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Album: Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
Avg rating:
7.8

Your rating:
Total ratings: 1281









Released: 1976
Length: 2:37
Plays (last 30 days): 0
It's alright if you love me
It's alright if you don't
I'm not afraid of you runnin' away honey
I get the feeling you won't

Say there ain't no sense in pretending
Your eyes give you away
Something inside you is feeling like I do
We said all there is to say

Baby,
Breakdown, go ahead and give it to me
Breakdown, honey, take me through the night
Breakdown, now I'm standin' here, can't you see
Breakdown, it's alright
It's alright, it's alright

Breakdown, go ahead and give it to me
Breakdown, honey, take me through the night
Breakdown, now I'm standin' here, can't you see
Breakdown, it's alright
It's alright, it's alright
Comments (134)add comment
We miss you, Tommy.
Ending the run of political comments that don't belong here.

TP's early stuff is light years better than the mid-80's onward elevator music.  So good.
 pinto wrote:
I totally agree!  And she STILL won't admit that she lost!

Oh, the irony.
 pinto wrote:
 If she "kicked little Donnie's butt in the actual election" she would be in the White House now.  Apparently she campaigned to win popular vote (which she did) and little Donnie's strategy was to win electoral votes and the election (which he did).
 
So America (& the world) is subjected to a bombastic moron that most people didn't vote for; great system!
 On_The_Beach wrote:

Of course we all know Hilary kicked little Donnie's butt in the actual election; you know, the one where votes count.
It's good in a way, because now Trump gets to make an ass of himself in front of the whole world, not just America.

  
If she "kicked little Donnie's butt in the actual election" she would be in the White House now.  Apparently she campaigned to win popular vote (which she did) and little Donnie's strategy was to win electoral votes and the election (which he did).
 pinto wrote:

I totally agree!  And she STILL won't admit that she lost!

 
She admitted that on November 9 - even Breitbart reported that.  
 pinto wrote:
I totally agree!  And she STILL won't admit that she lost!
 
Of course we all know Hilary kicked little Donnie's butt in the actual election; you know, the one where votes count.
It's good in a way, because now Trump gets to make an ass of himself in front of the whole world, not just America.
 On_The_Beach wrote:

52%; yah right; you know that's just bullsh*t.
But then, almost half of America voted for a childish buffoon, so who knows?

 
I totally agree!  And she STILL won't admit that she lost!
 Proclivities wrote:
In a 2016 poll, 52% of British citizens polled believe the moon landings were faked.  In the U.S., about 7% of people polled believe the landings were faked, which would be over 20 million.
 
52%; yeah right; you know that's just bullsh*t.
But then, almost half of America voted for a childish buffoon, so who knows?
Oh the parties to this song....
 On_The_Beach wrote:

Millions? Probably more like 23.

 
In a 2016 poll, 52% of British citizens polled believe the moon landings were faked.  In the U.S., about 7% of people polled believe the landings were faked, which would be over 20 million.
 Proclivities wrote:
Millions of people world-wide believe that the moon landings were faked; it doesn't make them right.
 
Millions? Probably more like 23.
 h8rhater wrote:

Yeah, nothing but an all time rock and roll classic that this hipster doesn't "get".  Millions of people world-wide, who can sing along to this from memory, beg to differ. 

 
Millions of people world-wide believe that the moon landings were faked; it doesn't make them right.
Saw them opening for Bob Dylan in Tel Aviv back in, what was it, 1986 or so? TP saved the night.
There was a time when this was a new, fresh sound.  I saw Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers open for Be Bop Deluxe in San Francisco in 1977, when I was in the Army attending language school in Monterey.  It may have been early 1978.  I've recently regained interest in TP&H with their latest album, Hypnotic Eye, after kinda losing interest after their second or third album.
Saw Tom Petty in England at the Knebworth Festival in '78 while stationed Mildenhal RAF with the USAF. Genesis, Jefferson Starship, Petty, Atlanta Rhythm Section, Roy Harper, and Devo. Hard to believe that was 37 freakin years ago!. Tom Petty was around the middle of the line up, if I recall, and really got the crowd rocking. Devo, and their flowerpot hats, didn't get a very great response from the crowd. But TP certainly did. And Genesis, wow! Great times.
This song was released in 1976?!! 
So it's one year away from being 40 years old?! Holy crap!
F*ck, I'm old . . . but still younger than Tom.

