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He's sold millions of albums, filled arenas, and hobnobbed with George Harrison, Bob Dylan and Roy Orbison, but Tom Petty's driving heartland rock has often been taken for granted by the same critics who hail John Mellencamp as a genius. Greatest Hits is an airtight argument for Petty's own greatness. Starting with "American Girl," the rollicking, Byrds-inspired single from Petty's first album in 1976, this compilation presents a chronological overview of the guitarist-vocalist's career with and without the Heartbreakers, also chronically underrated as one of today's best bands. Every one of the 16 older tracks is a well-crafted gem, full of solid guitar hooks ("Here Comes My Girl"), arresting images ("Don't Come Around Here No More") and simple but poetic lyrics ("The Waiting").

Petty isn't an innovator; he's a talented craftsman with impeccable taste and a strong sense of rock history, internalizing influences ranging from the Beatles' psychedelic masterpiece, Revolver, to the best of '70s punk. (It's interesting to remember that early efforts such as "Refugee" and "Don't Do Me Like That" first won Petty attention as a New Wave artist). With his Dylanesque vocals and chiming 12-string guitars, Petty is more often linked these days with the sounds of the '60s. But recent tunes such as "Learning to Fly" and "Into the Great Wide Open" are as smart, relevant and (dare I say) alternative as anything in MTV's Buzz Bin. --Jim DeRogatis

OK....Tom Petty fans, easy now. I have never been a Bob Dylan fan and personally Tom Petty sounds similar, at least vocally. Not a good selling point for me. But Tom Petty has been around a long time and has continually produced hit after hit over the years. Really good songs! I know these songs, I've heard them hundreds of times. For me he's just one of those artists who's music I never really collected. Well after I got my iPod I started collecting music from my life. I came across this album on Amazon and checked out the titles and I was pleasantly surprised at how many songs were on there that I really did like (which is most of them). The bottom line is Tom Petty is quite a good songwriter and I've overlooked him for much too long. This is a great album!!!

This is a fine collection of rootsy rock n roll music - right up there with Springsteen/E-Street band.

The Dylan/Byrds influences are obvious but this collection also rocks out with its own unique Petty stamp. Check out Damn the Torpedoes (1979), to get a sense of his/their early output (couple of tracks featured here - Don't lose my girl, Refugee).

This is pure americana. And a great backing band to boot.

Man, this is one of my all-time favorite albums. The first thing that got me hooked on you was seeing/hearing you in Black and White Night with Roy Orbison. Great stuff! So in turn, I bought this album of yours first, with many more to follow.
You rock in every group you play with!!!

Tom Petty is a great artist. The Heartbreakers are a fantastic group. Together with their greatest hits...utterly the best CD for the devoted Fan!!!

This cd includes the best of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers.If you love his music then this is a "must have",for sure!