Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers #2: You're Gonna Get It

Release Date: May 2, 1978

Members: Tom Petty (vocals, guitar); Mike Campbell (guitars); Benmont Tench (piano, organ); Ron Blair (bass); Stan Lynch (drums)

Produced by Denny Cordell, Noah Shark, Tom Petty

Side One: When the Time Comes; You're Gonna Get It; Hurt; Magnolia; Too Much Ain't Enough

Side Two: I Need to Know; Listen to Her Heart; No Second Thoughts; Restless; Baby's a Rock 'N' Roller

At 30 minutes, You're Gonna Get It is devoted to the three-minute rock song. Building upon the tight riffs and melodies of their debut, the record yielded two hit singles.

"I Need to Know" is a moody track agonizing over the impending end of a relationship. "Listen to Her Heart" seems to be in response to the power pop infused "I Need to Know" with lyrics aimed at a romantic rival.

The opener "When the Time Comes" promises devotion in hard times, "You're Gonna Get It" is a slightly darker love song with a more adventurous production. "Hurt" expresses a wounded romanticism - and nothing much beyond that. "Magnolia" is underrated and had potential to be a hit single, highlighting the strengths of the band. "Too Much Ain't Enough" highlights late 70s excess on the rock scene. 

"No Second Thoughts" features a retro '60s sound, it would be at home on a Stones record. "Restless" goes for a swaggering blues vibe. The album closes with "Baby's a Rock 'N' Roller" another track in the '70s power pop style. 

You're Gonna Get It is a mostly an unremarkable second album, mostly staying the course. In saying that, it's also a fitting companion to the debut in sound and theme.

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers #1

Release Date: November 9, 1976

Members: Tom Petty (vocals, guitar); Mike Campbell (guitars); Benmont Tench (piano, organ); Ron Blair (bass); Stan Lynch (drums)

Produced by Denny Cordell

Side One: Rockin' Around (With You); Breakdown; Hometown Blues; The Wild One, Forever; Anything That's Rock N Roll

Side Two: Strangered in the Night; Fooled Again (I Don't Like It); Mystery Man; Luna; American Girl

The eponymous debut by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers sustains itself on catchy riffs and Petty's confident vocals. They are confident rock and rollers, letting the songs speak for themselves, and clever enough not to overstay their welcome. 

"Rockin' Around (With You)" opens the record on a minimal riff with a retro doo-wop sound, lyrically simplistic, but knowing. "Breakdown" is another effective riff with Petty's iconic delivery ideal for FM radio. "Hometown Blues" also channels early rock, perfect for the jukebox. Petty pays tribute to mythical woman on "The Wild One, Forever." It would work on a Springsteen record, but Petty's twangy delivery takes it a level above pastiche. Appropriately titled, "Anything That's Rock and Roll" would fit in on a Ramones record, but Petty seems to have a direct line to the foundations of Rock.

"Strangered in the Night" imagines a violent racial confrontation, not so much social commentary, more a reflection of reality in 1970s America. "Fooled Again (I Don't Like It) is rooted in the blues, and heavy on atmosphere. "Mystery Man" digresses into country rock, musically "Luna" is the most complex track. Recorded July 4, 1976, "American Girl" quickly became enshrined as a classic. Mystery surrounds what inspired the song; the lyrics encapsulate Petty's longtime fascination with exuberance and darkness of American identity. 

A strong debut for its no frills approach and steady determination.