Oh yeah, almost forgot to mention; great tune!
I DON'T WANT TO BREAK DOWN, OK??
I remember seeing him perform this when it was brand new at the Winterland in SF back in the 70s. It was obvious he would be a star even way back then. 
 LPCity wrote:
" I'm gonna handle this like an adult"

 
"..'cause this an adult situation"  :)
 ziakut wrote:
This is the Eddie Money, mediocre Tom Petty we're hearing. Not too crazy about this. Just dull to me. I like TP, but this isn't much of anything.

 
Yeah, nothing but an all time rock and roll classic that this hipster doesn't "get".  Millions of people world-wide, who can sing along to this from memory, beg to differ. 
 treatment_bound wrote:

You've got "Hometown Blues" off this same album listed on your playlist here, BUT IT'S NEVER BEEN PLAYED!

Please give it a spin.




Agreed. The first two efforts are still my favorite from him/them...

 NBerg wrote:
Nice song, but the live version (also occasionally played here) is so much better!

 
{#Yes}  {#Yes}  {#Yes}
Not long ago, this was on the jukebox in some funky uptown dive, and I looked around and everyone was singing along. How cool is that?!

You've got "Hometown Blues" off this same album listed on your playlist here, BUT IT'S NEVER BEEN PLAYED!

Please give it a spin.


If you want a treat, order Peter Bogdanovich's 4 and a half hour documentary on Tom Petty on Netflix.  It even gets into the origin of the Traveling Wilbury's .  A real Treat!!!
Great song. Best part is Mike Campbell's guitar snake-like guitar hook.
This is the Eddie Money, mediocre Tom Petty we're hearing. Not too crazy about this. Just dull to me. I like TP, but this isn't much of anything.
Nice song, but the live version (also occasionally played here) is so much better!
 Lazarus wrote:

Everybody in my mushrooming multitude of churches loves this song...
 

 

Praise the Lord!  And please check-out Grace Jones' version.






 Dinges,_the_Dude wrote:
A long time ago, way before internet, a movie called FM about a radiostation was released. This song was one of the songs played in the movie. My favourite band Steely Dan wrote the titlesong, so my special attention was aroused. Many of the songs were good or great (including this one) and I used to listen to copies of the songs which my elder brother had copied for me on a taperecorder (one with large reels of tape). There was some magic about artists (for me esp. Steely Dan) because they never came to Europe so they seemed to only exist in my imagination. Nowadays the world is so much smaller and the magic has gone. Such a pity.

 
I remember that movie and the SD song..."no static at all--F...M"  . One of the few SD songs I liked back in the day, although something turned on a switch in me about 15 years and I realized that they made great music. {#Think}

But yes, imagination doesn't have much place in this world these days. People can hook into instant gratification of desires and curiosities to the point of excess and loss of passion. A shame. 

Everybody in my mushrooming multitude of churches loves this song...
 

marvelous...
 
A long time ago, way before internet, a movie called FM about a radiostation was released. This song was one of the songs played in the movie. My favourite band Steely Dan wrote the titlesong, so my special attention was aroused. Many of the songs were good or great (including this one) and I used to listen to copies of the songs which my elder brother had copied for me on a taperecorder (one with large reels of tape). There was some magic about artists (for me esp. Steely Dan) because they never came to Europe so they seemed to only exist in my imagination. Nowadays the world is so much smaller and the magic has gone. Such a pity.
" I'm gonna handle this like an adult"
 Stingray wrote:
because you come from the "Dutch mountess"
 
I went out with a dutch mountess once upon a time ... she was a nine; just like this classic.
I will never forget how the world looked when this came out...and I recall clearly how we had the radio going really good and loud in the back of the room in high school one morning before Mr. Horne's Electronics class when this came in over the airwaves and BLEW US ALL AWAY!  Teach strolled in and was grinning as if even HE liked it as he reached over to shut it off.  We had all been turned onto this cool, rockin' new stuff by Tom Petty...and it continues to jam for me, like a Rock 'n' Roll Time Machine, right here on good old RP!
 rockpommel16 wrote:
....not a great petty fan...but THIS song is a 9.......no doubt.....
 
because you come from the "Dutch mountess"
God would be happy to be a roadie in this incredible band!
....not a great petty fan...but THIS song is a 9.......no doubt.....
I had not heard this song for so so long  - "classic" radio stations tend to play other Tom Petty tracks - but not this one - loved it! Thanks!
 Dinges,_the_Dude wrote:
8 -> 9
 
Right on. I actually prefer this to the live version, that we usually hear on rp.
8 -> 9
 lmic wrote:
I do think he's underrated as an innovator. Partly because so much of his style is so obviously Byrds-influenced?
 
