wide Open.

These songs are amazing and deserve to be on a greatest hits CD.

When Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers burst on the music scene - they appealed to a wide variety of musical styles including Classic Rock, New Wave, and even Punk. During their early years, the group built up a solid fan base. The success of the band is largely due to the partnership between Petty and guitarist Mike Campbell. By 1985, tensions were mounting within the group during the recording of "Southern Accents". This might have been part of the reason that Petty sought to make a "solo" album. It was Petty's "solo" album, 1989's "Full Moon Fever" that made him a mainstream music favorite. Despite "Full Moon Fever" being a solo album, the partnership with Campbell was still strong - and was heard throughout that album. In addition Howie Epstein and Benmont Tench made contributions to "Full Moon Fever". The success of "Full Moon Fever" actually led the Petty getting back with the Heartbreakers for 1991's "Into the Great Wide Open" album. That album continued the commercial success with the hit song, "Learning to Fly". With Petty and his band now achieving commercial success, the timing was right for a greatest hits album. This would result in 1994's "Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers - Greatest Hits". While not the most comprehensive collection by the group, this is still a solid collection.

One nice thing about this collection is that most of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers work is represented on this album. The albums represented along with the songs included are: "Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers" ("American Girl", "Breakdown"); "You're Gonna Get It" ("Listen to Her Heart", "I Need to Know"); "Damn the Torpedoes" ("Refugee", "Don't Do Me Like That", "Even the Losers" ,"Here Comes My Girl"); "Hard Promises" ("The Waiting"); "Long After Dark" ("You Got Lucky"); "Southern Accents" ("Don't Come Around Here No More"); "Full Moon Fever" ("I Won't Back Down", "Runnin Down a Dream", "Free Fallin"); "Into the Great Wide Open" ("Learning to Fly", "Into the Great Wide Open"). There are two studio albums that were released during this period that were not included - they are "Let Me Up (I've Had Enough)" and Petty's second "solo" album "Wildflowers". In addition, the band's live album "Pack Up the Plantation: Live!" isn't represented either. While I do like the fact that the collection gives a very good cross-section of the band's career, I would have really like to have seen these albums included on this album. There are two other exclusions that I would have like to have seen on this collection. These exclusions are from the "Southern Accents" album and are "Rebels" and "Make It Better (Forget About Me)".

As has become popular with greatest hits collections, there are two new songs that are included among the "greatest hits". The first new song "Mary Jane's Last Dance" got considerable airplay and became another hit for the band. This was a song that took me a while to get into. This song remains true to Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers' Southern Rock roots. It also exemplifies the guitar-laden sound that became a trademark for the band. However it is Petty's unique vocals and the harmonica that really are going to make this song shine. While "Mary Jane's Last Dance" got all of the attention, the better song is actually the second new song, "Something in the Air". This song also exemplifies the guitar-laden sound, however when you listen to this song - it has almost a Beatl-esque quality to it. The vocals and guitar all remind me of the Beatles. Even the percussion is going to remind me of Ringo Starr. Perhaps it was the time that Petty spent with The Traveling Wilburys and George Harrison that led to this Beatle-esque influence. Overall, this might be one of the strongest contributions done by the band.

In a greatest hits collection, I normally prefer the songs to be ordered chronologically. This allows me to see how an artist has progressed over time. The nice thing about "Greatest Hits" is that it does order its tracks in chronological order. This adds to the listening experience of this collection.

When considering a Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers compilation, there are two other collections worth noting that are available. These are:

"Anthology: Through the Years": This is a more comprehensive collection than "Greatest Hits". All of the songs from "Greatest Hits" are included on this collection with the exception of one of the new songs - "Something in the Air" ("Mary Jane's Last Dance" is included on this collection"). Like "Greatest Hits", the songs are ordered in chronological order.

"Playback": This is a six disc collection that consists of greatest hits, live cuts, and rarities. Like the "Anthology: Through the Years" collection, all of the songs from "Greatest Hits" are included with the exception of "Something in the Air". Like "Greatest Hits", the "hits" on this collection are ordered in chronologically.

Normally, I would gravitate toward getting a more comprehensive collection. There is no doubt that "Anthology" and "Playback" provide a deeper listening experience to Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. But in this case, I am still high on "Greatest Hits" for two reasons: 1) There are still 18 tracks on this collection - it is by no means a "thin" greatest hits collection. These 18 tracks do represent the majority of the albums released before this compilation; 2) The inclusion of Something in the Air" is huge. This is not only an underrated song by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, but an underrated song in Rock music as a whole. This is basically the only place where this song is found.

