Today, the Tom Petty Estate opens its archives to share previously unreleased music and never-before-seen, newly remastered film from the era 1982 to 1983. The unearthed material includes an expansive deluxe edition of the groundbreaking but often overlooked album from Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Long After Dark, out now via Geffen/UMe—listen/share here.
It was the band’s third and final album with legendary rock producer Jimmy Iovine, who reflects, “Long After Dark, we thought we had it. Sounded like ‘Positively Fourth Street,’ sounded like one of those records, you know. By the way, I think it is!”
Long After Dark features an edgy collection of rock ballads and guitar anthems backed by the unmistakable sound of The Heartbreakers, with the new addition of Howie Epstein on bass and backing vocals.
The release delivers 44 minutes of new music that was lost in the debate over the album’s original direction. “There was some music recorded for Long After Dark that didn’t get on the record, that I thought would’ve made it a better album,” said Tom Petty. “I left off... four things that I liked quite a bit. And probably a few more written that never even got in the door.” One of those songs was the Everly Brothers-inspired “Keeping Me Alive.”
A notable archival discovery is Petty’s haunting version of “Never Be You”—which was a #1 country hit for Rosanne Cash and was co-written by fellow Heartbreaker Benmont Tench. Also released for the first time ever are original songs “Don’t Make Me Walk the Line” and “One on One,” as well as an up-tempo version of “Ways to Be Wicked.”
Last week, Petty’s family and bandmates got together with Cameron Crowe to celebrate Crowe’s Los Angeles premiere of Tom Petty: Heartbreakers Beach Party—see highlights from the event here.
Originally airing only once on MTV in February 1983, this film has become a fan favorite with a folklore of its own.
A rowdy, era-defining look at rock & roll in 1982, Tom Petty: Heartbreakers Beach Party takes place during the finalizing, promoting, and touring of Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers’ Long After Dark. The cult classic, directed by Academy Award-winning director Cameron Crowe (Almost Famous, Jerry Maguire), is screening in cinemas worldwide in partnership with Trafalgar Releasing and the Tom Petty Estate this Sunday, October 20, on what would have been Tom Petty’s 74th birthday—get tickets here.
Long After Dark (Deluxe Edition) features the newly remastered original album from the original analog master tapes, plus 12 rediscovered bonus tracks newly mixed by Petty’s longtime engineer Ryan Ulyate. It boasts packaging designed by Grammy Award-winning designer Jeri Heiden; liner notes by legendary rock journalist and Tom Petty Radio host David Fricke with commentary from Jimmy Iovine and Cameron Crowe; and iconic archival photographs by Dennis Callahan, Neal Preston, and Aaron Rapoport. The set is available in a variety of configurations, highlighted by a limited edition TomPetty.com 2LP pressing on 180-gram red with black splatter color vinyl, housed in a numbered foil tip-on jacket with an exclusive lithograph; a 3-disc set featuring 2 CDs and a Blu-ray audio disc with additional hi-res stereo and Dolby Atmos mixes of the album and bonus tracks, also mixed by Ulyate; and a variety of additional vinyl options including a 2LP on 180-gram black vinyl and a limited edition 1LP 180-gram turquoise color vinyl pressing (main album only) with a double-sided lithograph of Blaze Brooks’ illustrations (available exclusively at indie record stores).
The album is also available at all streaming, download, and HD audio download partners.
For more info, complete tracklisting, and to order 2 LP versions and the 3-disc set, visit the official Tom Petty store.
LONG AFTER DARK DELUXE EDITION—TRACKLISTING
DISC 1
“A One Story Town”
“You Got Lucky”
“Deliver Me”
“Change of Heart”
“Finding Out”
“We Stand a Chance”
“Straight Into Darkness”
“The Same Old You”
“Between Two Worlds”
“A Wasted Life”
DISC 2
“Stories We Could Tell (French TV)”
“Never Be You”*
“Turning Point (Original Drums Version)”
“Don’t Make Me Walk the Line”*
“I’m Finding Out (French TV)”*
“Heartbreakers Beach Party (Extended Version)”
“Keeping Me Alive (French TV)”
“Straight Into Darkness (French TV)”
“Ways to Be Wicked (Denver Sessions)”*
“Between Two Worlds (French TV)”*
“One on One”*
“Wild Thing”*
