Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers “Live at the Fillmore, 1997” (Deluxe) Album Review

Live at the Fillmore, 1997 (Deluxe)

Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers

• Genre: Rock
• Date: 25 Nov, 2022
• Content: Not-explicit
• Region: USA
• Track(s): 72
• ℗ 2022 Petty Legacy LLC under exclusive license to Warner Records Inc. and Warner Records Inc.

“Live at the Fillmore, 1997 (Deluxe)” introduces listeners to a veteran band that is equally interested in exploring their musical roots as they are in playing the songs as the long-awaited documentary of the best of those performances finally sees its release. On the live album, Tom Petty is joined by Benmont Tench on piano and keys, Mike Campbell on guitar and vocals, Steve Ferrone on drums, Howie Epstein on bass and vocals, and Scott Thurston on guitar and vocals. Roger McGuinn and John Lee Hooker also appear as guests.

Furthermore, “Live at the Fillmore, 1997” is a flawless and varied record of one of our most talented composers and one of our best bands performing at the pinnacle of their craft, even though it doesn’t quite compare to cramming yourself into a tiny theater.

Album Cover Art

On a heart-shaped checkered image is a man dressed up like a cowboy playing a guitar with his legs crossed as cards fall out through both angles of the checkered image. At the helm of the photo, on all sides, are the different heads and faces of the band members dipped in red. The colorful animated graphics bring the album art to life.

Tracks and Features

There is a sense of uncharacteristic energy in songs like this cover of Little Richard’s “Lucille” as well as the pop/soul gem “Ain’t No Sunshine” by Bill Withers. But if these performances demonstrated anything in addition to the sextet’s professionalism and polish, it was that they are both accomplished musicians and ardent music fans.

However, in addition to that insight, songs like “Shakin’ All Over” show how Petty and the Heartbreakers are both individually and collectively finding their strengths as musicians and singers as they venture outside of their mutual comfort zone. Even while performing together, the group goes beyond simple stagecraft to demonstrate their return to the musical origins of their work.

Dylan’s “You Ain’t Goin’ Nowhere” and “Drug Store Truck Drivin’ Man,” as well as two songs that the late Gene Clark co-wrote for the legendary American band—”It Won’t Be Wrong” and “8 Miles High,” are among the country-oriented songs from the Byrds’ discography that Tom and the group perform with Roger McGuinn.

Petty and company operate in the same innately regimented but joyfully abandon manner when supporting blues legend John Lee Hooker on “Serves You Right To Suffer” and “Boogie Chillen.” This subtle rendition of “I Won’t Back Down” is more of a personal declaration than an anthem, but it nonetheless pays homage to the group’s influences in the best way possible.

The six-man group typically presents the repertoire in tightly organized arrangements; for examples, listen to their odes to Bo Diddley (“Diddy Wah Diddy”) and the Rolling Stones (“It’s All Over Now”). But when they stretch out in unexpected ways, as on this eleven minutes and more of “It’s Good To Be King,” they do so with restraint, which only serves to highlight their strengths. This is the definition of chemistry in action, which was repeatedly demonstrated on the Fillmore stage.

After focusing on songs from other genres, such as obvious roots references like Bob Dylan’s “Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door” and Chuck Berry’s “Around And Around,” Petty and company turn back to their own compositions like “Angel Dream” with a zeal that can only result from a rediscovery of the inherent value of their own work. And the pride the ensemble radiates on “Walls” is at least as tremendous as the pride they feel after nailing the Kinks’ “You Really Got Me.”