The liner notes feature a discography of the 18 tracks that includes the album names from which each of the songs were originally released on - as well as songwriting and producing credits. As mentioned above, despite the fact that this is not as comprehensive as some of the other offerings, this is still a collection I'd recommend checking out.

Now this is one of if not the best greatest hits album ever made. Tom Petty is a very underrated artist and this album shows how great he was and is. From his first album untill today Tom Petty is one of the best rockers out there. Every song here is a classic and can be listened to over and over. Must have for anyone who likes music. Tom Petty rocks!!!

I feel that after Petty released "Full Moon Fever". and hung around with the rest of the Travelling Willburys he lost some of the moxie that his albums had. There were some rather good nuggets left off here like "Shadow Of A Doubt", "Thing About You", and "Letting You Go". I felt the two new songs on here are split down the middle. "Mary Jane's Last Dance" is pathetic, and last desparate act. However, "Somthing In The Air" is a respectable cover of the Thunderclap Newman song from 1969, and in some ways even better. "Mary Jane" though was one of the horrible songs I had to endure listening to the first few months that I moved down to Florida. The oldies saved this from a bad rating.

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers Greatest Hits captures just that from their debut in 1976 right up until 1993, before they moved to the Warner label. Around the time of its release, the single "Mary Janes Last Dance" was a huge worldwide smash and that song, and a cover of the old classic Thunderclap Newman "Something In The Air" which was a humble hit in England complemented most of their best and well known hits at the time.

This is the perfect album for new fans of Petty and the Heartbreakers to start their collections with.

Each song is a bona fide classic rock and roll song that you would have heard on the radio many times over the years.

The collection draws heavily from their two best recieved discs, Damn The Torpedoes, their first multi platinum success, to Tom's solo foray, Full Moon Fever which, yes, includes the song Free Fallin'

These 19 songs are just 19 songs from the band, and do not limit their greatness to those songs alone, this is a band who has churned out consistent quality for 30 years.

If you love this, please checkout all the band and Tom's other albums. Get Damn The Torpedoes if you love the early rock sound, Wildflowers is a fantastic album that came a year after this one. Highway Companion, his latest hit album is also recommended.

You cannot go wrong with this collection and Petty's albums in general.

Listen to this CD and re-discover why Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers are a quintessential American band on par with Bruce Springsteen & the E-Street Band, the Eagles, the Byrds, the Doors, or any other rock titan you care to name. Forget the fact that TP&H are a superb album-rock outfit that never loads an album with filler...forget the fact that this one disc cannot possibly contain all of the great TP&H tracks...what this disc does showcase is a phenomenal lineup of classic rock songs that keep coming and coming and coming at you, like waves at the seashore.

A little bit Florida redneck and a little bit California cool, Tom Petty embodies a coast-to-coast-to-coast ethos that appeals to folks from everywhere--everywhere geographically, spiritually, socially, vocationally, and musically. This one disc contains old-time rock and roll, blues, country, soul, psychadelia, jangly pop, Beatlesque songcraft, Elvis-like swagger, Byrdsian harmony, and Stones-ish ragged glory. And it's all owned by TP&H...these guys aren't imitators as much as they are a repository of the great American/British jukebox.

Included are most of TP&H's biggest chart hits, plus a few of TP's solo songs from FULL MOON FEVER and two new recordings available only (when it was released, anyway) on this set. From the "Byrds Go Punk" gallop through "American Girl" to the New-Wavey "You Got Lucky" (the Cars meet Dylan) to those classic TORPEDO tracks and the fantastic Jeff Lynne era, it's all pretty much represented here.

PLAYBACK, the epic TP 6-disc box, covers the band more fully, but for a succinct overview of the band up through the early 1990s, it's tough to beat this gazillion-selling HITS collection.

This is by far a fantastic collection of Tom Petty songs... but it's too short. If you're looking for a single disc compilation that will allow you to feel the greatness of Tom Petty, then buy this album, but in my opinion it's hard to capture Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers on a single disc. This is a great way to be introduced to the music, but not the best way to fully enjoy it. The sound quality is wonderful and every song is superb, you can't ask for much more... other than more songs... Buy it, it's awesome, but just know you're not hearing everything that is great about the band.

Has'em all. Every hit you could think of. A really great CD.