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Long After Dark

by Tom Petty

Released: November 02, 1982

Heartland rock, pop rock, new wave

musicOnOff editorial

Why This Album Matters

This album matters because its strongest editorial story is: Chart Success.

The Album

Recently, on August 30, 2024, the Tom Petty estate announced an expanded Deluxe Edition of Long After Dark, featuring 12 new live tracks and previously unreleased songs, along with a Blu-ray Dolby Atmos remix. "Long After Dark" is the fifth studio album by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, released on November 2, 1982, through Backstreet Records. This album marked the first appearance of Howie Epstein, who joined the band as a bassist and harmony vocalist, contributing significantly to their sound from then on.

Stories and details

Interesting Facts

The album is best known for the MTV…

The album is best known for the MTV hit "You Got Lucky," which became a staple of the band's repertoire.

In July 2018, an outtake from the album…

In July 2018, an outtake from the album, "Keep a Little Soul," was released as part of the promotion for the box set An American Treasure.

Another notable outtake, "Keeping Me Alive," was a…

Another notable outtake, "Keeping Me Alive," was a Petty favorite that appeared later in the box set Playback and also on An American Treasure.

This new version was released on streaming services…

This new version was released on streaming services and in various physical formats on October 18, 2024.

Watch and listen

Explore the Album

Tom Petty - Long After Dark

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Then

Reception

It also produced two other singles: "Change of Heart" and "Straight into Darkness," with "Change of Heart" reaching the Billboard Top 40.

Full background

The Complete Album Story

"Long After Dark" is the fifth studio album by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, released on November 2, 1982, through Backstreet Records. This album marked the first appearance of Howie Epstein, who joined the band as a bassist and harmony vocalist, contributing significantly to their sound from then on.

The album is best known for the MTV hit "You Got Lucky," which became a staple of the band's repertoire. It also produced two other singles: "Change of Heart" and "Straight into Darkness," with "Change of Heart" reaching the Billboard Top 40.

In July 2018, an outtake from the album, "Keep a Little Soul," was released as part of the promotion for the box set An American Treasure. Another notable outtake, "Keeping Me Alive," was a Petty favorite that appeared later in the box set Playback and also on An American Treasure.