An American Treasure


An American Treasure is a 2018 compilation album and box set of Tom Petty, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers and Mudcrutch released by Reprise Records on September 28, 2018. The set includes several rare and unreleased songs alongside more obscure album tracks that showcase Petty's songwriting. The majority of the content is Heartbreakers material but there are also several solo songs and some recordings by Mudcrutch. Critical reception has been positive.

Compilation and release

The recordings were chosen for remixing and remastering by Mike Campbell, Adria Petty, Dana Petty, Benmont Tench, and Ryan Ulyate. The goal for compiling the songs was to highlight lesser-known tracks and choose songs that Petty himself would prefer.
Petty's daughter Adria made a promotional music video for the track "Keep a Little Soul" using home movies.

Reception

The box set has an 89 out of 100 on Metacritic, indicating universal acclaim.
Writing for Uproxx, Steven Hyden called the compilation "especially refreshing" for focusing on alternative recordings and more obscure songs from Petty's catalogue, summing it up as, "a surprisingly good introduction for neophytes, no matter the dearth of hits". Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic gave the compilation 4.5 out of five stars, writing, "this box winds up as a fitting tribute to a rocker whose touch was so casual, he could be easy to take for granted, but when his work is looked at as a whole, he seems like a giant".

Track listing

All tracks written by Tom Petty, except where noted.

Standard version

The standard version of An American Treasure features 26 songs spread evenly across two CDs. Of the 26 songs, 21 are previously non-album outtakes, rarities, alternate mixes/takes, or live versions.
;Disc one
  1. "Rockin’ Around " – 2:19
  2. "Anything That's Rock ‘n Roll" – 3:37
  3. "Listen to Her Heart" – 3:19
  4. "Louisiana Rain" – 5:04
  5. "Here Comes My Girl" – 4:57
  6. "King's Road" – 5:13
  7. "Keep a Little Soul" – 3:08
  8. "Straight into Darkness" – 4:29
  9. "Don't Treat Me Like a Stranger" – 3:05
  10. "Rebels" – 5:18
  11. "You’re Gonna Get It" – 3:14
  12. "Walkin’ from the Fire" – 4:44
  13. "The Best of Everything" – 4:02
;Disc two
  1. "I Won't Back Down" – 3:39
  2. "Two Gunslingers" – 3:50
  3. "Crawling Back to You" – 5:02<
  4. "Wake Up Time" – 5:30
  5. "Accused of Love" – 2:44
  6. "Gainesville" – 4:05
  7. "You and Me" – 3:13
  8. "Like a Diamond" – 4:15
  9. "Southern Accents" – 5:02
  10. "Insider" – 4:56
  11. "Something Good Coming" – 4:10
  12. "Have Love Will Travel" – 4:05
  13. "Hungry No More" – 7:17

    Deluxe version

The deluxe version of An American Treasure features 60 songs spread across four CDs. It is also available on vinyl as a six-LP set. Of the 60 songs, 42 are previously non-album outtakes, rarities, alternate mixes/takes, demos or live versions.
;Disc one
  1. "Surrender" – 3:18
  2. "Listen to Her Heart" – 3:19
  3. "Anything That's Rock ‘n Roll" – 3:37
  4. "When the Time Comes" – 3:04
  5. "You’re Gonna Get It" – 3:14
  6. Radio promotion spot, 1977 – 0:27
  7. "Rockin’ Around " – 2:19
  8. "Fooled Again " – 4:10
  9. "Breakdown" – 5:21
  10. "The Wild One, Forever" – 3:00
  11. "No Second Thoughts" – 2:39
  12. "Here Comes My Girl" – 4:57
  13. "What Are You Doing in My Life" – 3:30
  14. "Louisiana Rain" – 5:04
  15. "Lost in Your Eyes" – 4:47
;Disc two
  1. "Keep a Little Soul" – 3:08
  2. "Even the Losers" – 3:31
  3. "Keeping Me Alive" – 3:17
  4. "Don't Treat Me Like a Stranger" – 3:05
  5. "The Apartment Song" – 2:34
  6. Concert intro by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, The Forum, Inglewood, California, June 28, 1981 – 0:10
  7. "King's Road" – 5:13
  8. Clear the aisles – 0:16
  9. "A Woman in Love " – 5:51
  10. "Straight into Darkness" – 4:29
  11. "You Can Still Change Your Mind" – 4:01
  12. "Rebels" – 5:18
  13. "Deliver Me" – 3:55
  14. "Alright for Now" – 2:00
  15. "The Damage You’ve Done" – 3:59
  16. "The Best of Everything" – 4:02
  17. "Walkin’ from the Fire" – 4:44
  18. "King of the Hill" – 4:00
;Disc three
  1. "I Won't Back Down" – 3:39
  2. "Gainesville" – 4:05
  3. "You and I Will Meet Again" – 3:38
  4. "Into the Great Wide Open" – 4:15
  5. "Two Gunslingers" – 3:50
  6. "Lonesome Dave" – 3:40
  7. "To Find a Friend" – 3:19
  8. "Crawling Back to You" – 5:02
  9. "Wake Up Time" – 5:30
  10. "Grew Up Fast" – 5:05
  11. "I Don't Belong" – 2:54
  12. "Accused of Love" – 2:44
  13. "Lonesome Sundown" – 4:31
  14. "Don't Fade on Me" – 4:28
;Disc four
  1. "You and Me" – 3:13
  2. "Have Love Will Travel" – 4:05
  3. "Money Becomes King" – 5:11
  4. "Bus to Tampa Bay" – 2:55
  5. "Saving Grace" – 3:30
  6. "Down South" – 3:25
  7. "Southern Accents" – 5:02
  8. "Insider" – 4:56
  9. "Two Men Talking" – 6:53
  10. "Fault Lines" – 4:28
  11. "Sins of My Youth" – 3:39
  12. "Good Enough" – 5:48
  13. "Something Good Coming" – 4:10
  14. "Save Your Water" – 3:17
  15. "Like a Diamond" – 4:15
  16. "Hungry No More" – 7:17

    Personnel

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
Mudcrutch
Additional
Production
The single "Keep a Little Soul" peaked at #3 on the Adult Alternative Songs chart.