Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers: Tom Petty (vocals, acoustic, electric, 6- & 12-string guitars); Mike Campbell (electric, 12-string, lap steel & slide guitars); Howie Epstein (mandolin, bass, background vocals); Benmont Tench (keyboards, background vocals); Stan Lynch (drums, background vocals).
Additional personnel: Stevie Nicks (vocals); Bobby Valentino (violin); Jimmy Zavala (harmonica, saxophone); Lee Thornburg (trumpet, flugelhorn); Nick Lane (trombone, euphonium); Ron Blair (bass); Pat Peterson, Carroll Sue Hill (percussion, background vocals); Phil Jones (percussion).
Recorded live at various locations during Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers' 1985 tour.
Captured in concert in their mid-'80s "eclectic" phase, backed by horns and female vocalists, Petty and the Heartbreakers get to show more sides of their personality than the confines of a studio recording generally permit. That's most obvious in the preponderance of spirited cover tunes that lay the band's roots squarely on their collective sleeve. Listening to their version of the Byrds' "So You Want to be a Rock 'n' Roll Star" makes it plain where Petty got his drawling vocal style and penchant for ringing guitars, just as a rendition of "Shout" lays bare the band's soul influences. Atmospheric jamming vehicles like "Breakdown" also benefit greatly from the live circumstances, and on early tunes like "American Girl," Petty and company prove that they can still blaze through a heartland rocker like no one else.