Tracklist

NO	TITLE	TIME
1	Pre-show (spoken interlude, Live at the Fillmore, 1997)	0:41
2	Around and Around (Live at the Fillmore, 1997)	2:25
3	Jammin’ Me (Live at the Fillmore, 1997)	4:21
4	Runnin’ Down a Dream (Live at the Fillmore, 1997)	4:52
5	Good Evening (spoken interlude, Live at the Fillmore, 1997)	0:43
6	Lucille (Live at the Fillmore, 1997)	2:31
7	Call Me the Breeze (Live at the Fillmore, 1997)	5:58
8	Cabin Down Below (Live at the Fillmore, 1997)	2:52
9	The Internet, Whatever That Is (spoken interlude, Live at the Fillmore, 1997)	0:15
10	Time is on My Side (Live at the Fillmore, 1997)	3:05
11	Listen to Her Heart (Live at the Fillmore, 1997)	3:18
12	Waitin’ In School (Live at the Fillmore, 1997)	2:01
13	Let’s Hear It For Mike (spoken interlude, Live at the Fillmore, 1997)	0:17
14	Slaughter on Tenth Avenue (Live at the Fillmore, 1997)	2:26
15	Homecoming Queen Intro (spoken interlude, Live at the Fillmore, 1997)	0:12
16	The Date I Had with That Ugly Old Homecoming Queen (Live at the Fillmore, 1997)	5:08
17	I Won’t Back Down (Live at the Fillmore, 1997)	3:42
18	You Are My Sunshine (Live at the Fillmore, 1997)	1:45
19	Ain’t No Sunshine (Live at the Fillmore, 1997)	3:27
20	It’s Good to Be King (Live at the Fillmore, 1997)	11:51
21	Rip It Up (Live at the Fillmore, 1997)	1:47
22	You Don’t Know How It Feels (Live at the Fillmore, 1997)	6:39
23	I’d Like to Love You Baby (Live at the Fillmore, 1997)	4:14
24	Diddy Wah Diddy (Live at the Fillmore, 1997)	3:00
25	We Got a Long Way to Go (spoken interlude, Live at the Fillmore, 1997)	0:31
26	Guitar Boogie Shuffle (Live at the Fillmore, 1997)	2:54
27	I Want You Back Again (Live at the Fillmore, 1997)	3:05
28	On the Street Intro (spoken interlude, Live at the Fillmore, 1997)	0:14
29	On the Street (Live at the Fillmore, 1997)	2:20
30	California (Live at the Fillmore, 1997)	2:47
31	Let’s Hear It For Howie and Scott (spoken interlude, Live at the Fillmore, 1997)	0:31
32	Little Maggie (Live at the Fillmore, 1997)	2:37
33	Walls (Live at the Fillmore, 1997)	3:27
34	Hip Hugger (Live at the Fillmore, 1997)	2:55
35	Friend of the Devil (Live at the Fillmore, 1997)	5:51
36	Did Someone Say Heartbreakers Beach Party? (spoken interlude, Live at the Fillmore, 1997)	0:37
37	Heartbreakers Beach Party (Live at the Fillmore, 1997)	3:46
38	Angel Dream (Live at the Fillmore, 1997)	2:58
39	The Wild One, Forever (Live at the Fillmore, 1997)	3:11
40	Even the Losers (Live at the Fillmore, 1997)	3:14
41	American Girl (Live at the Fillmore, 1997)	2:31
42	You Really Got Me (Live at the Fillmore, 1997)	2:33
43	Goldfinger (Live at the Fillmore, 1997)	4:13
44	Mr. Roger McGuinn (spoken interlude, Live at the Fillmore, 1997)	0:31
45	It Won’t Be Wrong (Live at the Fillmore, 1997)	1:57
46	You Ain’t Going Nowhere (Live at the Fillmore, 1997)	3:14
47	Drug Store Truck Drivin’ Man (Live at the Fillmore, 1997)	2:43
48	Eight Miles High (Live at the Fillmore, 1997)	5:25
49	Crazy Mama (Live at the Fillmore, 1997)	4:34
50	Everyone Loves Benmont (spoken interlude, Live at the Fillmore, 1997)	0:12

Album Theme

A homage to the showmanship of the legendary band.

Production Credits

Production was handled by sound guru, Ryan Ulyate and Campbell, aided by Tench and members of the Petty family.

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