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Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers - Breakdown

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Topic: Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers - Breakdown

Posted By: davidclark
Subject: Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers - Breakdown
Date Posted: 01 April 2016 at 1:18am

LP label timing is 2:42; 45 label timing 2:39 and states "edited from the LP
"Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers". Does anyone have the (charting) 45 and the
original LP to compare to see if it is truly edited or not? The original 45 label
timing is 2:42 (and does NOT have the "edited" comment). We have come
across songs already with as little as 0:04 edited out to make the 45....

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dc1

Replies:

Posted By: jimct
Date Posted: 01 April 2016 at 11:39pm

David, there were actually two different "Breakdown" 45 releases on
Shelter issued in 1977. As it reads, your question can't be fully answered
until I first add some background details.

Petty's self-titled, debut LP was released around November of 1976. The
1st 45 release from the album was "Breakdown", b/w "The Wild One,
Forever", as Shelter/ABC 62006, in January 1977. This is the *only* 45
release of "Breakdown" with a listed time of (2:42) and with no mention of
"edited from the LP, TP & The H" on the label. (FYI, current db CDs have
runtimes for the track ranging from (2:39) to (2:41).)

This initial "Breakdown" single totally stiffed out in the U.S. As a result,
few copies were ever pressed, making both promo and stock 45s rare. But
I was luckily able to locate/buy a Shelter/ABC 62006 promo 45 online just
now, and I will provide its timing details when it arrives to me in the mail.

We both strongly suspect that the Shelter/ABC 62006 45 listed (2:42)
timing, absent the "edit" notation, will exactly mimic the original LP
version. Still, I'm curious to 100% confirm this, too (which is why I just
bought the early 45), so I'm very glad you've raised the question here, my
friend! Crazy how some edits end up being so brief in total seconds cut, it
hardly seems worth it.

Meanwhile, Petty and his band managed to land a spot as an opening act
on Nils Lofgren's 1977 UK tour. Some nice, positive band buzz had come
from their live shows across the pond, so Shelter decided to try to
capitalize on that fact by issuing "Breakdown" as a U.S. single for a second
time, around October of 1977. Shelter was a small label and didn't release
many singles, so the new "Breakdown" stock # was only two digits higher
than its previous 45 release. Now issued as Shelter/ABC 62008, and this
time b/w "Fooled Again (I Don't Like It)". It debuted on the Hot 100 in
early November '77, before peaking at exactly #40 in 2/78.

Both the stock 45 and the stereo side of my Shelter 62008 promo 45 have
listed times of (2:39), actual times of (2:38), and handwritten deadwax
info of "SR-62008-AS RE-1 1A". And I"ll soon be following up with both
the early 45 actual time and a compare/contrast of the two 45s, searching
for that possible small edit/final piece of the puzzle.

Posted By: MMathews
Date Posted: 02 April 2016 at 12:41pm

I always just assumed the single was re-released and
peaked in '78 because of its in the soundtrack to "FM."
I never noticed the peak date of the single actually pre-
dates the movie soundtrack by several months.

Posted By: eriejwg
Date Posted: 04 April 2016 at 11:38am

I'll be anxious to know if the listings in the database
that are 2:40-2:41 run slower than the 45 or if the 45
fades out earlier.

I can't imagine what would be edited out. lol.

Posted By: MCT1
Date Posted: 04 April 2016 at 9:47pm

jimct wrote:

Shelter was a small label and didn't release many singles, so the new "Breakdown" stock # was only two digits higher than its previous 45 release.

To underscore how few singles Shelter was putting out at this point, the number in between was actually another Petty single, "American Girl" (62007). Just like the first release of "Breakdown", it failed to chart. The album first broke into the Top 200 in September 1977.

Posted By: eriejwg
Date Posted: 06 April 2016 at 1:23pm

These days, both Breakdown and American Girl are Classic
Rock staples.

Posted By: jimct
Date Posted: 15 April 2016 at 7:14pm

David, my promo 45 copy of the listed (2:42), initial, non-hit 45 release on
Shelter 62006 (which we both strongly suspect is the original LP version -
and of course, if anyone now owns his S/T debut album on vinyl (on Shelter
52006), feel free to offer up the "Breakdown" listed/actual timing details
from there) has arrived. I have just shot you out dubs of the stereo side of
both that 45 and the later, listed (2:39), #40 BB peak hit 45 on Shelter
62008.

Please compare/contrast the two versions and report back your findings,
whenever your schedule permits. You definitely piqued my interest here with
your quite observant, "possible :03 second edit" possibility! You're so right
when you say that small, "why bother" edits do pop up now and again. :)

Posted By: davidclark
Date Posted: 15 April 2016 at 8:52pm

Thanks, Jim, for sending me the dubs. I hear no edits at all. The only thing I
can tell is that the 2nd 45 runs about :03 faster than the original issue.

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dc1