Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers' early years celebrated with 'Origins 1971 – 1978' box set
It features a standalone rarities album called 'No Sleep Til L.A'
Last updated 16th Sep 2026
To celebrate the 50th anniversary of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers’ formation, an expansive box set called ‘Origins 1971 – 1978’ has been announced which takes a deep dive into the embryonic years of Tom Petty’s iconic band.
Released on Friday 6th November 2026 via UMe, ‘Origins 1971-1978’ is available to pre-order as a 5LP box set, a 4CD box set and an uber deluxe edition, each with Blu-ray and DVD, right here.
‘Origins 1971-1978’ traces the formation of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, and features collaborations with artists including Al Kooper, Leon Russell, Jim Gordon, Emory Gordy across its eclectic music.
The first disc is a 12-track rarities album called ‘No Sleep Til L.A’ that immortalises Tom Petty’s musical ventures between Mudcrutch's earliest recordings and the formation of the Heartbreakers.
A description of the album, which is also available as a standalone LP, CD and limited-edition Zoetrope, reads: ‘Spanning recordings from Miami to Tulsa to Los Angeles, the album follows the band's journey from their first-ever studio session at Criteria Studios in 1971, through the formative Tulsa sessions where Mike Campbell, Benmont Tench, Stan Lynch and Ron Blair learned to make records, and into Los Angeles, where it all finally clicked into place.
‘It captures a singer, songwriter, and bandleader in rapid development, growing more assured with each session. Seven of the twelve tracks have never been released before. Five more tracks appear here in new, hi-res mixes.’
As a taster for the album, the previously unheard Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers song ‘Parade of Loons’ from 1978 has premiered.
Watch the video starring Young Sheldon actor Iain Armitage right here:
The ‘Origins 1971-1978’ box set also boasts newly metallic limited-edition versions of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers’ self-titled debut album and their 1978 follow-up ‘You’re Gonna Get It!’, which have both been newly mixed and remastered for this 50th anniversary release.
The fourth disc, ‘Live from the Record Plant 1977’, captures the band’s session for San Francisco's KSAN-FM at the Record Plant in Sausalito in its glorious entirety for the first time.
‘Origins 1971-1978’ also features the band's 1978 performance on the BBC’s The Old Grey Whistle Test, featuring high-definition audio restored by Ryan Ulyate.
Host Bob Harris, who wrote an essay for the Blu-ray booklet, says: “(It was) one of the greatest performances we had ever seen by a band at the top of their game.
“They played music from another planet to a room packed with manic fans, in one of the most iconic venues in the world. It was an experience so powerful that five decades later we could still remember every chord, every song, every solo.”
The DVD captures the band's live performance on the BBC program The Old Grey Whistle Test, and a Blu-ray disc featuring the complete collection of all 51 songs in high-res stereo, Atmos and 5.1 immersive mixes rounds out the set.
As if the glut of musical treasures wasn’t enough, the centrepiece of the vinyl editions is an 88-page fanzine featuring liner notes by David Fricke and Bud Scoppa, track-by-track annotations from the original band, complete album credits for the first two albums and a trove of unearthed archival photos and memorabilia, alongside polaroids, postcards, collectibles and more.
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers will be honoured with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Americana Awards tonight (16th September).
The original members of the Heartbreakers, Mike Campbell, Benmont Tench, Stan Lynch and Ron Blair, will open the show with a special reunion performance alongside Grammy-winning superstar Chris Stapleton. Heartbreakers Steve Ferrone and Scott Thurston will join for a final song.
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers' 'Origins 1971 - 1978' track-listing:
LP1: No Sleep Til L.A:
Parade of Loons
You're Gonna Learn
Another Lonely Night
I Can't Fight It†
Depot Street†
Sin City
Wild Eyes†
Unheard of Kind of Hero
Up in Mississippi Tonight†
Satisfy Yourself
Since You Said You Love Me†
Long Way
LP2: Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers (50th Anniversary Edition):
Rockin' Around With You
Breakdown*
Hometown Blues
The Wild One, Forever
Anything That's Rock 'N' Roll
Strangered in the Night
Fooled Again (I Don't Like It)*
Mystery Man
Luna
American Girl*
LP3: You're Gonna Get It! (50th Anniversary Edition):
When the Time Comes*†
You're Gonna Get It*†
Hurt
Magnolia
Too Much Ain't Enough*
I Need to Know
Listen to Her Heart
No Second Thoughts
Restless*
Baby's a Rock 'N' Roller*
LP4: Live From the Record Plant 1977:
Pre-Show
Surrender
Jaguar and Thunderbird
Band Intros
American Girl
Al Kooper, Denny Cordell Intro
Fooled Again
Luna
How We Doin' on Tape?
Listen to Her Heart†
I Need to Know
Strangered in the Night
Dog on the Run
(Get Your Kicks On) Route 66
LP5: The Cut Out Bin:
Save Me
Making Some Noise
The Ballad of Harry, Neil & Tillie
Cry to Me†
Lost in Your Eyes
DISC 6: Live on the BBC's Old Grey Whistle Test 1978:
9 performances in HD and restored audio • Running time: 41 minutes • 48kHz 24-bit PCM stereo Picture: 4:3 Pillarbox / 29.97 fps • NTSC All Region
*Extended version