It seems he writes the majority of his songs in traditional, folk-music, chord structures; whether or not anything is innovative about that is debatable; he's never going to release anything "experimental, but no one expects him to. He releases music he likes, and he does it well.    Early on, his music did sound similar to The Byrds (especially when employing his 12-string Rickenbacker), but his influence is more obviously from Bob Dylan - whom The Byrds were overtly influenced by.
I think the live version is better.
This is so dull compared to the Grace Jones version.

Overplayed to a snivelling death.

Petty has many tunes that stand up or are superior to this song.


 vandal wrote:

I'll second that emotion. . . 
 
 
count me in too

{#Clap}
 adroc wrote:
Timeless.
 
I'll second that emotion. . . 
 
such a good track.
the epitome of 70's cool...
Been w/ TP since 1976, but he'd nothing w/out Mike Campbell.  Brilliant!
 adroc wrote:
Timeless.
 
So true...saw him in Irvine, CA last October.  Hadn't seen him in concert since 1983...God, it was great!

Nothin but love for the Petty! {#Sunny}
Timeless.
 azdcryan wrote:
have always been fond of the searing guitars on this one...TP and his mates are just so solid.
 
Not much to touch it.
It's alright that we love you, Tom!

oh she runs lol believe me
have always been fond of the searing guitars on this one...TP and his mates are just so solid.
 h8rhater wrote:

It's true that Less than Zero debut in March 1977 but only as a single. The album My Aim Is True was not released until July 1977 and then only in the UK. The US release was March 1978. So BillG is closer to correct when he says that TP predates Elvis by nearly 2 years.  EC came out at the beginning of the New Wave era of the late 70's/early 80's.  TP predates that era by coming out as a late classic rocker in the mid-70s.  Any similarity between the two is coincidental and likely the result of some h8r, like billybob here whose interest can't be held by the likes of lowly Tom Petty, trying to make a connection at the expense of TP. 

 
Hey, I love EC and Tom! Let's celebrate all the good music, and leave these squabbles to be sorted out by history.

Both of these guys have become pillars in the modern music pantheon, changing styles and sounds like a chameleon changes colors. There are very few artists who can pull that off. Thank God I've had both of them to listen to for all these years. {#Clap}
 billybob123 wrote:
I also think of this album as of the same era as Elvis Costello's first album; however, EC continued (and continues) to hold my interest, TP did not.
 
It's true that Less than Zero debut in March 1977 but only as a single. The album My Aim Is True was not released until July 1977 and then only in the UK. The US release was March 1978. So BillG is closer to correct when he says that TP predates Elvis by nearly 2 years.  EC came out at the beginning of the New Wave era of the late 70's/early 80's.  TP predates that era by coming out as a late classic rocker in the mid-70s.  Any similarity between the two is coincidental and likely the result of some h8r, like billybob here whose interest can't be held by the likes of lowly Tom Petty, trying to make a connection at the expense of TP. 

I also think of this album as of the same era as Elvis Costello's first album; however, EC continued (and continues) to hold my interest, TP did not.
This song does have one weakness... it's TOO SHORT!
I do think he's underrated as an innovator. Partly because so much of his style is so obviously Byrds-influenced?
 starfishNcoffee wrote:
I think that Tom Petty is the last real rock star.
 
{#High-five} Well said...

 BillG wrote:


This predates Elvis C.'s first album by at least 2 years.
 
Actually, the debut date of breakdown is nov 1976, while "Less than Zero" had its debut on March 1977, so there's only a 4 month gap.  

On the other hand, although it is possible that Tom P. saw elvis performing live at some point in the three years prior to the release of Breakdown and though "hey, that's hot stuff, let's try and sound like that", I would say it's pretty unlikely.

