Top Ten Reasons We Love Tom Petty
(10-20-50 to 10-02-17)
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The phrase ‘raised by rock’n’roll’ has been used and overused for decades. For many kids, Rock’n’Roll was the parental figure. Yes, we had mothers and fathers though they were not necessarily parents, simply humans doing the best they could, up to their necks in their own lives, and many times too distracted by personal drama to devote any time to their kid’s problems. Rock’n’Roll stepped up and offered a helping hand as a teacher and a confidant, and most importantly, something you could count on.
Tom Petty was one of those kids. Rock’n’Roll raised him right growing up in Gainesville, Florida. It taught him to trust in bandmates and road crew, many staying with him throughout his career from FLA dive bars out to the west coast and around the world multiple times. For his part, Tom Petty honored the music that raised him. He never lost the thread of the Rock’n’Roll beat in his music, and seemingly all his decisions were based on WWRnRD….What Would Rock’n’Roll Do? Tom dropped out of high school at age seventeen, realizing that he could learn more in the two or three minutes of a song than in long classroom hours. Like many of his era, four lads from Liverpool who changed the world were a defining moment, Tom stating that ‘the minute I saw the Beatles on the Ed Sullivan Show — and it's true of thousands of guys — there was the way out. There was the way to do it. You get your friends and you're a self-contained unit. And you make the music. And it looked like so much fun. It was something I identified with. I had never been hugely into sports. ... I had been a big fan of Elvis. But I really saw in the Beatles that here's something I could do. I knew I could do it. It wasn't long before there were groups springing up in garages all over the place’.
Tom’s work with the Heartbreakers, Mudcrutch, and The Traveling Wilburys is part of Rock history. His work behind the scenes in the RnR trenches has helped many musicians in ways they may never know. Tom Petty went up against corporate powers early in his career. He went head-to-head with MCA Records when his contract was purchased from Shelter Records, who had released his first two albums. His defiance could have cost him, hanging in the balance was the release of Damn the Torpedoes, the album that would break Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers on an international level, and would go on to sell five million albums upon its release. Tom Petty never backed down, and won a fight for musicians as well as his band and musical family.
It is hard to imagine a world without Tom Petty. It is safe to say that there will never be a time when his music will not be part of the world, for today and generations to come. The spirit of Rock’n’Roll is alive in his music, which in turn keeps his memory alive. The real story of Tom Petty is told in the music he left with us.
Tom Petty was one of those kids. Rock’n’Roll raised him right growing up in Gainesville, Florida. It taught him to trust in bandmates and road crew, many staying with him throughout his career from FLA dive bars out to the west coast and around the world multiple times. For his part, Tom Petty honored the music that raised him. He never lost the thread of the Rock’n’Roll beat in his music, and seemingly all his decisions were based on WWRnRD….What Would Rock’n’Roll Do? Tom dropped out of high school at age seventeen, realizing that he could learn more in the two or three minutes of a song than in long classroom hours. Like many of his era, four lads from Liverpool who changed the world were a defining moment, Tom stating that ‘the minute I saw the Beatles on the Ed Sullivan Show — and it's true of thousands of guys — there was the way out. There was the way to do it. You get your friends and you're a self-contained unit. And you make the music. And it looked like so much fun. It was something I identified with. I had never been hugely into sports. ... I had been a big fan of Elvis. But I really saw in the Beatles that here's something I could do. I knew I could do it. It wasn't long before there were groups springing up in garages all over the place’.
Tom’s work with the Heartbreakers, Mudcrutch, and The Traveling Wilburys is part of Rock history. His work behind the scenes in the RnR trenches has helped many musicians in ways they may never know. Tom Petty went up against corporate powers early in his career. He went head-to-head with MCA Records when his contract was purchased from Shelter Records, who had released his first two albums. His defiance could have cost him, hanging in the balance was the release of Damn the Torpedoes, the album that would break Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers on an international level, and would go on to sell five million albums upon its release. Tom Petty never backed down, and won a fight for musicians as well as his band and musical family.
It is hard to imagine a world without Tom Petty. It is safe to say that there will never be a time when his music will not be part of the world, for today and generations to come. The spirit of Rock’n’Roll is alive in his music, which in turn keeps his memory alive. The real story of Tom Petty is told in the music he left with us.
01 American Girl – Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers (from the album Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers)
Tom Petty’s love of the music of the 1960’s, particularly the guitar jangle of band’s like The Byrds, echoes in the chords and beats of “American Girl”. A war in music existed when The Heartbreakers debut came out. As Rock stages grew higher and further away from the audience, Punk Rock brought the sound back to the street. Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers walked down the middle of both camps, appealing equally to each side.
