Tom Petty & Pre-Heartbreakers Band Mudcrutch Make Debut More Than 30 Years After Initially Playing Together
In the summer of 2007, Tom Petty reunited Mudcrutch, consisting of himself, Heartbreakers Mike Campbell and Benmont Tench, and original bandmembers Tom Leadon and Randall Marsh, who joined when Mudcrutch first went to Los Angeles in search of a record deal in the early 70s. More than 30 years later, Mudcrutch finally made its debut album. Featuring new Petty songs and a handful of covers, the self-titled release is both classic rock and a rock classic.
Petty’s first band, The Sundowners, changed their name to The Epics and then to Mudcrutch around 1970. Mudcrutch became the house band at Dub’s Diner in hometown Gainesville, Fl, before the group moved to Hollywood. The Mudcrutch story is told in the Tom Petty feature documentary Runnin’ Down A Dream, directed by Peter Bogdanovich.
“This is a top-down-driving record meant for open roads. Warm blends of jangling electric guitars, warm organ runs, and country-tinged acoustic strumming emphasize the laid-back feel, while mandolin and R&B piano accompaniment give the music a Southern accent.”–Bob Gendron, The Absolute Sound, Issue 186
