Echo (Tom Petty album)
Encyclopedia
Echo is the 10th studio album
by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
. First released in April 1999, the album reached #10 on the Billboard 200
aided by the singles
"Free Girl Now," "Swingin'" and "Room At The Top," which hit #5, #17 and #19 respectively on Billboard's
Mainstream Rock Tracks
in 1999. The album was the band's last collaboration with producer Rick Rubin
, and was also the last to feature contributions from long time bassist/vocalist Howie Epstein
, who died of a heroin overdose in 2003. Echo was certified Gold (500,000 copies sold) by the RIAA in July 1999, only three months after it was released. Echo is the only Heartbreakers' album to contain a lead vocal from another member of the band: Mike Campbell on "I Don't Wanna Fight." An outtake entitled "Sweet William" appeared as the B-side (or second song) on the "Room at the Top" CD single.
Only a handful of songs were played on the band's tour that year, and none have been played since 2001. The record was largely written during a period when Petty was going through a painful divorce (influencing the lyrics of songs such as "Lonesome Sundown" and the title track), and Petty has cited that as the reason for his preference not to play any songs from the album in concert. However, "Room at the Top", "Free Girl Now" and "I Don't Wanna Fight" all appear in the concert film "High Grass Dogs: Live at the Fillmore" and a version of "Billy the Kid" appears on "The Live Anthology
". Out of all the songs on this album, "Billy the Kid" has been played the most in concert.
, except where noted.
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers are an American rock band from Gainesville, Florida. They were formed in 1976 by Tom Petty , Mike Campbell , Benmont Tench , , Ron Blair and Stan Lynch...
. First released in April 1999, the album reached #10 on the Billboard 200
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
aided by the singles
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
"Free Girl Now," "Swingin'" and "Room At The Top," which hit #5, #17 and #19 respectively on Billboard's
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
Mainstream Rock Tracks
Mainstream Rock Tracks
Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks is a ranking in Billboard magazine of the most-played songs on mainstream rock radio stations, a category that includes stations that play primarily rock music. Modern rock tracks are counted in the Alternative Songs chart.This chart began with the March 21, 1981, issue...
in 1999. The album was the band's last collaboration with producer Rick Rubin
Rick Rubin
Frederick Jay "Rick" Rubin is an American record producer and the co-president of Columbia Records. Along with Russell Simmons, Rubin was the co-founder of Def Jam Records and also established American Recordings...
, and was also the last to feature contributions from long time bassist/vocalist Howie Epstein
Howie Epstein
Howard Norman Epstein , was a musician best known for his work with Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers.-Early life:...
, who died of a heroin overdose in 2003. Echo was certified Gold (500,000 copies sold) by the RIAA in July 1999, only three months after it was released. Echo is the only Heartbreakers' album to contain a lead vocal from another member of the band: Mike Campbell on "I Don't Wanna Fight." An outtake entitled "Sweet William" appeared as the B-side (or second song) on the "Room at the Top" CD single.
Only a handful of songs were played on the band's tour that year, and none have been played since 2001. The record was largely written during a period when Petty was going through a painful divorce (influencing the lyrics of songs such as "Lonesome Sundown" and the title track), and Petty has cited that as the reason for his preference not to play any songs from the album in concert. However, "Room at the Top", "Free Girl Now" and "I Don't Wanna Fight" all appear in the concert film "High Grass Dogs: Live at the Fillmore" and a version of "Billy the Kid" appears on "The Live Anthology
The Live Anthology
The Live Anthology is a live box set by American rock band Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. The box set was released by Reprise Records on November 23, 2009, in a number of formats, with the standard CD and download formats, composed of 48 tracks .The album's cover artwork and packaging was...
". Out of all the songs on this album, "Billy the Kid" has been played the most in concert.
Track listing
All songs written by Tom PettyTom Petty
Thomas Earl "Tom" Petty is an American singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. He is the frontman of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers and was a founding member of the late 1980s supergroup Traveling Wilburys and Mudcrutch. He has also performed under the pseudonyms of Charlie T...
, except where noted.
- "Room at the Top" – 5:00
- "Counting on You" – 4:05
- "Free Girl Now" – 3:30
- "Lonesome Sundown" – 4:32
- "Swingin'" – 5:30
- "Accused of Love" – 2:45
- "Echo" – 6:36
- "Won't Last Long" – 4:22
- "Billy the Kid" – 4:08
- "I Don't Wanna Fight" (Mike Campbell) – 2:47
- "This One's for Me" – 2:42
- "No More" – 3:15
- "About to Give Out" – 3:12
- "Rhino Skin" – 3:57
- "One More Day, One More Night" – 5:37
Personnel
- Tom PettyTom PettyThomas Earl "Tom" Petty is an American singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. He is the frontman of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers and was a founding member of the late 1980s supergroup Traveling Wilburys and Mudcrutch. He has also performed under the pseudonyms of Charlie T...
– guitars, harmonica, vocals - Mike Campbell – lead guitars, bass, lead vocals on "I Don't Wanna Fight"
- Benmont TenchBenmont TenchBenjamin Montmorency Tench, III is an American keyboardist best known as a founding member of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers.-Early years:...
– pianos, organ, chamberlinChamberlinThe Chamberlin is an electro-mechanical keyboard instrument that was a precursor to the Mellotron. It was developed and patented by Iowa, Wisconsin inventor Harry Chamberlin from 1949 to 1956, when the first model was introduced. Various models and versions of these Chamberlin music instruments...
, clavinet - Howie EpsteinHowie EpsteinHoward Norman Epstein , was a musician best known for his work with Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers.-Early life:...
– bass, harmony/background vocals - Scott ThurstonScott ThurstonScott Troy Thurston is an American guitarist, keyboardist, songwriter, and session musician. He is currently a member of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, in which he sings harmony vocals and plays guitar, keyboards, and harmonica....
– acoustic and electric guitars, background vocals - Steve FerroneSteve FerroneSteven "Steve" Ferrone is a British drummer.He was a member of the Average White Band, and has recorded and performed with numerous other high-profile acts, including Slash, Chaka Khan, Eric Clapton, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers and Scritti Politti...
– drums - Lenny CastroLenny CastroLenny Castro is an American freelancing percussionist in the studio recording industry in the Los Angeles area.-Early life:Castro is a percussionist of Puerto Rican descent and was born and raised in New York City. His father, Hector Castro, played the keyboard in a Latin style and gave his son...
– percussion
- Martyn Atkins – art direction and photography
- Christine Cano – art direction and design