Hard Promises

Template:For {{safesubst:#invoke:Unsubst-infobox||$params=italic_title,name,type,longtype,artist,cover,border,alt,caption,released,recorded,venue,studio,genre,length,language,label,director,producer,compiler,chronology,prev_title,prev_year,year,next_title,next_year,misc|$extra=italic_title,longtype,border,caption,language,director,compiler,chronology,year,misc|$aliases=italic title>italic_title,Italic title>italic_title,Name>name,Type>type,image>cover,Cover>cover,Border>border,Alt>alt,Caption>caption,Longtype>longtype,Artist>artist,Released>released,Recorded>recorded,Venue>venue,Studio>studio,Genre>genre,Length>length,Language>language,Label>label,Director>director,Producer>producer,Compiler>compiler,Chronology>chronology,Misc>misc|$flags=override|$B={{#ifeq:{{#invoke:Is infobox in lead|main|[Ii]nfobox [Aa]lbum}}|true|{{#if:Template:Has short description | |Template:Short description|noreplace}}}}{{#invoke:Infobox|infobox}}Template:Template otherTemplate:Category handlerTemplate:Main other{{#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=Template:Main other|preview=Page using Template:Infobox album with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y|italic_title |type |name |image |cover |border |alt |caption |longtype |artist |released |recorded |venue |studio |genre |length |language |label |director |producer |compiler |prev_title|prev_year|next_title|next_year|chronology|year|misc}}{{#if:{{#invoke:String|match|error_category=Music infoboxes with Module:String errors|A|1=Damn the Torpedoes1979Long After Dark1982AlbumHard PromisesPettyHardPromises.jpgA photo of Petty standing in a record store and staring off to the side.Tom Petty and the HeartbreakersTemplate:Start date1980–81Template:HlistRock39:33BackstreetTemplate:Hlistx|2=</?t[drh][ >]|nomatch=}}|Template:Main other}}Template:Main other}} Template:Music ratings

Hard Promises is the fourth studio album by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers released on May 5, 1981, on Backstreet Records.

History

Its working title was Benmont's Revenge, referring to keyboard player Benmont Tench.<ref>Goldstein, Patrick. "Pop Eye" Los Angeles Times Sept. 21, 1980: T80.</ref> The album features guest vocals from Stevie Nicks of Fleetwood Mac on the duet "Insider". The Heartbreakers also recorded the hit "Stop Draggin' My Heart Around" for Nicks' album Bella Donna around the time Hard Promises was recorded.

This was the second Tom Petty album on the Backstreet Records label. The album's release was delayed while Petty and his distributor MCA Records argued about the list price. The album was slated to be the next MCA release with the new list price of $9.98, following Steely Dan's Gaucho and the Olivia Newton-John/Electric Light Orchestra Xanadu soundtrack. This so-called "superstar pricing" was $1.00 more than the usual list price of $8.98.<ref>Goldstein, Patrick. "Petty Battling MCA Over Record Price Hike" Los Angeles Times February 1, 1981: N72.</ref> Petty voiced his objections to the price hike in the press and the issue became a popular cause among music fans. Non-delivery of the album or naming it Eight Ninety-Eight were considered, but eventually MCA decided against the price increase.<ref>Marsh, Dave. "Tom Petty" Musician July 1981: 43.</ref> The final title comes from a line in the chorus of "Insider."

Hard Promises is the last full album to feature the original Heartbreakers lineup, as bassist Ron Blair left after the album's release. He returned on Mojo, and he would make guest appearances on Long After Dark and Southern Accents and, after rejoining the band in 2002, played on select tracks on The Last DJ. He was replaced by Howie Epstein, who continued to play until his removal in 2002 due to deteriorating health.

In 2000 it was voted number 968 in Colin Larkin's All Time Top 1000 Albums.<ref name="Larkin">Template:Cite book</ref>

John Lennon tribute

File:We love you J.L..jpg

Album etch tribute to John Lennon

During the recording of the album, John Lennon was scheduled to be in the same studio at the same time. Petty was looking forward to meeting him when he came in. The meeting never occurred, as Lennon was murdered before the date of his planned visit to the studio. Petty and the band paid tribute to the slain former Beatle by etching "WE LOVE YOU J.L." in the runout deadwax on early U.S. and Canadian pressings of Hard Promises.<ref>Conversations with Tom Petty by Paul Zollo</ref>

Personnel

Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers

• Tom Petty – lead and backing vocals, guitar (acoustic; 12 and 6-string electric), bass and electric piano on "Something Big"
• Mike Campbell – guitars (acoustic, electric, 12-string), bass, auto-harp, accordion, harmonium
• Benmont Tench – organ, piano, backing vocals
• Ron Blair – bass guitar
• Stan Lynch – drums, backing vocals

Additional musicians

• Stevie Nicks – backing vocals on "Insider" and "You Can Still Change Your Mind"
• Lori Nicks – backing vocals on "Insider"
• Sharon Celani – backing vocals on "You Can Still Change Your Mind"
• Donald "Duck" Dunn – bass guitar on "A Woman in Love"
• Phil Jones – percussion
• Alan "Bugs" Weidel – piano on "Nightwatchman"

Production

• Brad Gilderman – assistant engineer
• Jimmy Iovine – producer
• Tom Petty – producer
• Tori Swenson – assistant engineer
• Shelly Yakus – engineer

Charts

Weekly charts

Weekly chart performance for Hard Promises

Chart	Position
Australian Albums Chart<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>	21
Canadian RPM Albums Chart<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>	3
New Zealand Albums Chart<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	1
Swedish Albums Chart<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	22
UK Albums Chart<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	32
United States Billboard 200<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	5

Year-end charts

Annual chart performance for Hard Promises

Chart (1981)	Position
Canadian Albums Chart<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>	28
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	27
US Billboard Pop Albums	49