Album Review: Mudcrutch by Mudcrutch

In 1970, Before Tom Petty found fame and fortune with the Heartbreakers, he was living like a refugee in Gainsville, Florida, singing and playing bass for tips with guitarist Mike Campbell and keyboardist Benmont Tench in Mudcrutch, the house band at Dub’s Diner. Their first single, Up In Mississippi, for Pepper in 71, went nowhere, but three years later they signed to Shelter and moved to Los Angeles, thinking they’d hit the big time. Unfortunately, their Depot Street single tanked, and that was it for Mudcrutch.

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Tom Petty has described re-forming his pre-fame, early-’70s outfit Mudcrutch as…”crazy.” To which we say, ”Piffle!” As last year’s rock doc Runnin’ Down a Dream: Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers showed, the group was pretty good. Indeed, keyboardist Benmont Tench and guitarist Mike Campbell went on to play in Petty’s band the Heartbreakers. They are joined on this debut release — which comes three decades after their split — by guitarist Tom Leadon, who later backed Linda Ronstadt, and drummer Randall Marsh, a music teacher.

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