Four CDs, 48 songs in all for merely $19.95. That’s the steal of the week with The Live Anthology by Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers. I’ve seen this box set priced at $16.99 in some New York City newspapers. “The collection brings together material from 1978-2007 culled from hundreds of hours of live concert recordings covering every era of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers’ tours and represents the best tracks as chosen by producers Tom Petty, Mike Campbell and Ryan Ulyate.
The producers made no fixes or overdubs, letting the newly mixed original recordings showcase the invention, spontaneity, craft, and the musicianship that has made Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers among the most celebrated live performers of their time. Along with powerful interpretations of their own classic hits and originals, The Live Anthology features the band tackling some of their best-loved cover material, from classics to obscure beauties to unexpected adaptations. The theme from Goldfinger, the Zombies’ ‘I Want You Back Again,’ the Grateful Dead’s ‘Friend of the Devil,’ early Fleetwood Mac’s ‘Oh Well,’ Booker T. and the MGs’ ‘Green Onions,’ James Brown’s ‘Good, Good Lovin’ and many more.” You’re getting a lot for your money with this package. Just in time for holiday giving, too! GRADE: A
One of the very few groups I have seen live. They were preceded by a yet unknown Lucinda Williams, who became one of my favorites.
THE LIVE ANTHOLOGY would bring a lot of those memories back, Patti. And at an irresistible price!
I saw them live in the mid-1980s. They put on a great show. This set is on my Christmas list!
I’m sure THE LIVE ANTHOLOGY will be under a lot of Christmas trees this year, Deb. Lots of great music at a great price!
Not under mine. Don’t get me wrong, I like Petty, but I’ll stick with the studio CDs I have (and of course the Traveling Wilburys CD).
You should take a listen to THE LIVE ANTHOLOGY before you dismiss it, Rick. With 48 songs, there’s plenty here you would enjoy. Just imagine Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers playing “Goldfinger”!
Maybe I’m just grumpy today. I had things to do and it’s raining and I just had a “interaction” with the clerk at the UPS store (the idiot). But then some might say I’m grumpy all the time… 🙂
I’ll take a look at the track listings. I wonder, did Petty & heartbreakers ever do a Christmas album?
I’m pretty sure Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers haven’t done a Christmas album, Rick. None of the online discographies list anything like that.
Too bad, I can almost hear the musical goodness of, say, “Frosty the Snowman” to the tune of “Learning to Fly”. Can you wrap your head around that?
What is your favorite Christmas CD, Rick? I’m partial to JOY TO THE WORLD by John Williams and the Boston Pops Orchestra.