GeddysMullet Posted October 8, 2020 Share Posted October 8, 2020 (edited) This question came from a discussion I was having recently with a friend of mine about American artists, and I am curious as to what The Rush Forum thinks. I'm from New Jersey and thus am veritably expected to worship Springsteen, but I've never been a big fan. I haven't been able to call myself a big fan of Tom Petty overall since high school, and I truly never need to hear "Refugee" or "Breakdown" ever again, but there are a lot of Tom Petty songs that I really love. So, the Florida boy gets my vote. And I must mention the Heartbreakers, because even though I'd have to say that Full Moon Fever is my favourite Tom Petty album, the Heartbreakers are a huge part of why I have always preferred Petty to Springsteen. Especially the keyboard sounds. Edited October 8, 2020 by GeddysMullet Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
treeduck Posted October 8, 2020 Share Posted October 8, 2020 Petty Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steevo Posted October 8, 2020 Share Posted October 8, 2020 (edited) This question came from a discussion I was having recently with a friend of mine about American artists, and I am curious as to what The Rush Forum thinks. I'm from New Jersey and thus am veritably expected to worship Springsteen, but I've never been a big fan. I haven't been able to call myself a big fan of Tom Petty overall since high school, and I truly never need to hear "Refugee" or "Breakdown" ever again, but there are a lot of Tom Petty songs that I really love. So, the Florida boy gets my vote. And I must mention the Heartbreakers, because even though I'd have to say that Full Moon Fever is my favourite Tom Petty album, the Heartbreakers are a huge part of why I have always preferred Petty to Springsteen. Especially the keyboard sounds. I'm not really a big fan of either but they have both made some great work. I would have to call it a tie here. I'm sure there are more Petty fans here than Springsteen who gets unnecessarily slammed quite a lot. Edited October 8, 2020 by Steevo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Entre_Perpetuo Posted October 8, 2020 Share Posted October 8, 2020 Springsteen has higher highs, but Petty is more consistent. Pretty even but I'll take Petty in a pinch. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pjbear05 Posted October 8, 2020 Share Posted October 8, 2020 (edited) Petty, but only because I've never been impressed by Springsteen, period. Edited October 8, 2020 by pjbear05 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Cat 3 Posted October 8, 2020 Share Posted October 8, 2020 Sophie’s Choice for me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IbanezJem Posted October 8, 2020 Share Posted October 8, 2020 I`ve never really got Springsteen, and I`ve tried. Petty, I think he made very accessible records and they always appealed to me. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Segue Myles Posted October 8, 2020 Share Posted October 8, 2020 I love both but Springsteen without any shadow of a doubt. Petty is more consistent. Springsteen is at his best massively superior. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
condemned2bfree Posted October 8, 2020 Share Posted October 8, 2020 I`ve never really got Springsteen, and I`ve tried. Petty, I think he made very accessible records and they always appealed to me. This. Something about Petty's music that resonates more for me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goose Posted October 8, 2020 Share Posted October 8, 2020 Petty, and like the poll shows, it aint close. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lorraine Posted October 8, 2020 Share Posted October 8, 2020 GM, surely this question is a joke? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lorraine Posted October 8, 2020 Share Posted October 8, 2020 This question came from a discussion I was having recently with a friend of mine about American artists, and I am curious as to what The Rush Forum thinks. I'm from New Jersey and thus am veritably expected to worship Springsteen, but I've never been a big fan. I haven't been able to call myself a big fan of Tom Petty overall since high school, and I truly never need to hear "Refugee" or "Breakdown" ever again, but there are a lot of Tom Petty songs that I really love. So, the Florida boy gets my vote. And I must mention the Heartbreakers, because even though I'd have to say that Full Moon Fever is my favourite Tom Petty album, the Heartbreakers are a huge part of why I have always preferred Petty to Springsteen. Especially the keyboard sounds.Agree with all you have written and, being from NJ myself, I remember well the adulation "The Boss" had there. I guess they never noticed that BS had long ago stopped being the working class rock icon and had turned into a man that had been bought and sold out to whomever. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluefox4000 Posted October 8, 2020 Share Posted October 8, 2020 Tom Petty. Mick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
