An American Treasure (2018)
Disc One
1. Surrender
2. Listen to Her Heart
3. Anything That's Rock 'N' Roll
4. When the Time Comes
5. You're Gonna Get It
6. Radio Promotion Spot
7. Rockin' Around (With You)
8. Fooled Again (I Don't Like It)
9. Breakdown
10.The Wild One, Forever
11.No Second Thoughts
12.Here Comes My Girl
13.What are You Doin' in My Life?
14.Louisiana Rain
15.Lost in Your Eyes
Disc Two
1. Keep a Little Soul
2. Even the Losers
3. Keeping Me Alive
4. Don't Treat Me Like a Stranger
5. The Apartment Song
6. Concert Intro
7. Kings Road
8. Clear the Aisles
9. A Woman in Love (It's Not Me)
10.Straight into Darkness
11.You Can Still Change Your Mind
12.Rebels
13.Deliver Me
14.Alright for Now
15.The Damage You've Done
16.The Best of Everything
17.Walkin' from the Fire
18.King of the Hill
Disc Three
1. I Won't Back Down
2. Gainesville
3. You and I Will Meet Again
4. Into the Great Wide Open
5. Two Gunslingers
6. Lonesome Dave
7. To Find a Friend
8. Crawling Back to You
9. Wake Up Time
10.Grew Up Fast
11.I Don't Belong
12.Accused of Love
13.Lonesome Sundown
14.Don't Fade on Me
Disc Four
1. You and Me
2. Have Love, Will Travel
3. Money Becomes King
4. Bus to Tampa Bay
5. Saving Grace
6. Down South
7. Southern Accents
8. Insider
9. Two Men Taling
10.Fault Lines
11.Sins of My Youth
12.Good Enough
13.Something Good Coming
14.Save Your Water
15.Like a Diamond
16.Hungry No More
This is one of those archival releases that prompts an immediate, and fair, question—would it have seen the light of day if Tom Petty were still with us? Hard to say. What is clear is that An American Treasure feels less like a proper album and more like a memorial project, one aimed squarely at the faithful. For the die-hard fan, there’s plenty to admire. For everyone else, it’s more of a historical footnote than an essential listening experience.
Spread across four discs, the set is a comprehensive dig through the vaults—outtakes, alternate versions, unreleased tracks, live performances, and demos. And while almost all of it is at least good, there’s very little that demands repeat listening. Petty, unlike contemporaries such as Dylan or Springsteen, wasn’t known for hoarding staggering masterpieces in his sock drawer. Most of what’s here reinforces what we already knew: he was consistent, prolific, and always in command of his voice—but surprises are few.
It’s worth remembering that this isn’t the first time Petty’s archives have been tapped. The Playback box set from the mid-‘90s already covered similar ground, and arguably did it with a little more editorial focus. In that context, An American Treasure feels like a second pass at the same attic—somewhat tidier, perhaps more sentimental, but no more revelatory.
That’s not to say it isn’t valuable. The sequencing is thoughtful, and it does a fine job of weaving together multiple eras of Petty’s long run, highlighting the craftsmanship even in his lesser-known corners. But it’s hard to imagine even the most devoted fan spinning all four discs with any regularity. A worthy tribute, no doubt—but one that’s easier to admire than to love.
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