Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers - Echo - Amazon.com Music (original) (raw)
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Reviewed in the United States on February 15, 2010
It was around the time that Highway Companion came out that I went to see Petty and the Heartbreakers live just to go. That show made me realize just how embedded Petty's songs were into my mind as every single tune was amazing and the band played so well. An amazing show that opened my eyes and got me to start listening to more Petty.
And it took me this long to get to Echo. Boy did I miss out on that one. I guess I listened a bit too much to the people that were down on this album. It even got ragged on a bit in the Runnin' Down A Dream documentary.
Echo doesn't deserve the criticism.
I'm not a fan of 60 minute+ albums. I think too many artists have been suckered in by the amount of space on the CD. Most albums are best at old LP length - around 40 minutes or so. So many albums end up with a bit of filler as an artist or record label or producer or whoever insist on packing more stuff onto an album.
I think that happened on Wildflowers for Petty, though that is a generally excellent work - it just tapers off a bit toward the end.
But not Echo. This album is laced with raw emotion and amazing melodies, kicking off with one of Petty's best, Room At The Top. It doesn't let up, with great melodies, raw guitars, and some insightful lyrics.
The three singles are excellent - Room At The Top, Free Girl Now, and Swingin'. The title track, Echo, is six minutes and doesn't feel like it. It is such a sad tune as we hear of a once strong love that has turned bitter after hearing on the previous song that the couple will stand forever Accused Of Love (the title of that great song), but things start to go bad there.
Every song here is a gem akin to how it was early on with the Heartbreakers' first four albums (and maybe beyond as I think Long After Dark and Southern Accents are underrated). This album isn't Damn The Torpedoes or Full Moon Fever or Wildflowers - it's different. It feels different. It has fewer fist pumps. There are many great choruses but they can be very thoughtful.
It's not easy to describe this album fully other than saying it's a powerful and emotional ride. I'd say it's one of Petty's best but most of his albums can stake that claim. Tom Petty doesn't get the kind of recognition he should as one of the greatest writers of the rock era, up there with Springsteen, Lennon-McCartney, Jagger-Richards, etc.
24 people found this helpful
Reviewed in the United States on March 25, 2024
Reviewed in the United States on January 31, 2024
Reviewed in the United States on August 6, 2021
While not the best known TP & HB album, it is top of the table. As a collector, I have his entire library including Mudcrutch, Petty solo and Traveling Wilbury’s.
I would put this album among his very best ( they are all great). During this period, Tom was going through a divorce, was dealing with Howie’s Epstein’s addiction (note he is not in the cover photo, he missed the picture shoot for this record), and so the songs are personal.
The sonics, production, songwriting and playing are otherworldly. All great songs, especially Rhino Skin, Room At The Top, Counting On You and Swingin’ …
The 45 RPM 2 LP version adds another dimension in quality…the pressing is dead quiet and adds clarity and punch I have not heard in the original vinyl and CD. Great package and highly recommended!!
4 people found this helpful
Reviewed in the United States on October 23, 2017
I have a few Tom Petty discs and I am most proud of my (it was expensive) 5 CD edition of his "Live Anthology" box set and many of the bootlegs I also have of live Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers concerts. As for the studio discs it's spotty as I only have a few of them but Tom and the Heartbreakers are very excellent and those records are all four an five star records.
This 1999 recording is from Tom and the band and it is one of my favorites from them. I play this one a lot and some wonderful TP songs are featured on this one. My favorite track on this is "Swingin" and it's a classic all the way. My wife goes all mushy over "Echo" it's quite the charmer.
I mention the Mrs. because it's rare when we agree on a record we are both found of and this is one those that rings all the bells for the both of us.
This disc "Echo" isn't one of Tom Petty's best known records but it sure is one of his best from a large catalog of recordings.
Four & 1/2 Stars!
11 people found this helpful
Reviewed in the United States on January 17, 2023
This one was bought to replace a copy I loaded and did not get returned. This one, for me, is a must have. Certain pieces like "Swinging" or "Top of the World" are just classic guitar rock and roll, with great lyrics, Tom's vibe, and the perfect grind of Mike Campbell's guitar. Bass playing , drums -- it is just a finely crafted album. Maybe it's just me.
Reviewed in the United States on August 12, 2021
Great album! I love Room at the Top, but there ar a lot of great songs on here. Whether your drinking a cup of coffee, looking out the window or sitting on the porch watching the rain, or you are on the move cleaning around the house, this album is great. Tom Petty lyrics will "speak right to your soul.