Awesome...
Breakdown  It's alright! {#Innocent}
 davin wrote:
do you think he's trying to sound like elvis costello in this tune?
 

This predates Elvis C.'s first album by at least 2 years.
Takes me back to an party at some strangers' house, laying next to the turntable at 4 AM playing this album over and over again with the volume turned down real low so I didn't wake anyone up, thinking I needed to tell everyone I met about this amazing band, what year, like 1976??  Yikes, I am old!!!
Great song!
Great song. His first single and arguably his best. So slinky and sleazy . . . in a GOOD way!
I think that Tom Petty is the last real rock star.
Petty, the best!

Yea, this tune, the rest of the original album, and Hard Promises. The pinnacle of the Petty years for me.
Sick tune.
Is Tom really appropriate Superbowl half-time show material? But then ZZ just played the Orange Bowl. Bizarro.
Striking tune, still. Tom's vocal has real power and urgency here.
meloman wrote:
One of the few Tom Petty tunes I can actually stand.
Ditto.
That would be the Wurlitzer Electric Piano - Benmont Tench loves his Wurlitzer. Donald Fagen used a lot of the Wurli on earlier Dan recordings, then "moved up" to the Fender Rhodes on the later stuff, many times with a phaser effect. meloman wrote:
One of the few Tom Petty tunes I can actually stand. Maybe because it has a Steely Dan sound in the background.
kcar wrote:
I can remember when this song first came out--a lot of people thought Tom was a punk rocker because of the stripped-down sound. A live version came out around the same time, recorded in a small club; the crowd was in a frenzy. And then he started putting out stuff like "The Waiting Is The Hardest Part" and some fans got turned off. One common nickname for the band back then was Tom Pathetic and the Wind-breakers.
I have been looking for the "small club" version of Breakdown for years. I remember it being played on a local radio station (Jacksonville, FL) several times in the early to mid 80's. I was beginning to think I had imagined it. I distinctly remember it having a very intimate sound to it. I also seem to remember a brief Casa Dega segue in the song? I wish I could track down a recording of that performance... Anybody have a clue where it might be found? Thanks- Jimmy Nugent
davin wrote:
do you think he's trying to sound like elvis costello in this tune?
I can remember when this song first came out--a lot of people thought Tom was a punk rocker because of the stripped-down sound. A live version came out around the same time, recorded in a small club; the crowd was in a frenzy. And then he started putting out stuff like "The Waiting Is The Hardest Part" and some fans got turned off. One common nickname for the band back then was Tom Pathetic and the Wind-breakers.
do you think he's trying to sound like elvis costello in this tune?
I think Bill G likes Tom as much as I do! "I'm not afraid of you runnin' away honey, I get the feeling you won't." (And they never do when you really want them to...)
The music being played today is making me extremely mellow.
Live version of this brings chills
this song brings back memories of my youth! such a great song!!!!!!!!!!!
babygirl614 wrote:
After all this time, that song can still make the hairs on the back of my neck stand up.
Yep...
One of the few Tom Petty tunes I can actually stand. Maybe because it has a Steely Dan sound in the background.
I think he's just looking for some action... f*cker.
webman wrote:
This song has always seemed a little spooky to me. Like, if I met this guy at a party I'd want to keep my distance.
I agree with Webman, craca, and their neighbors. Irritating and whiny, one of his worst.
After all this time, that song can still make the hairs on the back of my neck stand up.
One of my least favorite Petty tunes, but it's still pretty good. I loved his Simpsons appearance...
Tom: Lyrics are the hardest part of songwriting. But when you come up with something meaningful and heartfelt-- Homer: Booooring! Tom: Will you stop saying that? Homer: But rock stars are supposed to be about drinking and getting drunk and boozing it up! Apu: And girls that have legs and know how to use them! Otto: And why I can't drive 55! Tom: You just want mindless generic rock? Homer: Precisely! Tom: (Disapproving grunt, then starts singing)... See that drunk girl speedin' down the street? Homer, Apu, Otto: Yeah! Tom: She's worried about the state of public schools. Homer, Apu, Otto: Boo! Tom: She likes to party, she likes to rock! Homer, Apu, Otto: Yeah! Tom: She prays that our schools don't run out of chalk. Homer, Apu, Otto: Boo!
I actually put that on a mix CD I made for a friend, ironically, right before "Honey Bee", arguably his most mindless and most generic (although still awesome) rock song.
