“Incredible pressure”: In 1979, Tom Petty needed to fight to create his “greatest work”

Tom Petty fought his record label in 1979 to regain control of his songs and release *Damn the Torpedoes*. The dispute mattered because he believed the album was his strongest work, and feared the legal and financial pressure could keep it from reaching listeners.

The article says Petty challenged a contract that gave the label ownership of his material, declaring bankruptcy as part of his effort to get the songs back. Producer Jimmy Iovine helped the Heartbreakers find a stronger sound, and the album included “Don’t Do Me Like That” and “Refugee”. Petty later gained his own imprint on the label, while the record became a defining success in his career.