Item arrived when expected. Safely wrapped and in perfect shape. Just hit buy now! It's worth it.
One person found this helpful
Reviewed in the United States on May 16, 2021
You know that album you get and you play over and over and over again? That has been my experience with Echo. I love it. Just got new speakers and this was the first thing I played on them. I'll think this song's my favorite, no this one is... no it's this one! And I'll find myself playing them in my head when it's not on. This has been my soundtrack for Spring 2021.
3 people found this helpful
Top reviews from other countries
5.0 out of 5 stars A Deep Cut for Petty
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 19, 2022
Echo's overshadowed by its legacy rather a lot - It's remembered for being the 'sad' Petty album, around the time that bassist Howie Epstein spiralled into substance abuse, Petty went through a divorce and the years seemed to move beyond the band's heyday. For sure, thematically and tonally, it's one of the Heartbreakers' most downbeat projects. Even the rockers ('Billy the Kid', 'I Don't Wanna Fight', 'About to Give Out') deal with fairly dark, 'raw' subjects. But there are some beautiful ballads here, like the title track, or opener, 'Room at the Top' - which still ranks amongst the best Petty has ever done. There's surprisingly little filler here, and whilst Echo undoubtedly seems a bleak stance after the open, airy highway rock of Full Moon Fever, Into the Great Wide Open - even the faster numbers of Wildflowers - it's undeniably still a Tom Petty album; packed with his wry observation, defiant optimism and wit.
The album itself is split across three sides, on two vinyl discs - themselves housed in a lovely gatefold - with a neat etching of the album's 'logo' on the D-side. It's a nice touch, and helps make the whole record feel yet more unique. This can be pretty expensive to pick up on vinyl these days, but absolutely worth it for those with a long-lasting love for Petty and his band.
5.0 out of 5 stars A Deep Cut for Petty
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 19, 2022
Echo's overshadowed by its legacy rather a lot - It's remembered for being the 'sad' Petty album, around the time that bassist Howie Epstein spiralled into substance abuse, Petty went through a divorce and the years seemed to move beyond the band's heyday. For sure, thematically and tonally, it's one of the Heartbreakers' most downbeat projects. Even the rockers ('Billy the Kid', 'I Don't Wanna Fight', 'About to Give Out') deal with fairly dark, 'raw' subjects. But there are some beautiful ballads here, like the title track, or opener, 'Room at the Top' - which still ranks amongst the best Petty has ever done. There's surprisingly little filler here, and whilst Echo undoubtedly seems a bleak stance after the open, airy highway rock of Full Moon Fever, Into the Great Wide Open - even the faster numbers of Wildflowers - it's undeniably still a Tom Petty album; packed with his wry observation, defiant optimism and wit.
The album itself is split across three sides, on two vinyl discs - themselves housed in a lovely gatefold - with a neat etching of the album's 'logo' on the D-side. It's a nice touch, and helps make the whole record feel yet more unique. This can be pretty expensive to pick up on vinyl these days, but absolutely worth it for those with a long-lasting love for Petty and his band.
5.0 out of 5 stars I really like this cd
Reviewed in Canada on November 22, 2017
I really like this cd, I only recently discovered some of the songs on U tube & loved them so purchased the cd... many great songs that never get played on the radio... pretty sad.. the radio stations sure can suck... I Love Tom & The Heartbreakers... miss him big time already... RIP .Tom
5.0 out of 5 stars Se gli italiani scoprissero Tom Petty
Reviewed in Italy on September 20, 2017
Un disco scarno, a tratti ombroso ma intenso. Un'altra gemma che il talento creativo di Petty offre alla musica. I brani 'Echo'. 'Room at the Top' tra i migliori del disco
5.0 out of 5 stars Stunning album - especially in double vinyl
Reviewed in Australia on February 18, 2021
Long considered his 'divorce album', this is a truly beautiful album from start to finish. As troubled as the writing and recording apparently was - the songs here are just superb.
I strongly recommend this album to Tom Petty fans - especially in this edition. Magical.
5.0 out of 5 stars obra maestra
Reviewed in Spain on January 16, 2017
esta ultima obra maestra de petty no fue considerada como se merece , se trata de un disco casi perefcto el 95% de las canciones son grandes no aburre en ningun momento y en definitiva es el mejor disco del rock americano en los ultimos 25 años, con mencion especial para swingin un tema perfecto al alcance de muy pocos , por cierto el siguiente the last dj aunque baja el nivel es muy bueno tambien , maltratado por la critica , porque habra tanto bobo en este mundo?