10 Albums That Defined Rock And Roll
6. Damn the Torpedoes - Tom Petty
Tom Petty has always been one of the more likable faces in the music industry. While never up in the realm of other greats like the Beatles, his unique brand of heartland rock always seemed to strike a nerve with anyone who listened to it. If you wanted to really meet the masses though, it's sometimes good when you have someone to rebel against.
During the recording of Damn the Torpedoes, Tom was being sued by his record label over the copyright to his songs, which left his entire career in jeopardy. Channeling all of his energy into his songwriting, these tracks read like the journals of a kid lost in the world looking to break free. As opposed to just making songs about the lawsuits, there's a slice of life in about every one of these tracks, from the feeling of exile on Refugee to the messed up romanticism that comes in on Even the Losers.
Even producer Jimmy Iovine was shocked by how well the entire thing turned out, initially claiming that Tom didn't need any more songs since the ones they had were already top tier. In an era when most rock stars were trying to be larger than life, this was a rough and tumble kid who stood up for the little guy and won.