Unexpected Tom Petty "stamper" discovery

slaw-I've read somewhere that Tom was mindful of his recordings quality, and he was into listening to good hifi.
The "stamper" surprise did remind me, that album  several FM staples that took me back to a less complicated, simple period of time.

Bpd24-It's interesting how sometimes, albums were haphazardly made. I remember buying an album of a particular group,played the first side and rocked out. Flipped  over to the 2nd side... music of a completely DIFFERENT, unknown band that was awful!
Took the bus to Licorice Pizza for a new copy!I  believe we both have memories of that place.
This is the one I would hang out at:
http://nightflight.com/record-store-day-every-day-you-got-it-nicer-at-licorice-pizza-stores-in-the-7...
How about that list of sale albums?

I meant to only link a couple of photos from that long, poorly written article.

http://nightflight.com/wp-content/uploads/LICORICE-PIZZA-42.jpg

http://nightflight.com/wp-content/uploads/LICORICE-PIZZA-121.jpg

millercarbon-

I would be terribly conflicted,if I had to give up TP's debut or "Damn the Torpedoes.

TP's music was caught up in the 80's MTV movement, and I thought that was the "jump the shark" period. Also, Rock radio was turning into what is now-a list of songs on repeat.

My DTT copy may be an elusive "WHITE HOT STAMPER" grade that would list on Tom Ports sight for an amount I could never imagine coughing up!

Both of my copies are early  Backstreet labels. I believe later  presses are the blue/rainbow MCA label.

I have taken "Damn the Torpedoes" to shows and played it  on uber systems, and it would grab the attention of anyone in the room. 
Spectacular/breathtaking  sound on one of those 50k+ tables.

IMO, those 2 albums are in the rare, exclusive club-every cut is a great song.

millercarbon-

It is mind blowing and depressing to realize the "value" of our hard earned cash these days.

I have a small stack of double/triple buys of albums from the cull.

A DTT is in the pile. It is a later, MCA rainbow. Since you'll just have to do some bin diving and check the record label, should be just a matter of effort. 

In the event you come across a sealed copy, I notice the Backstreet WILL NOT have a bar code. That's typically the easiest way to determine an early press of certain material. In this case, I'm not certain how to determine the lineage from there?

I must correct my earlier claim on my  TP debut. It is a SHELTER, yellow label.
It appears Shelter must have been absorbed later by Backstreet, which was distributed by MCA? The record label thing gets confusing.

Maybe someone  can chime in for some history. I think bdp24 may be able to shed some light on the label history. He is the R&R history guy.

In any event, I played a side of the TP debut. My copy is a level down since it wasn't a sealed album.  The sonics however, are reasonably close to my DTT.
I notice REALLY great presses can be played at low volume,and the dynamics/punchiness of bass,drums and cymbals can be easily noticed.

"American Girl" is such a great Rock and Roll tune. Love the jangly, Roger Mcguinn-Byrds guitar tone.

shadorne-
Yes, just being anti-reissue, stamper geek while thinning the herd.

Revised comments of SQ of TP's debut on the Shelter label.  After playing side 2, it is maybe another notch below in sound quality. Still quiet, but doesn't have the impactful drums/cymbals or presence of vocals like DTT at low volume.

Doesn't matter, that album is kick ass especially cranked.
Perhaps  the master tape just wasn't up to snuff as DTT? 

millercarbon-
I checked the deadwax of my DTT and noticed an etching "⬅️P➡️1" If there are several generations of Backstreets, maybe this has significance?

Maybe someone will chime in, and share their own Backstreet  pressings, "secret code?"

wlutke-
I looked at my copy MCA 2015- DJ- 55.3
cryptic stuff. Gold embossed on cover, has me thinking its some kind of promotional copy? I have many albums like that.

Bases on what I posted earlier, TP's albums just aren't in demand. It's not a Beatles "butcher" cover.

The sound, however is fantastic and reason to never buy one of those pricey reissue 45's.

 bdp24-

cool R&R history as always-thanks!

 millercarbon & anyone interested in 3 "stamper grade" presses, this is the skinny.
"Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers" Shelter  SRL52006  
"You're Gonna Get It!"- Backstreet MCA 371
"Damn the Torpedoes "-Backstreet MCA 5105
printed on corner of jacket 

Checking Better Records,(Tom Ports site) TP apparently isn't in big demand. You can get a good copy for a reasonable price.
https://www.better-records.com/search_adv.aspx?sp=tom+petty&option=s_name&min_price=1&ma...

I happen to have what I think, is an exceptional copy like this:
https://www.better-records.com/product.aspx?pf_id=jethraqual_1901
Way out of my league !
Since all this stamper nonsense is subjective, FWIW-
Chrysalis 2033 upper right hand corner 

For extra record  snob appeal, maybe the British press is "better?"
Maybe not, according to stamper man:

"The American Pressing Is Still King (or should that be President?)

"Like we've noted so many times before, this British band, like many of their brethren, had their master tapes sent to America to make our much-maligned domestic pressings. I maligned them myself, wrongly I now realize. It takes an amazing stereo and a top quality Hot Stamper pressing to get this music to work its magic. If you are lucky enough to have those two things, you will not believe how good this album sounds, so much better than you ever thought possible. It's not perfect, but with the right pressing you can hear why Anderson, his bandmates, the engineer and producer all thought they had put a real winner down on tape. They had, but it took us a long time to find a good LP and be able to play it right."


I find  the record hunt more rewarding than gear madness. One must still get their system to a certain level though, to hear what the fuss is all about.

I clearly remember gravitating towards the $3.69 sale bins,or going to the used stores for $1.00  or less, for current, hardly played  albums.

During the 70/80's, 7-8 dollars for an album was outrageous to me!