Breakdown (Tom Petty song)

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“Breakdown”
“Breakdown” cover
Single by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
from the album Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
A-side Breakdown
B-side The Wild One, Forever
Released 1976
Format 7"
Recorded Shelter Studios, Hollywood
1976
Genre Rock
Length 2:42
Label Shelter
Writer(s) Tom Petty
Producer Denny Cordell
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers singles chronology
"Breakdown"
(1976)
"American Girl"
(1977)

"Breakdown" is the first single from Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers' self-titled debut album.

Contents

[edit] Single track listings

  • "Breakdown" b/w "The Wild One Forever"
    Shelter 62006 (1976)
  • "Breakdown" b/w "Fooled Again (I Don't Like It)"
    Shelter 62008 (1977)

[edit] Chart performance

Chart Debut
date
Peak
position
Weeks
on chart
Billboard Hot 100 November 5, 1977 #40 17
Cash Box Top 100 Singles Dececember 3, 1977 #33 15

[edit] In concert

Played live, Petty sometimes incorporated "Breakdown" with Ray Charles' "Hit the Road Jack".

[edit] Album appearances

[edit] Cover versions

“Breakdown”
Single by Grace Jones
from the album Warm Leatherette
B-side "Breakdown"
Released 1980, US promo only
Format 7" single
Genre Disco
Length 3:10
Label Island Records IS 49603
Writer(s) Tom Petty
Producer Chris Blackwell, Alex Sadkin
Grace Jones singles chronology
"Love is the Drug"
(1980)
"Breakdown"
(1980)
"A Rolling Stone"
(1980)

Breakdown was covered by Suzi Quatro on her album If You Knew Suzi (1978) and by Grace Jones on her album Warm Leatherette (1980). For Grace Jones' recording, Petty wrote a third verse:

It's OK if you must go
I'll understand if you don't
You say goodbye right now
I'll still survive somehow
Why should we let this drag on?