When you’ve performed as many concerts as Tom Petty, you can usually do such things as release a compilation of live recordings. And it turns out that the legendary musician will do just that in the coming months when he offers the aptly titled, The Live Anthology, a multiple disc set of recordings drawn from thirty years of live performances.
The collection brings together material from 1978-2007 culled from hundreds of hours of live concert recordings covering every era of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers’ tours. Producers Tom Petty, Mike Campbell and Ryan Ulyate had the job of selecting the tracks, which will include a mix of classic hits and originals as well as covers of The Zombies’ “I Want You Back Again”, Fleetwood Mac’s “Oh Well”, and Grateful Dead’s “Friend of the Devil”.
The set will be released in four configurations, each with artwork and packaging by contemporary artist Shepard Fairey:
- A four CD set of 48 tracks.
- A deluxe box set featuring 62 tracks on five CDs PLUS two previously unreleased DVDs including the 1978 New Year’s Eve concert from Santa Monica, CA and the Martyn Atkins documentary 400 Days shot during the recording and tour for Wildflowers. Plus a re-mastered vinyl of the 1976 Official Live ‘Leg bootleg and a High Resolution Blu-ray Audio Disc featuring all 62 tracks in both stereo and 5.1 surround sound. This disc will have 256 times more audio resolution than a CD.
- A seven LP vinyl box set mastered directly from the uncompressed 24-bit 96K files and pressed on audiophile quality high performance vinyl.
- Something called the Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers Superhighway Tour, which is described as a “first of its kind digital tour experience” that delivers to “ticketholders” 24 of the 48 Live Anthology tracks over an 8 week advance period. During this period ticketholders will receive an insider’s view of those 24 tracks, whether through archived memorabilia, new band commentary, classic reviews from the vaults, and more amassed rare vintage Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers content. Upon the official street date of the album ticket holders will digitally receive the remaining 24 tracks on The Live Anthology, thereby completing the entire album.
A release date for the Anthology has yet to be released, but it will be available via digital outlets, including iTunes. Tickets for the aforementioned eight week SuperHighway Tour will go on sale soon and the Tour will start with a free preview including a free download from The Live Anthology.
