Record Breaking for the Heartbreakers

 

Petty got back into the studio as well, with his fellow Heartbreakers and began recording their next album, Mojo. It was technically the first album he had done in 8 years, where it was to be released with the Heartbreakers name as well. Mojo was the Heartbreaker’s 12^th album and the first album that Ron Blair had been completely apart of since his return to the Heartbreakers. The album was a live studio recorded album in which Petty intended for it to be done this way. Each band member is playing at the same time and it isn’t edited down with studio tricks. It gives a different feel than any album they had created in the past. Mojo was created with a number of tracks that were made up of electric and acoustic blues vibes right along with their classic rock and roll tracks. Although Mojo didn’t receive as much praise as other albums, it still managed to debut at number 2 on the Billboards. Heartbreakers toured on and off for close to 4 years thereafter, as their best was yet to come.

 

2014 was the year that Petty and the Heartbreakers released not only their 13^th album, but their first album to reach number 1 on the charts. Although, it took almost three years to make, it was incredibly worth every day of it. Hypnotic Eye was an album that again reflected Petty’s views on things such as injustice and the realism of society but also, incorporated hopeless romanticism and endless dreaming. Petty wrote all but one song the album in which the remaining one was co-written with Mike Campbell. The album took a turn for incorporating some of what him and fellow Mudcrutch members had been playing with when recording their albums, a country but still rock and roll feel. After taking a few years off from solely working on Heartbreakers music, Hypnotic Eye seemed to be what helped Petty and the band rediscover themselves as a group. They were not only pleased that it had reached number 1, but pleased with the album itself.