Greatest Hits (Tom Petty album)

Greatest Hits
Original album cover
Greatest hits album by
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
ReleasedNovember 16, 1993 (1993-11-16)
Recorded1976–1993
GenreRock, heartland rock
Length65:44
Label
Producer
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers chronology
Into the Great Wide Open
(1991) 		Greatest Hits
(1993) 		Wildflowers
(1994)
Singles from Greatest Hits
  1. "Mary Jane's Last Dance"
    Released: November 16, 1993
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
Blender[2]
Christgau's Consumer GuideA−[3]
Encyclopedia of Popular Music[4]
Entertainment WeeklyA+[5]
The Essential Rock Discography9/10[6]
MusicHound4.5/5[7]
Q[8]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide[9]

Greatest Hits is a compilation album by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, released in 1993. It is Petty's best-selling album to date and was certified 12× Platinum by the RIAA on April 28, 2015. The single "Mary Jane's Last Dance" became one of Petty's most popular songs, reaching No. 14 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 1 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks chart. The other new song on the album is a cover of the Thunderclap Newman hit "Something in the Air". The album contains no songs from 1987's Let Me Up (I've Had Enough). However, three songs from Petty's 1989 solo album Full Moon Fever were included.

On its original release in November 1993, the album debuted at No. 8 on Billboard 200,[10] and first peaked at No. 5 on the chart in February 1994.[11] It reached a new peak of No. 2 following Petty's death in 2017.[12]

The new tracks "Mary Jane's Last Dance" and "Something in the Air" were the band's last recordings with drummer Stan Lynch.

Reissues[edit]

In 2008, Greatest Hits was reissued by Geffen Records. This edition replaced "Something In The Air" with "Stop Draggin' My Heart Around", Petty's duet with Stevie Nicks from her 1981 album Bella Donna. The album's photos and artwork replaced the Wildflowers and Into the Great Wide Open session photos with outtakes from You're Gonna Get It!. In 2010 the album was once again reissued, this time reverting to the original 1993 track listing but keeping the artwork from the 2008 edition. In 2016 the album was made available on vinyl for the first time since 1993.

Track listing[edit]

1993 original & 2010 reissue track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Original album/notesLength
1."American Girl"Tom PettyTom Petty and the Heartbreakers, 19763:33
2."Breakdown"PettyTom Petty and the Heartbreakers2:44
3."Listen to Her Heart"PettyYou're Gonna Get It!, 19783:03
4."I Need to Know"PettyYou're Gonna Get It!2:24
5."Refugee"Petty, Mike CampbellDamn the Torpedoes, 19793:21
6."Don't Do Me Like That"PettyDamn the Torpedoes2:42
7."Even the Losers"PettyDamn the Torpedoes3:38
8."Here Comes My Girl"Petty, CampbellDamn the Torpedoes4:25
9."The Waiting"PettyHard Promises, 19814:00
10."You Got Lucky"Petty, CampbellLong After Dark, 19823:36
11."Don't Come Around Here No More"Petty, David A. StewartSouthern Accents, 19855:04
12."I Won't Back Down"Petty, Jeff LynneFull Moon Fever, 19892:57
13."Runnin' Down a Dream"Petty, Lynne, CampbellFull Moon Fever4:23
14."Free Fallin'"Petty, LynneFull Moon Fever4:15
15."Learning to Fly"Petty, LynneInto the Great Wide Open, 19914:01
16."Into the Great Wide Open"Petty, LynneInto the Great Wide Open3:44
17."Mary Jane's Last Dance"PettyNew song4:33
18."Something in the Air"Speedy KeenThunderclap Newman cover3:21
Total length:65:44
1993 UK edition bonus track
No.TitleWriter(s)Original album/notesLength
3."Anything That's Rock 'n' Roll"PettyTom Petty and the Heartbreakers2:24
Total length:68:10
2008 reissue alternate track
No.TitleWriter(s)Original album/notesLength
18."Stop Draggin' My Heart Around"Petty, CampbellStevie Nicks' Bella Donna, 19814:03
Total length:66:26

Personnel[edit]

Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers

  • Tom Petty – vocals, guitar, piano, harmonica, percussion (all tracks)
  • Mike Campbell – guitar, bass guitar, keyboards, squeeze box (all tracks)
  • Benmont Tench – keyboards, piano, backing vocals (tracks 1–11, 15–18)
  • Ron Blair – bass guitar (tracks 1–8)
  • Howie Epstein – bass guitar, backing vocals (tracks 10–12, 15–18)
  • Stan Lynch – drums, percussion, backing vocals (tracks 1–11, 15–18)

Additional musicians

  • George Harrison – acoustic guitar, backing vocals (track 12)
  • Jeff Lynne – bass guitar, guitar, guitar synthesizer, piano, keyboards, backing vocals (tracks 12–16)
  • David A. Stewart – sitar, keyboards, backing vocals (track 11)

Uncredited musicians

  • Donald "Duck" Dunn – bass guitar (track 18, 2008 release)
  • Dean Garcia – intro bass guitar (track 11)
  • Phil Jones – percussion, drums (tracks 9–10, 12–14)
  • Jeff Jourard, Mike Slee – guitar (track 2)
  • Jim Keltner – percussion (track 5)
  • Stevie Nicks – co-lead vocals (track 18, 2008 release)
  • Lori Perry, Sharon Celani – backing vocals (track 18, 2008 release)
  • Daniel Rothmuller – cello (track 11)
  • Phil Seymour – backing vocals (tracks 1–2)
  • Chris Trujillo – percussion (tracks 17–18)
  • Alan "Bugs" Weidel – "wild dog" piano (track 11)
  • Sharon Celani, Marilyn Martin, Stephanie Sprull – backing vocals (track 11)

