GeffenTom Petty & the Heartbreakers' fourth studio album, Hard Promises, was released on May 5, 1981, 40 years ago today. The album peaked at #5 on the Billboard Hot 100, and featured the jangly, Byrds-inspired "The Waiting," which reached #19 on the B.
By Syndicated Content
Geffen
Hard Promises, was released on May 5, 1981, 40 years ago today.
The album peaked at #5 on the Billboard Hot 100, and featured the jangly,
Byrds-inspired “The Waiting,” which reached #19 on the
Billboard‘s Mainstream Rock chart.
Hard Promises‘ release was delayed because Petty’s record label wanted to sell it for $9.98, one dollar more than the usual price for an album at the time. Tom was so against the idea that he threatened to call the album
Eight Ninety-Eight, but the label eventually decided not to increase the price.
The album features
Stevie Nicks duetting with Petty on the song “Insider” and also lending backing vocals to another track, “You Can Still Change Your Mind.” The tunes were recorded around the same time Petty and Nicks recorded their hit duet “Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around” for her album
Jimmy Iovine talked her into it. He also worked with Petty.
Stevie stormed out of the studio when she was pitched the idea on the song. She later returned and admitted Iovine was right about the song.
Stevie told
Classic Rock magazine that she told Iovine she was sorry for being so b - about this, it’s just that I’m so protective of my songs.’ And because of that song, I have a solo career to this day.”
Petty was also initially unhappy with the idea. He said, Jimmy, you just took the song?, to which Iovine replied, This is gonna buy you a house.
Bella Donna, her debut album, 40 years ago this summer.
While she wanted to write all the songs on the album, it’s biggest hit, “Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around,” was made available to her, unbeknownst to them at the time, by
Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers.
But Stevie had to be talked into doing the song with Petty by her boyfriend and producer Jimmy Iovine, who also worked with Petty.
When he first broached the subject, she stormed out of the studio, but, she returned, realizing he was right.
She says that she told Iovine she was “sorry for being so bitchy about this, it’s just that I’m so protective of my songs.’ And because of that song, I have a solo career to this day.”
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