Released Nov 2, 1982, “Long After Dark” is the fifth studio album by American rock band Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers.

The 10-track record features songs that are upbeat, listener accessible, and iconic to the sound Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers established within their discography. Following the release of their fourth studio album “Hard Promises,” the group put out “Long After Dark” just 18 months after. 

Upon releasing the record, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers embraced their newest member, Howie Epstein, on the bass guitar. Epstein provides an astounding performance on the record regardless of only picking up the bass a few years before joining the Heartbreakers.

“Long After Dark” begins the upbeat album with “A One Story Town”; a track with simple lyrics and vivid imagery, along with uptempo instrumentation. Petty’s drawl is so prominent throughout the verses, making the vocals slightly incoherent. Nevertheless, Petty’s accent became a staple of the music that he produced. The track slowly fades out the instrumental outro into the second track, “You Got Lucky”.

As the leading single of “Long After Dark,” “You Got Lucky” ties in more ‘80s tones that feature heavy synthesizers from Benmont Tench, and a music video that highlights the slightly eccentric feeling given the lofi camera quality of the time and poor computer-generated imagery, making the videos more iconic in hindsight.  

The fourth track and second single, “Change of Heart,” heavily highlights the talents of the Heartbreakers with the staggering guitar of Petty and Mike Campbell, Stan Lynch’s solid drumming, the steady bassline from Epstein, and an additional layer added courtesy of percussionist Phil Jones. Like all other songs under the power pop genre, “Change of Heart” utilizes upbeat and highly energized instruments against the longing, yearning feeling illustrated in the lyrics. 

Petty’s range is most prominent and staggering in the anthem-like track “We Stand a Chance” which includes an interesting buzzing tone throughout along with a repetitive chorus. The track itself is darker in composition, contrasting the other songs on the record. However, the Heartbreakers still incorporate a bright piano along with Mike Campbell stepping up to play the organ, leaving Petty to take over the lead guitar. 

The band concludes the record with the mellow track “A Wasted Life”; ending the album with subdued vocals and instruments. 

Tom Petty and the Heartbreaks would later put out a total of 13 studio records, along with a surplus of live albums; the final album being “Hypnotic Eye” (2014), released just three years before Petty passed from an accidental overdose. 

The fifth album of the group is underappreciated for an album that is released under the household name. “Long After Dark” emits good vibes with its listener-accessible tracks; a continuous tone found in just about every album of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers.