★ ★ ★ ★ ★

“

Spanning a total 34 tracks on 2 CDs, with a total playback time of just under two hours, this Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers anthology ( titled Through The Years ) contains a generous amount of their greatest hits, commencing in 1977 and concluding with a then newer track, from 2000, called Surrender. In addition to the enhanced remastering of these compelling classics, I was especially impressed the tunes were formatted in chronological order, which gave this overview extra merit as well! Along with the Heartbreakers' gems was the inclusion of Petty's best solo hits. All in all, one of the best overviews of Tom Petty's illustrious recording career, and I highly recommend this!

”

- Brent

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

“
Here I am once again in my home office, writing a review. As usual, I have music playing in the background. This time it's “Anthology: Through the Years” by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. Originally released in 2000 on the MCA label, this outstanding 2-CD set album contains 34 of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers’ best-known and most popular songs recorded from 1976 through 1993.

“Anthology: Through the Years” certainly ranks as one of my five favorite and most frequently played albums. Each of the two CDs runs well over 60 minutes in length. The songs appear to be arranged roughly in chronological order. All are digitally remastered, and many of the songs are longer album versions.

Disc 1 – runs to nearly 70 minutes, and starts right off with a pair of Petty’s best-known and most popular songs: “Breakdown” and “American Girl.” The 17 tracks on this disc also include the iconic “heartland” rocker’s songs, “I Need to Know,” “Don’t Do Me Like That,” and “Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around,” a duet with fellow rock icon Stevie Nicks.

- Toni