The third album from Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, “Damn the Torpedoes”, was released October 19, 1979. The album is considered to be one of Petty’s best efforts, and it was their first top 10 album, eventually reaching #2 on the album charts, kept out of the top position only by Pink Floyd’s “The Wall”.  “Damn the Torpedoes” went on to become certified triple platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America. 

The album was recorded in Van Nuys and Hollywood, CA and takes its name from a famous quote by Admiral David Farragut in 1864, “Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead” during the battle of Mobile Bay, Alabama. The title was appropriate for a number of reasons, including an ongoing contract dispute with MCA Records and Tom Petty’s Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing four months before its release and his 29th birthday. 

All songs on the ‘Damn the Torpedoes’ album were written by Tom Petty, with the exception of ‘Refugee’, which was co-written by Mike Campbell with Petty providing the lyrics and Campbell composing the music.

Join us Friday, October 18 through Sunday, October 20, as we celebrate 45 years of this incredible album. You’ll hear all the tracks and some insight as to what went into the making of the record.