I’m a huge Tom Petty fan and could write a book about all things Tom Petty, but I won’t do that here.
Highway Companion is a great Tom Petty album with Jeff Lynne’s collaboration and production style. I love all things Jeff Lynne/Electric Light Orchestra as well. Highway Companion and Wildflowers are both masterpieces to me.
I’m not used to buying modern day vinyl. This new 180g stuff is just a marketing gimmick and is not necessary. Just a means for the record labels to charge you more for an LP and make more money off of us. Back when vinyl was more common (70s/80s) we didn’t need 180g vinyl and we still don’t. The extra weight doesn’t improve the sound quality at all so I see no point in 180g records.
I own the CD of Highway Companion as well (got that the day it was released in 2006) but wanted the vinyl experience of this fine album, so I bought it again in LP form. Highway Companion has 12 songs and comes on two LPs. With a vinyl LP you can fit approximately 23 minutes on each side of a vinyl LP. Highway Companion clocks in at a total of 43:56 so technically.... the entire album would have fit on one vinyl LP no problem. Yes maybe the track order would’ve been a little different than the CD but who cares, compilation albums are like that.
But...... Highway Companion comes on two vinyl LPs which was not necessary. Highway Companion has three songs per side and a lot of unused space. Ridiculous. Two LP’s were not necessary for Highway Companion. One LP would have done it. You’re constantly turning the album over or putting on the second LP to hear the album in it’s entirety. Almost as labor intensive as playing a bunch of 45's. Very annoying. I love the sound of vinyl LPs as compared to any other media, but not a fan of a single disc being put on multiple LPs. Again, that’s record labels trying to make more money from us and that just pisses me off. I own approximately 600+ older vinyl LPs and back in my vinyl purchasing heyday (70s/80s), I avoided two record sets even then. I did however originally buy the Beatles (White Album) Pink Floyd (The Wall) The Who (Tommy) Elton John (Goodbye Yellow Brick Road) Led Zeppelin (Physical Graffiti) etc....... but generally, I dislike double albums...too much work to hear an album in it’s entirety!
I will buy a used LP at a thrift store every so often but Highway Companion is the first new shrink-wrapped LP that I have bought in many years. I don’t usually purchase new vinyl anymore. Too damn expensive now. New vinyl LP’s these days is a boutique item and sold at renaissance vinyl prices. I stopped buying vinyl in the 80’s and started buying CDs and now have about 1500+ CD’s. Damn glad I never got rid of my old vinyl records!
Highway Companion sounds awesome on vinyl though. It really does sound pure and clean. No complaint with the sound quality at all but, I don’t want one album to be on two LP’s when it would have fit on one. Too much work involved listening to it that way.
RIP Tom. You were the best of the best. My favorite artist since 1976. I will always respect you as a musician, songwriter, artist and... your opinion and philosophy on the music business.
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Highway Companion
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Track Listings
1 | Saving Grace |
2 | Square One |
3 | Flirting with Time |
4 | Down South |
5 | Jack |
6 | Turn This Car Around |
7 | Big Weekend |
8 | Night Driver |
9 | Damaged by Love |
10 | This Old Town |
11 | Ankle Deep |
12 | The Golden Rose |
Editorial Reviews
Highway Companion, Tom Petty's third solo album and first in a dozen years, is a timeless album about the passing of time. A constant companion on the road of rock n' roll, Petty, says Rolling Stone, is "rock aristocracy".
Product details
- Is Discontinued By Manufacturer : No
- Language : English
- Product Dimensions : 4.88 x 5.59 x 0.43 inches; 2.75 ounces
- Manufacturer : American
- Item model number : 2030584
- SPARS Code : DDD
- Date First Available : January 28, 2007
- Label : American
- ASIN : B000FP2O2C
- Number of discs : 1
- Best Sellers Rank: #23,410 in CDs & Vinyl (See Top 100 in CDs & Vinyl)
- #138 in Classic Southern Rock
- #1,174 in Album-Oriented Rock (AOR) (CDs & Vinyl)
- #2,247 in Metal
- Customer Reviews:
Customer reviews
4.8 out of 5 stars
4.8 out of 5
791 global ratings
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Top reviews
Top reviews from the United States
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Reviewed in the United States on March 19, 2018
Reviewed in the United States on July 26, 2006
Tom Petty fans rejoice because he's back with his third solo studio album `Highway Companion.' The album consists of 12 tracks that are perfect for a road trip and live up to the classic guitar rock sound that fans of Petty have loved for years.