great song "...go ahead give it to me."
Cool. Just saw him a couple of weeks ago in Berkeley. What a show.
I'll come to the defense of hearing songs that were played on the radio. They usually take you back to a personal place in time. Just for a moment. Not like classic rock stations that take you back and keep you there. For me this takes me back to a time in my first apartment and seeing the movie "FM" in the theater. The song was used beautifully there. "FM" wasn't a great movie but it totally fit in with my world view at the time. I like those little flash backs, but I want to be surprised by them, and then move on to something new; which is one of the things I appreciate about RP.
This song is great...until he starts singing. I ain't got nuttin' 'gainst the ugly bastid, but I just don't dig this tune. It's almost as if he took a great intro and guitar riff and just plain ruined it!
Any music that my kids and I can agree with on long car trips has great intrinsic value. Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers works for all of us. 8)
Nice version, but the live cut is beyond words. Can you play that one, Bill?
Great song. And so short. Nu fluff. Like they used to make 'em.
Yea, a classic right enough, now where did I put that CD
Tom Petty The ICON anything by him is fine
Classic tune by one of the very best in the history of rock n roll. TP has so many classic songs at this point its unreal.
lotus_65 wrote:
Ha, what a joke. This guy's ok, but he DIDN'T DEFINE A GENERATION over MULTIPLE CONTINENTS! Careless accolades...
Jeez dude, you ok? Want a soda? Why don't you take a nap for a while
PARKJAGMAN wrote:
Yes, this was overplayed on the radio, but unlike some songs you hear, to me this is a classic that will stand the test of time. Tom should be put into the same classic master catagory with the Stones and Neil Young etc. Great stuff , play more.
Ha, what a joke. This guy's ok, but he DIDN'T DEFINE A GENERATION over MULTIPLE CONTINENTS! Careless accolades...
It sounds like Tom just went through dental surgery before recording this one. It's alright.
AI-in-Japan wrote:
It's a little funny to me that this song is way too overplayed on FM, which it probably is, when I haven't heard this song in years. When there are no good stations to listen to I don't tune in.
No, this tune is played on the bad radio stations.
It's a little funny to me that this song is way too overplayed on FM, which it probably is, when I haven't heard this song in years. When there are no good stations to listen to I don't tune in.
Retains its power, even after 27 + years.
Yes, this was overplayed on the radio, but unlike some songs you hear, to me this is a classic that will stand the test of time. Tom should be put into the same classic master catagory with the Stones and Neil Young etc. Great stuff , play more.
Way too overplayed on FM classic rock radio...certainly there are Tom Petty songs that don't get played often...like Runaway Train, The Damage That You've Done. Give those two a try on RP. Thanks!!
mperry wrote:
i bet he feels the same way about your music. then again, Tom is probably too cool for that.
well said! i also happen to think that tom petty is tres cool rock on rp!
:D :) (pimp)
One of the better debut albums and my favorite in his catalog.
Classic Petty. Spectacular...
Originally Posted by UltraV21: great song, for myself, I always like to think of Tom Petty as a more ear-friendly Dylan - not in the writing sence, but in a musical way - fun stuff.
Good analogy. Though working in pretty different styles--even different genres, arguably--both have managed to develop an unmistakable (and, to me, enjoyable) signature sound and songwriting style that produces a terrific body of work without getting tedious or repetitive.
I can't figure out why some people here get so caught up on the "yeah, but I've heard it on the radio before" thing. This isn't songs-i-have-never-heard-before-in-my-life.com - plus who would remember a domain like that!! =) Obviously people that listen to this station have different - even *gasp* eclectic tastes in music. Some is popular, maybe even radio friendly - but it's still no britney spears. Thank you radioparadise, for just being, well, different!
:)
Originally Posted by UltraV21: I can't figure out why some people here get so caught up on the "yeah, but I've heard it on the radio before" thing. This isn't songs-i-have-never-heard-before-in-my-life.com - plus who would remember a domain like that!! =) Obviously people that listen to this station have different - even *gasp* eclectic tastes in music. Some is popular, maybe even radio friendly - but it's still no britney spears. Thank you radioparadise, for just being, well, different!
Funny, made me laugh. Plus I agree.
Pure Petty.