Echo (Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers album)

Last updated

Echo
Tom Petty Echo.jpg
Studio album by
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
ReleasedApril 13, 1999
Genre Heartland rock
Length62:06
Label Warner Bros.
Producer
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers chronology
Songs and Music from "She's the One"
(1996)		Echo
(1999)		 Anthology: Through the Years
(2000)
Singles from Echo
  1. "Free Girl Now"
    Released: 1999
  2. "Room at the Top"
    Released: 1999
  3. "Swingin'"
    Released: 1999
  4. "This One's for Me"
    Released: 1999
  5. "Accused of Love"
    Released: 1999

Echo is the tenth studio album by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. Released in April 1999, the album reached number 10 on the Billboard 200 aided by the singles "Free Girl Now", "Swingin'" and "Room at the Top", which hit numbers 5, 17 and 19 respectively on Billboard 's Mainstream Rock Tracks in 1999. The album was the band's last collaboration with producer Rick Rubin, and was also the last to feature contributions from longtime bassist/vocalist Howie Epstein, who died of a heroin overdose in 2003. Despite still being a member of the band, Epstein is missing from the album's cover photo because he failed to show up for the photo shoot, and Petty ordered it to commence without him. [1] It also marks the first to feature longtime touring member Scott Thurston, as well as the first to credit drummer Steve Ferrone as an official member. Echo was certified Gold (500,000 copies sold) by the RIAA in July 1999, only three months after it was released. Echo is the only Heartbreakers' album to feature a lead vocal from another member of the band, namely lead guitarist Mike Campbell on "I Don't Wanna Fight".

Contents

"Free Girl Now" is also notable for being the second single by a major artist to be made available for free internet download in MP3 format by the artist. Petty's marketing decision caused concern at Warner Bros., and the download was pulled after two days but propagated thanks to services such as Napster. [2]

Reception

The album received generally positive reviews, that received positive critical acclaim for its strong melodies, and emotionally captivating writing style. Many have considered this album to be one of Tom Petty's best works, often regarded as more unique and introspective compared to his other projects.

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [3]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [4]
Entertainment Weekly A− [5]
The Essential Rock Discography 5/10 [6]
The Harvard Crimson (favorable) [7]
The Music BoxStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [8]
Rolling Stone Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svg [9]
USA Today Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [10]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Tom Petty, except "I Don't Wanna Fight", written by Mike Campbell.

Echo track listing
No.TitleLength
1."Room at the Top"5:00
2."Counting on You"4:05
3."Free Girl Now"3:30
4."Lonesome Sundown"4:32
5."Swingin'"5:30
6."Accused of Love"2:45
7."Echo"6:36
8."Won't Last Long"4:22
9."Billy the Kid"4:08
10."I Don't Wanna Fight"2:47
11."This One's for Me"2:42
12."No More"3:15
13."About to Give Out"3:12
14."Rhino Skin"3:57
15."One More Day, One More Night"5:37

Outtakes

Personnel

Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers

Additional musicians

Production

Charts

Singles

Chart performance for singles from Echo
YearSingleChartPosition
1999"Free Girl Now"US Mainstream Rock [17] 5

Certifications

Certifications for Echo
RegionCertification Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA) [19] Gold500,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

  1. ↑ Matthews, Tom (March 16, 2011). "Heart Breaker". Milwaukee Magazine. Retrieved November 6, 2017.
  2. ↑ Nelson, Chris (March 11, 1999). "Best of '99: Downloadable Tom Petty Single Pulled from 'MP3.com' Site". MTV.com. MTV. Archived from the original on July 28, 2017. Retrieved July 28, 2017.
  3. ↑ "Echo - Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, Tom Petty - Songs, Reviews, Credits - AllMusic". AllMusic .
  4. ↑ Larkin, Colin, ed. (2011). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music (5th edn). London: Omnibus Press. p. 2005. ISBN   978-0-85712-595-8.
  5. ↑ "Echo - EW.com". Entertainment Weekly . Archived from the original on April 20, 2014. 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. ↑ The Harvard Crimson review
  8. ↑ Metzger, John. "Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers - Echo (Album Review)".
  9. ↑ "Echo". Rolling Stone . April 29, 1999.
  10. ↑ "Rebellious ring to Petty's 'Echo' Bocelli right to return to pop, but John's 'Aida' simply tragic". Archived from the original on July 20, 2013.
  11. ↑ "Austriancharts.at – Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers – Echo" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved October 19, 2020.
  12. ↑ "Offiziellecharts.de – Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers – Echo" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved October 19, 2020.
  13. ↑ "Charts.nz – Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers – Echo". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 19, 2020.
  14. ↑ "Swedishcharts.com – Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers – Echo". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 19, 2020.
  15. ↑ "Swisscharts.com – Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers – Echo". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 19, 2020.
  16. ↑ "Tom Petty | full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company . Retrieved April 4, 2019.
  17. 1 2 "Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers Chart History". Billboard . Retrieved April 2, 2019.
  18. ↑ "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1999". Billboard. Archived from the original on January 24, 2015. Retrieved June 26, 2021.
  19. ↑ "American album certifications – Tom Petty – Echo". Recording Industry Association of America.
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