`Highway Companion' finds Petty once again teaming with musicians Jeff Lynne (who produced the album and was a member of the Traveling Wilburys band with Petty) and Mike Campbell (longtime guitarist for Petty and the Heartbreakers).
The album features a stripped down studio rock sound closer to the sound that Petty did on 1989's `Full Moon Fever' than the singer's follow-up solo album `Wildflowers' in 1994. All of the songs were once again written by Petty, and the singer/songwriter also played rhythm guitar, drums, harmonica, electric piano, bass, and lead guitar and provided lead and backing vocals on the album's various tracks.
`Highway Companion' (which Petty describes as being about the passing of time) is filled with the type of rock songs that one would expect from Petty, and never strays too far from the formula of song writing that made him a rock icon. It kicks off with the "blues heavy" track "Saving Grace" - with lyrics that set the tone for the whole album.
The song is simply the perfect way to start a rock album, and you will be in love with `Highway Companion' before Petty finishes the track. This is a heavy blues song filled with guitar riffs similar to "Running Down a Dream" or something off a Bo Diddley album. Petty keeps other parts of the album bluesy with tracks like "Jack," "Turn This Car Around," and "This Old Town."
"Flirting with Time" and "Down South" are reminiscent of work done by Petty and the Heartbreakers on albums like `Echo' and `Into the Great Wide Open.' Tracks like "Big Weekend" and "Ankle Deep" seem influenced by Petty's work with the Traveling Wilburys.
Petty then slows things down with tracks like "Square One" and "Damaged by Love" which features the songwriter's unique ability to craft lyrics that seem simple and profound at the same time. If you were not hooked by the end of the first track, "Square One" will win you over.
If you are a fan of Tom Petty's solo work or his work with the Heartbreakers then you will want this album. It is a good blend of all the influences throughout Petty's career, and every song is a hit. Petty packs the album full of guitar driven rock, catchy lyrics, and choruses that have good enough hooks to keep you singing them after one listen.
`Highway Companion' finds Petty once again teaming with musicians Jeff Lynne (who produced the album and was a member of the Traveling Wilburys band with Petty) and Mike Campbell (longtime guitarist for Petty and the Heartbreakers).
The album features a stripped down studio rock sound closer to the sound that Petty did on 1989's `Full Moon Fever' than the singer's follow-up solo album `Wildflowers' in 1994. All of the songs were once again written by Petty, and the singer/songwriter also played rhythm guitar, drums, harmonica, electric piano, bass, and lead guitar and provided lead and backing vocals on the album's various tracks.
`Highway Companion' (which Petty describes as being about the passing of time) is filled with the type of rock songs that one would expect from Petty, and never strays too far from the formula of song writing that made him a rock icon. It kicks off with the "blues heavy" track "Saving Grace" - with lyrics that set the tone for the whole album.
The song is simply the perfect way to start a rock album, and you will be in love with `Highway Companion' before Petty finishes the track. This is a heavy blues song filled with guitar riffs similar to "Running Down a Dream" or something off a Bo Diddley album. Petty keeps other parts of the album bluesy with tracks like "Jack," "Turn This Car Around," and "This Old Town."
"Flirting with Time" and "Down South" are reminiscent of work done by Petty and the Heartbreakers on albums like `Echo' and `Into the Great Wide Open.' Tracks like "Big Weekend" and "Ankle Deep" seem influenced by Petty's work with the Traveling Wilburys.
Petty then slows things down with tracks like "Square One" and "Damaged by Love" which features the songwriter's unique ability to craft lyrics that seem simple and profound at the same time. If you were not hooked by the end of the first track, "Square One" will win you over.
If you are a fan of Tom Petty's solo work or his work with the Heartbreakers then you will want this album. It is a good blend of all the influences throughout Petty's career, and every song is a hit. Petty packs the album full of guitar driven rock, catchy lyrics, and choruses that have good enough hooks to keep you singing them after one listen.
Reviewed in the United States on October 31, 2017
Though I'm a big Petty fan, I have to be honest and say that I didn't really give this album of full listen until after his death. I'd heard a few tracks and liked what I heard but got distracted or something so didn't really dive it. But after recently going back to it, I realize just how amazing the song writing is on this album. Petty rarely disappoints as a song writer and this album is full of strong material, though there are a few tracks toward the end that feel like filler. After having ripped a copy from my local library a few years back, I recently decided to buy the vinyl after my revisit and it sounds amazing. The warmth and balance of the highs and lows makes the 18 bucks spent on it worth it. Them pressing this release from the analog masters makes all the difference here. And the gatefold packaging is beautiful. So though a lot of these songs aren't the "radio hits" of Petty's past, "radio hits" aren't always the best songs just the best known.
