Pop poll produces zero agreement
Review by Peter Grad
Meriden Record-Journal - Saturday, December 19, 1981
Editor's note: With our regular columnist, Jim Zebora, taking a week off from his typewriter, we asked some Record-Journal staff members to discuss their favorite recorded music of '81.
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, HARD PROMISES (Backstreet, MCA)
Tom openly professes his admiration for the Byrds and the Roger McGuinn influence on the group's work is far from subtle. Nevertheless, this is one of the most exciting groups recording today. "A Woman in Love," a haunting acoustic composition, is destined to become a radio classic in the mold of Lynyrd Skynyrd's "Free Bird," the Zep's "Stairway to Heaven" and Pure Prairie League's "Aimee." "Letting You Go" and "A Thing About You" are also extremely catchy. They're clearly a group to keep an eye on, with albums consistently strong and getting better.