Damn the Torpedos Songs Ranked
Damn the Torpedoes is the third studio album by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, released on October 19, 1979. This was the first of three Petty albums originally released by the Backstreet Records label, distributed by MCA Records. It built on the commercial success and critical acclaim of his two previous albums and reached #2 on the Billboard album chart. The album went on to become certified Triple Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). In 2003, the album was ranked number 313 on Rolling Stone magazine’s list of the 500 greatest albums of all time, and 231 in a 2020 revised list. Here are all of Damn the Torpedos songs ranked.
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9. Louisiana Rain
“The closing track to Petty and the Heartbreakers big breakthrough album “Damn The Torpedoes” was this more acoustic based number with a travelogue lyric, big sweeping chorus and especially Benmont Tench’s mood-completing organ fills.”
8. Century City
“Petty is one of the few mainstream rockers of the last thirty years that I can stomach, and this is his best record. It doesn’t tackle anything important, just girls and stuff, but his sweet Byrdsian whine makes all the tracks sparkle.”
7. You Tell Me
“You Tell Me with that whirling guitar intro strolls along with its lyrics rooted in relationship uncertaintity and mystery. It’s another great underlooked track. It’s stacked and layered guitar bridge being the highlight moment.”
See more: Tom Petty Albums Ranked
6. Shadow of a Doubt (A Complex Kid)
“Shadow of a Doubt, another anthemic sing a long style rocker full of sound. Shadow of a Doubt” has a memorable verse melody. I fell in love with it right away.”
5. What Are You Doin’ In My Life
“What Are You Doin’ In My Life returns the album back to its fast and no holds barred pace, the chorus catchy as hell once more, even if you dont know the verse, when he sings ‘what are you doin in my life/i didnt ask for you’ , you will too.”
See more: Tom Petty Songs Ranked
4. Even the Losers
“Lyrically the dominating theme is one of the pain of relationships and the tone is almost relentlessly melancholy, like on “Even the Losers.”
3. Don’t Do Me Like That
“Of course the major breakthrough hit was Don’t Do Me Like That, the snappy sing along radio favorite that was actually an old Mudcrutch song, orignally not to be included on the album but its basic track had been layed down a few times and it was one of the half asleep engineers in the control room during a brainstorm session which suggested ..”what about that dont do me like that song?!”.”
2. Refugee
“The opening blistering rocker Refugee shows well and good Petty had fully arrived. After a big legal battle with MCA records, after the Heartbreakers contract had been sold and the paranoia surrounding their third in the making album, which had to be kept hidden from the record company for fear of being seized, along with the possibility of it never coming out anyway.”
1. Here Comes My Girl
“How many guys were teenagers in the 70’s and used to sit around by themselves listening to “Here Comes my Girl?” repeatedly? This song practically demands guys to be by themselves in order to think about the woman of their dreams.”
