Album review: Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Pack Up the Plantation (1985)

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON DEC. 20, 1985

By Steve Newton

One of my fondest concert memories dates back to 1978, when Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers played the Commodore Ballroom. Petty had just released his second album, You’re Gonna Get It, and was his band hot–I mean sizzlin’.

I saw him again a year or two later at the Gardens, this time on the Damn the Torpedoes tour, and his show was still a thrill from the word go. I figured then that if Petty ever put out a live disc, it would definitely be worth checking out.

With 1986 fast approaching, Petty has finally gone ahead and released a live album–a four-sider no less–and now those unlucky few who’ve never seen him live have got something to ask for for Christmas.

Aside from bassist Ron Blair–who only plays on four tracks here–the Heartbreakers lineup is the same as it ever was. Howie Epstein has taken Blair’s place, but keyboardist Benmont Tench, lead guitarist Mike Campbell, and drummer Stan Lynch still accompany rhythm guitarist/vocalist Petty with the sharp percussion and tasty solos they’re known for.

With the exception of one track, all the songs on Pack Up the Plantation were recorded in the U.S.A., in cities like L.A. and Irvine, California; Richfield, Ohio; and Boston, Massachusetts. Petty’s version of John Sebastian’s “Stories We Can Tell” comes from a date at the Hammersmith Odeon in London, England.

Other choice covers include the Isley Brothers’ “Shout”, the Byrds’ “So You Want To Be a Rock & Roll Star”, and “Needles and Pins”, which was co-written by Eagles producer Jack Nitzsche and Sonny Bono. Stevie Nicks sings on the latter tune–returning the favour for Petty’s vocals on “Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around”–and also on Petty’s own “Insider”.

Petty delivers well his most famous tunes–“You Got Lucky”, “American Girl”, “The Waiting”, the sultry “Breakdown”, “Refugee”, and “I Need to Know”–although horn arrangements on the latter two tunes don’t do anything for me. Nothing against horns, it’s just that they don’t complement a hard-rocking tune like “I Need to Know”.

Three songs from Petty’s last studio album, Southern Accents, also make an appearance, “Rebels”, “It Ain’t Nothin’ To Me”, and the title track. The selection of tunes on Pack Up the Plantation–especially the covers–is fine, but a party pooper like me has to admit that the inclusion of “Don’t Do Me Like That” and “Anything That’s Rock and Roll” would have been nice too.

To hear the full audio of my 1999 interview with Tom Petty guitarist Mike Campbell subscribe to my Patreon page, where you can eavesdrop on over 600 of my uncut, one-on-one conversations with such artists as:

Ian Gillan of Deep Purple, 2006
Joss Stone, 2012
Glenn Tipton of Judas Priest, 2005
Jack Blades of Night Ranger, 1984
Vivian Campbell of Def Leppard, 1992
Colin James, 1995
Kim Simmonds of Savoy Brown, 1998
Tom Cochrane of Red Rider, 1983
Ed Roland of Collective Soul, 1995
Taj Mahal, 2001
Tom Wilson of Junkhouse, 1995
Mike McCready of Pearl Jam, 2003
David Lindley, 2002
Marty Friedman of Megadeth, 1991
John Hiatt, 2010
Nancy Wilson of Heart, 2006
Jeff Golub, 1989
Moe Berg of the Pursuit of Happiness, 1990
Todd Rundgren, 2006
Chad Kroeger of Nickelback, 2001
Steve Earle, 1987
Gabby Gaborno of the Cadillac Tramps, 1991
Terry Bozzio, 2003
Roger Glover, 1985
Matthew Sweet, 1995
Jim McCarty of the Yardbirds, 2003
Luther Dickinson of North Mississippi Allstars, 2001
John Rzeznik of the Goo Goo Dolls, 1995
Steve Hackett from Genesis, 1993
Grace Potter, 2008
Trevor Rabin of Yes, 1984
Albert Lee, 1986
Yngwie Malmsteen, 1985
Robert Cray, 1996
Tony Carey, 1984
Ian Hunter, 1988
Kate Bush, 1985
Jeff Healey, 1988
Richie Sambora of Bon Jovi, 1993
Colin Linden, 1993
Kenny Wayne Shepherd, 1995
Justin Hayward of the Moody Blues, 1986
Elliot Easton from the Cars, 1996
Wayne Kramer from the MC5, 2004
Bob Rock, 1992
Nick Gilder, 1985
Roy Buchanan, 1988
Klaus Meine of Scorpions, 1988
Jason Bonham, 1989
Tom Johnston of the Doobie Brothers, 1991
Joey Spampinato of NRBQ, 1985
Patterson Hood of the Drive-By Truckers, 2003
Andy Powell of Wishbone Ash, 2003
Steve Kilbey of the Church, 1990
Johnette Napolitano of Concrete Blonde, 1990
Dan McCafferty of Nazareth, 1984
Davy Knowles of Back Door Slam, 2007
Jimmy Barnes from Cold Chisel, 1986
Steve Stevens of Atomic Playboys, 1989
Billy Idol, 1984
Stuart Adamson of Big Country, 1993
Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull, 1992
Warren Haynes of Gov’t Mule, 1998
John Bell of Widespread Panic, 1992
Robben Ford, 1993
Barry Hay of Golden Earring, 1984
Jason Isbell, 2007
Joe Satriani, 1990
Brad Delp of Boston, 1988
John Sykes of Blue Murder, 1989
Dave Mustaine of Megadeth, 1998
Alice Cooper, 1986
Lars Ulrich of Metallica, 1985
Shannon Hoon of Blind Melon, 1992
Myles Goodwyn of April Wine, 2001
John Mellencamp, 1999
Mike Campbell of Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, 1999
Kenny Aronoff, 1999
Jon Bon Jovi, 1986
Dickey Betts of the Allman Brothers, 1992
Little Steven, 1987
Stevie Salas, 1990
J.J. Cale, 2009
Joe Bonamassa, 2011
John Petrucci of Dream Theater, 2010
Alex Van Halen, 1995
Eric Johnson, 2001

…with hundreds more to come