Tom Petty keeps his Hard Promises to fans

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers : Something Big

On May 5, 1981 Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers released Hard Promises, their follow-up to Damn The Torpedoes, which had sold 2.5 million copies. Petty, who was now making a habit of challenging record companies, challenged MCA's plan to charge $9.98 for Hard Promises. He threatened to withhold the album, or title it $8.98, and get fans to send protest letters before MCA finally relented.

The headlines hide the fact that the album merely follows the Damn The Torpedoes formula, without adding much new or the same amount of energy. Highlights are the singles "The Waiting" and "A Woman in Love (It's Not Me)". The album was the most played on FM commercial stations during the Summer of '81.

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Petty and the Heartbreakers would also perform on his 1981 hit with Stevie Nicks, Stop Draggin' My Heart Around". Later in the year, Petty would produce Del Shannon's comeback album Drop Down And Get Me.