Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers - Live at the Fillmore, 1997

by Nick Dent-Robinson

published: 20 / 2 / 2023

Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers - Live at the Fillmore, 1997

Label: Warner Bros
Format: CD X2

Upbeat and euphoric, multi-formatted live release recorded during a twenty-show residency at the Fillmore in San Francisco from Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers

Review

Amongst the many recent releases of live albums are some recordings of classic gigs. A mammoth new Tom Petty box set documents his twenty-show residency with the Heartbreakers in San Francisco back in 1997. 'Live at the Fillmore' is a joyous, feel-good listen to the vintage sound of an era which Petty, who sadly died in 2017, himself referred to as “the absolute highpoint of our time as a group.” Out as a two CD box (£14), three LP vinyl set (£42) and six LP deluxe edition, the album features a rich mix of covers and originals. There are songs by Bob Dylan, Little Richard, Chuck Berry and Ray Charles along with Petty's own 'American Girl' sung acoustically and a great rendition of “Free Fallin'”. It's almost like a potted history of rock and roll. The set-list used to change nightly and the six LP version run to 58 tracks. Petty was always a fan of the British contribution to rock music and the record includes covers of the Rolling Stones' 'Time Is On My Side' and 'Satisfaction' plus the Zombies' 'I Want You Back Again' and the Kinks' 'You Really Got Me'. The Byrds' Roger McGuinn duets on 'Eight Miles High' and bluesman John Lee Hooker also contributes. There's a time capsule moment, too, when Petty makes an aside about the then newly emerging technology. “We're live on the internet,” he says, adding, “Whatever that might be!” - So much has changed over the past quarter of a century. But the music on this album is as great as it ever was!

Track Listing:-

1 Pre-Show (Spoken Interlude)
2 Jammin' Me
3 Listen To Her Heart
4 Around And Around
5 Good Evening (Spoken Interlude)
6 Lucille
7 Call Me The Breeze
8 Cabin Down Below
9 The Internet, Whatever That Is (Spoken Interlude)
10 Time Is On My Side
11 You Don't Know How It Feels
12 I'd Like To Love You Baby
13 Ain't No Sunshine
14 Homecoming Queen Intro (Spoken Interlude)
15 The Date I Had With The Ugly Old Homecoming Queen
16 Bye Bye Johnny
17 Did Someone Say Heartbreakers Beach Party? (Spoken Interlude)
18 Heartbreakers Beach Party
19 Angel Dream
20 The Wild One, Forever
21 American Girl
22 Let's Hear It For Howie And Scott (Spoken Interlude)
23 You Really Got Me
24 Runnin' Down A Dream
25 (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction
26 It's All Over Now
27 Mr. Roger McGuinn (Spoken Interlude)
28 It Won't Be Wrong
29 You Ain't Going Nowhere
30 Eight Miles High
31 Honey Bee
32 John Lee Hooker, Ladies And Gentleman (Spoken Interlude)
33 Boogie Chillen
34 Sorry, I've Just Broken My Amplifier (Spoken Interlude)
35 Knockin' On Heaven's Door
36 You Wreck Me
37 Shakin' All Over
38 Free Fallin'
39 Mary Jane's Last Dance
40 Louie Louie
41 Gloria
42 Alright For Now
43 Goodnight (Spoken Interlude)