Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers

Damn the Torpedoes

First released1979

Damn the Torpedoes, released in 1979, was recorded at several studios including The Record Plant in Los Angeles and other facilities during a period when Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers were navigating contractual disputes with their record label. The album was produced by Tom Petty along with engineer/producer Shel Talmy, who brought his experience from his work with 1960s rock bands to the project. The recording sessions utilized analog tape technology standard to the era and featured a straightforward rock production approach that emphasized the band's live energy and instrumental tightness. The album's success came despite the legal and business turmoil surrounding the band at the time, ultimately becoming a major commercial breakthrough that established Tom Petty as a significant force in American rock music.