Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers | Origins 1971-1978

Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers box set Origins 1971-1978 will be released in two versions: a 5LP box set and a 4CD box set – both with Blu-ray and DVD. A central element of the vinyl edition is an 88-page fanzine with liner notes by David Fricke and Bud Scoppa, track-by-track commentary from the original band members, complete album credits for the first two albums, and a wealth of previously unseen archival photos and memorabilia. In addition, there are Polaroid pictures, postcards, collector's items, and much more.

Central to the collection is "No Sleep Til L.A.", which will also be released separately on LP and CD. It is more than just a collection of rarities: The 12 tracks document how Tom Petty found his musical identity. The release follows the years from Mudcrutch's earliest recordings up to the formation of The Heartbreakers, as Petty searched for the right musicians, the right sound, and ultimately the right band.

With recordings from Miami, Tulsa, and Los Angeles, the album follows the band's journey from their very first studio session at Criteria Studios in 1971 through the formative sessions in Tulsa, where Mike Campbell, Benmont Tench, Stan Lynch, and Ron Blair learned the art of recording, and on to Los Angeles, where everything finally fell into place. The collection captures a singer, songwriter, and bandleader in rapid development, becoming increasingly confident in his expression with each session. Seven of the 12 tracks have never been released before, while an additional five are presented in new hi-res mixes.

All tracks have been re-mixed and remastered from the original multitrack tapes by longtime producer and sound engineer Ryan Ulyate. This also applies to the 50th-anniversary editions of the band's first two albums, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers and "You're Gonna Get It!". Both editions contain extended versions of a total of 11 tracks, including “American Girl” and “Breakdown”.

The other discs go all the way back to the earliest chapters in Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers' history with material sourced deep from the family archives. Together, they function as a musical diary, following the band from its roots in Gainesville across the move through the USA to Los Angeles and up to the first tastes of success.

"Live from the Record Plant 1977" offers a coveted concert recording that has long been a fan favorite and is now released complete for the first time. The recording was made for San Francisco's KSAN-FM at the Record Plant in Sausalito, and the great-sounding recording captures the band's intense energy even at this early point in their career. The legendary Al Kooper also features as a guest.

"The Cut Out Bin" continues the exploratory spirit of "No Sleep Til L.A." and compiles five tracks showcasing Petty's work as a solo artist with various studio musicians – including a yacht rock track with Leon Russell – before he ultimately concluded that The Heartbreakers were the right band for his songs. The tracks are more experimental than the band's later material and offer a rare glimpse into the musical path Petty could have chosen.

The set concludes with the band's 1978 performance on the BBC program "The Old Grey Whistle Test" in the UK, where Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers truly achieved their international breakthrough. The audio has been restored by Ryan Ulyate and is now available in high definition for the first time.

The DVD contains the band's live performance from "The Old Grey Whistle Test", while the Blu-ray disc holds the entire 51-track collection in hi-res stereo as well as Dolby Atmos and 5.1 mixes.

Throughout his 40-year career, Tom Petty became one of the great names in American rock 'n' roll, known worldwide for his songwriting and his collaboration with The Heartbreakers. In addition to 13 studio albums with The Heartbreakers, Petty released three solo albums: "Full Moon Fever", "Wildflowers", and "Highway Companion". He was also a member of the supergroup Traveling Wilburys and played before The Heartbreakers in Mudcrutch, which later reformed and released two more albums.

Petty was inducted into both the Songwriters Hall of Fame and the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and received several Grammy Awards. He sold almost 100 million records, achieved more than 12 billion streams, and played for over 140 million fans worldwide.

Tom Petty died in 2017 shortly after the conclusion of his 40th-anniversary tour, leaving behind an extensive archive of unreleased material. His music lives on and continues to find its way to both new and old fans worldwide.