invisible airwave Posted October 8, 2020 Share Posted October 8, 2020 (edited) I'm west coast so I'm biased towards the nice Laurel Canyon Byrds esque sound of his. I got to appreciate Bruce as more than just baby boomer music when I heard Nebraska, DOTEOT and his album cuts. Tom Petty is one of those rare veterans who didn't try to act like he was hip with the kids by selling out like some (PAGING STEVEN TYLER!) rock stars. He was genuine and had integrity by sticking up for the (even the) losers and rebels and I respect him for that. Although Petty has has some weak links like the dated sounding Let Me Up (I've Had Enough) which he thought less of anyways, they're nowhere near as embarrassing as Human Touch or Working On A Dream with that stupid and cliched Queen Of The Supermarket. Edited October 8, 2020 by invisible airwave 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lorraine Posted October 8, 2020 Share Posted October 8, 2020 I'm west coast so I'm biased towards the nice Laurel Canyon Byrds esque sound of his. I got to appreciate Bruce as more than just baby boomer music when I heard Nebraska, DOTEOT and his album cuts. Tom Petty is one of those rare veterans who didn't try to act like he was hip with the kids by selling out like some (PAGING STEVEN TYLER!) rock stars. He was genuine and had integrity by sticking up for the (even the) losers and rebels and I respect him for that. Although Petty has has some weak links like the dated sounding Let Me Up (I've Had Enough) which he thought less of anyways, they're nowhere near as embarrassing as Human Touch or Working On A Dream with that stupid and cliched Queen Of The Supermarket.That's why I love Tom too - he was genuine, and he had a great sense of humor. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steevo Posted October 8, 2020 Share Posted October 8, 2020 Springsteen has higher highs, but Petty is more consistent. Pretty even but I'll take Petty in a pinch. It's very close in their respective heydays. Impossible to choose to be fair. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IbanezJem Posted October 8, 2020 Share Posted October 8, 2020 ...and Springsteen would have been terrible in the Traveling Wilburys 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J2112YYZ Posted October 8, 2020 Share Posted October 8, 2020 Tom Petty. One the most consistently good artists to ever do it. Springsteen never really grabbed me. I had Born In The USA on cassette when I was a kid but that's it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeddysMullet Posted October 8, 2020 Author Share Posted October 8, 2020 I'm not really a big fan of either but they have both made some great work. I would have to call it a tie here. I'm sure there are more Petty fans here than Springsteen who gets unnecessarily slammed quite a lot.Sophie’s Choice for meSpringsteen has higher highs, but Petty is more consistent. Pretty even but I'll take Petty in a pinch. It's very close in their respective heydays. Impossible to choose to be fair. In consideration of this, I have added a "tie" option to the poll. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RushFanForever Posted October 8, 2020 Share Posted October 8, 2020 (edited) Both Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band member Roy Bittan (piano) and Petty's Heartbreakers member Benmont Tench (organ) performed on Stevie Nick's hit song 'Edge of Seventeen' from the Bella Donna album as noted here Also, Bittan and Tench were part of Nick's touring band on the 1981 Bella Donna White Wing Dove Tour as noted here Both the E-Street Band and Heartbreakers members have also been in-demand as session musicians for other acts. Springsteen and Petty performing in 1990 together below. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LG2mygv6WPs Edited October 8, 2020 by RushFanForever 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnnyBlaze Posted October 8, 2020 Share Posted October 8, 2020 Very easily, Petty. But I’m surprised it’s this much of a blowout. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steevo Posted October 8, 2020 Share Posted October 8, 2020 I'm not really a big fan of either but they have both made some great work. I would have to call it a tie here. I'm sure there are more Petty fans here than Springsteen who gets unnecessarily slammed quite a lot.Sophie’s Choice for meSpringsteen has higher highs, but Petty is more consistent. Pretty even but I'll take Petty in a pinch. It's very close in their respective heydays. Impossible to choose to be fair. In consideration of this, I have added a "tie" option to the poll.I'm not really a big fan of either but they have both made some great work. I would have to call it a tie here. I'm sure there are more Petty fans here than Springsteen who gets unnecessarily slammed quite a lot.Sophie’s Choice for meSpringsteen has higher highs, but Petty is more consistent. Pretty even but I'll take Petty in a pinch. It's very close in their respective heydays. Impossible to choose to be fair. In consideration of this, I have added a "tie" option to the poll. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lorraine Posted October 8, 2020 Share Posted October 8, 2020 Very easily, Petty. But I’m surprised it’s this much of a blowout.I'm not. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnnyBlaze Posted October 8, 2020 Share Posted October 8, 2020 Very easily, Petty. But I’m surprised it’s this much of a blowout.I'm not. I thought there were at least a few more TRFers than just 1 (current # of Bruce votes) who prefer Springsteen...but maybe it’s just the accumulation of Segue’s Bruce praise posts that made me think it 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Segue Myles Posted October 8, 2020 Share Posted October 8, 2020 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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