Top reviews from other countries
Ricardo
5.0 out of 5 stars
Disco maravilhoso
Reviewed in Brazil on June 26, 2022
Produto excelente
Benny and the jets
5.0 out of 5 stars
great album
Reviewed in Canada on June 10, 2021
great album ! i like it like
Morten Vindberg
5.0 out of 5 stars
One of His Very Best
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 8, 2023
In 2006, when "Highway Companion" was published, Tom Petty was no longer one of the names I followed closely. I was a big fan until "Wildflowers", but from there it started to ebb somewhat, and I actually didn't notice that "Highway Companion" came out.
I've never really distinguished between what is Tom Petty solo and what is Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers; but "Highway Companion" was sadly to be Petty's last solo album. Two Heartbreakers albums followed, and Petty is on this solo album in fine form, strongly supported by friends Mike Campbell and Jeff Lynne.
The album has all the Petty charisma; good catchy melodies, nice crisp guitars, nice production and of course Petty's unique southern vocals.
Immediately, I think that the album easily measures up to his very best, so it was really a positive experience to discover it. As usual, there is a good mix of upbeat tracks and more melancholy ballad-like songs.
"Saving Grace" is classic Petty; boogie beat, nice build-up and catchy chorus. "Square One" is a beautiful acoustic track. On "Flirting with Time" you are back to classic Petty - mid-tempo and catchy. "Down South" is folkish in the Dylan/Springstein style - one of many highlights.
The slightly bluesy "Jack" is perhaps more of a lightweight number - but quite charming nonetheless.
"Turn this Car Around" is relatively heavy, with a classic Petty guitar break. "Big Weekend" is upbeat - catchy and inciting.
"Night Driver" is atmospheric and slightly melancholy - again with an effective refrain. A bit in the same style is "Damaged by Love", which is quiet and moving. It continues in the quiet department with "This Old Town". "Ankle Deep" is a welcome upbeat track, after three slightly slow tracks. Classic Petty.
The final number "The Golden Rose" is an almost magnificent ballad with sensitive slide-guitar - a well-chosen finale.
I've never really distinguished between what is Tom Petty solo and what is Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers; but "Highway Companion" was sadly to be Petty's last solo album. Two Heartbreakers albums followed, and Petty is on this solo album in fine form, strongly supported by friends Mike Campbell and Jeff Lynne.
The album has all the Petty charisma; good catchy melodies, nice crisp guitars, nice production and of course Petty's unique southern vocals.
Immediately, I think that the album easily measures up to his very best, so it was really a positive experience to discover it. As usual, there is a good mix of upbeat tracks and more melancholy ballad-like songs.
"Saving Grace" is classic Petty; boogie beat, nice build-up and catchy chorus. "Square One" is a beautiful acoustic track. On "Flirting with Time" you are back to classic Petty - mid-tempo and catchy. "Down South" is folkish in the Dylan/Springstein style - one of many highlights.
The slightly bluesy "Jack" is perhaps more of a lightweight number - but quite charming nonetheless.
"Turn this Car Around" is relatively heavy, with a classic Petty guitar break. "Big Weekend" is upbeat - catchy and inciting.
"Night Driver" is atmospheric and slightly melancholy - again with an effective refrain. A bit in the same style is "Damaged by Love", which is quiet and moving. It continues in the quiet department with "This Old Town". "Ankle Deep" is a welcome upbeat track, after three slightly slow tracks. Classic Petty.
The final number "The Golden Rose" is an almost magnificent ballad with sensitive slide-guitar - a well-chosen finale.
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Jesus Y
5.0 out of 5 stars
Perfecto
Reviewed in Spain on November 2, 2022
Gran CD, todo en perfectas condiciones y un día antes del plazo de entrega
Alexandre Moneyron
5.0 out of 5 stars
Ça pourrait être un des meilleurs disques de Bob Dylan....
Reviewed in France on May 24, 2022
Si notre ami Tom était encore là...on ne pourrait que le féliciter devant la qualité des chansons, leur homogénéité et ce sens du texte et de la nuance musicale.Ça pourrait être un des meilleurs disques de Bob Dylan....