Charts[edit]

Certifications[edit]

Sales and streaming unit certifications for Greatest Hits
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[46] Gold 35,000^
Germany (BVMI)[47] Gold 250,000^
New Zealand (RMNZ)[48] 4× Platinum 60,000‡
Norway (IFPI Norway)[49] Gold 25,000*
Sweden (GLF)[50] Gold 50,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[51] Platinum 300,000^
United States (RIAA)[52] 12× Platinum 12,000,000^

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history[edit]

Release formats for Greatest Hits
Region Date Label Format Catalog
Europe October 30, 1993 MCA Records double LP MCA 10964
Cassette MCC 10964
CD MCD 10964
North America November 16, 1993 Cassette MCAC 10813
CD MCAD 10813
May 20, 2008 Geffen Records B0010327-02
Europe 1774395

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Greatest Hits – Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved November 21, 2012.
  2. ^ "Tom Petty: Greatest Hits". Blender. Archived from the original on June 15, 2008. Retrieved November 5, 2017.
  3. ^ Christgau, Robert. "CG: Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers". RobertChristgau.com. Retrieved January 2, 2013.
  4. ^ Larkin, Colin, ed. (2011). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music (5th edn). London: Omnibus Press. p. 2005. ISBN 978-0-85712-595-8.
  5. ^ Sinclair, Tom (November 19, 1993). "Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers: Greatest Hits Review". Entertainment Weekly. p. 92. Retrieved January 2, 2013.
  6. ^ Strong, Martin C. (2006). The Essential Rock Discography. Edinburgh, UK: Canongate. p. 816. ISBN 978-1-84195-827-9.
  7. ^ Graff, Gary; Durchholz, Daniel, eds. (1999). MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide. Farmington Hills, MI: Visible Ink Press. p. 870. ISBN 1-57859-061-2.
  8. ^ "Tom Petty / Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers – Greatest Hits CD Album". CD Universe. Retrieved January 2, 2013.
  9. ^ "Tom Petty: Album Guide". rollingstone.com. Archived from the original on July 14, 2011. Retrieved January 2, 2013.
  10. ^ "Billboard 200". Billboard. December 4, 1993.
  11. ^ "Billboard 200". Billboard. February 5, 1994.
  12. ^ Caulfield, Keith (October 8, 2017). "Tom Petty's 'Greatest Hits' Returns to Billboard 200 Albums Chart at No. 2". Billboard. Retrieved October 8, 2017.
  13. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers – Greatest Hits" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved April 7, 2021.
  14. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers – Greatest Hits" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved April 7, 2021.
  15. ^ "Norwegiancharts.com – Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers – Greatest Hits". Hung Medien. Retrieved April 7, 2021.
  16. ^ "Swedishcharts.com – Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers – Greatest Hits". Hung Medien. Retrieved April 7, 2021.
  17. ^ "Swisscharts.com – Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers – Greatest Hits". Hung Medien. Retrieved April 7, 2021.
  18. ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 7, 2021.
  19. ^ a b "Australiancharts.com – Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers – Greatest Hits". Hung Medien. Retrieved April 7, 2021.
  20. ^ "Austriancharts.at – Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers – Greatest Hits" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved April 7, 2021.
  21. ^ "100 Albums (CD's & Cassettes)". RPM. 59 (3). February 7, 1994. ISSN 0315-5994. Archived from the original (PHP) on 2012-10-23. Retrieved July 1, 2011.
  22. ^ "Charts.nz – Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers – Greatest Hits". Hung Medien. Retrieved April 7, 2021.
  23. ^ a b "Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved April 7, 2021.
  24. ^ "Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved October 10, 2017.
  25. ^ "Official Album Chart: Top 100 Official UK Albums". Official Charts Company. October 6, 2017. Retrieved October 7, 2017.
  26. ^ "Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers Chart History (Top Rock Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved April 7, 2021.
  27. ^ "Top 100 Album-Jahrescharts" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved April 15, 2021.
  28. ^ "Top Selling Albums of 1994". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved February 1, 2022.
  29. ^ "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1994". Billboard. 2 January 2013. Archived from the original on January 23, 2015. Retrieved June 2, 2021.
  30. ^ "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1995". Billboard. 2 January 2013. Archived from the original on January 23, 2015. Retrieved June 2, 2021.
  31. ^ "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1996". Billboard. 2 January 2013. Archived from the original on January 23, 2015. Retrieved June 2, 2021.
  32. ^ "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2017". Billboard. 2 January 2013. Retrieved December 12, 2017.
  33. ^ "Top Rock Albums – Year-End 2017". Billboard. 2 January 2013. Retrieved April 7, 2021.
  34. ^ "Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2018". Billboard. Retrieved December 5, 2018.
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  40. ^ "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2021". Billboard. Retrieved December 3, 2021.
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  44. ^ "Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2023". Billboard. Retrieved November 23, 2023.
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  46. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 1994 Albums" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved November 28, 2021.
  47. ^ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers; 'Greatest Hits')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie.
  48. ^ "New Zealand album certifications – Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers – Greatest Hits". Recorded Music NZ.
  49. ^ "Norwegian album certifications – Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers – Greatest Hits" (in Norwegian). IFPI Norway.
  50. ^ "Guld- och Platinacertifikat − År 1987−1998" (PDF) (in Swedish). IFPI Sweden. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-05-17. Retrieved July 7, 2020.
  51. ^ "British album certifications – Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers – Greatest Hits". British Phonographic Industry.
  52. ^ "American album certifications – Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers – Greatest Hits". Recording Industry Association of America.
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