Tom Petty’s love of the music of the 1960’s, particularly the guitar jangle of band’s like The Byrds, echoes in the chords and beats of “American Girl”. A war in music existed when The Heartbreakers debut came out. As Rock stages grew higher and further away from the audience, Punk Rock brought the sound back to the street. Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers walked down the middle of both camps, appealing equally to each side.
02 Listen to Her Heart – Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers (from the album You’re Gonna Get It!)
True Rock’n’Roll is tough love. The story in “Listen to Her Heart” speaks to a belief system that does not often exist outside of the confines of three chords and the truth.
True Rock’n’Roll is tough love. The story in “Listen to Her Heart” speaks to a belief system that does not often exist outside of the confines of three chords and the truth.
03 Refugee – Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers (from the album Damn the Torpedoes)
While the jangle and joy in the music of the first two releases of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers played to true believers, it was the songs of Damn the Torpedoes that made the band contemporaries and competitive of a larger scale, a challenge they took on and won with tracks like “Refugee”.
While the jangle and joy in the music of the first two releases of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers played to true believers, it was the songs of Damn the Torpedoes that made the band contemporaries and competitive of a larger scale, a challenge they took on and won with tracks like “Refugee”.
04 Southern Accents – Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers (from the album Southern Accents)
Long before Drive-By Truckers brought the conversation circling the duality of the south into the world, Tom Petty was putting flesh and bones on the southern man and woman. Hard work and even harder play are the angels and devils on the shoulder of the hero in “Southern Accents”.
Long before Drive-By Truckers brought the conversation circling the duality of the south into the world, Tom Petty was putting flesh and bones on the southern man and woman. Hard work and even harder play are the angels and devils on the shoulder of the hero in “Southern Accents”.
05 Jammin’ Me – Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers (from the album Let Me Up I’ve Had Enough!)
Tom Petty did not often have a co-writer and on “Jammin’ Me” he had three names in the credits. Tom worked on the track with guitarist Mike Campbell, who was one of the few who shared songwriting duties with Tom, and joining the pair, Bob Dylan added his name to the song.
Tom Petty did not often have a co-writer and on “Jammin’ Me” he had three names in the credits. Tom worked on the track with guitarist Mike Campbell, who was one of the few who shared songwriting duties with Tom, and joining the pair, Bob Dylan added his name to the song.
06 Last Night – The Traveling Wilburys (from the album Volume One)
Though The Traveling Wilburys was a true musical collective, sharing songwriting duties and verses in the songs, “Last Night” is voiced almost entirely by Tom Petty, with some lead vocals from Roy Orbison. Tom came into the studio with “Last Night” though The Wilburys added words.
Though The Traveling Wilburys was a true musical collective, sharing songwriting duties and verses in the songs, “Last Night” is voiced almost entirely by Tom Petty, with some lead vocals from Roy Orbison. Tom came into the studio with “Last Night” though The Wilburys added words.
07 It’s Good to Be King – Tom Petty (from the album Wildflowers)
The second solo album for Tom Petty came out on Warner Brothers Records, who had released The Traveling Wilburys work. A few from the band of brothers came into the studio with Tom as The Wilburys backed him on Wildflowers.
The second solo album for Tom Petty came out on Warner Brothers Records, who had released The Traveling Wilburys work. A few from the band of brothers came into the studio with Tom as The Wilburys backed him on Wildflowers.
08 Turn This Car Around – Tom Petty (from the album Highway Companion)
Jeff Lynne, Tom’s Wilbury brother, produced Tom Petty’s third and final solo album, Highway Companion. Jeff had produced Tom’s solo debut, Full Moon Fever, and Into the Great Wide Open for The Heartbreakers. The drive of “Turn This Car Around” pummels the beat into submission as the chords clomp steadfastly along.
Jeff Lynne, Tom’s Wilbury brother, produced Tom Petty’s third and final solo album, Highway Companion. Jeff had produced Tom’s solo debut, Full Moon Fever, and Into the Great Wide Open for The Heartbreakers. The drive of “Turn This Car Around” pummels the beat into submission as the chords clomp steadfastly along.
09 Trailer - Mudcrutch (from the album 2)
The second album from Mudcrutch will stand as the last recorded work from Tom Petty during his lifetime. Mudcrutch was the band that originally went along with Tom on his first move to Los Angeles. Label influence felt he was stronger solo, and Mudcrutch broke up while The Heartbreakers formed. Tom Petty brought the original members back for two albums.
The second album from Mudcrutch will stand as the last recorded work from Tom Petty during his lifetime. Mudcrutch was the band that originally went along with Tom on his first move to Los Angeles. Label influence felt he was stronger solo, and Mudcrutch broke up while The Heartbreakers formed. Tom Petty brought the original members back for two albums.
10 All You Can Carry – Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers (from the album Hypnotic Eye)
Though Hypnotic Eye preceded the second Mudcrutch album by two years, it is a fitting end to a short list of songs from Tom Petty, chronicling an all-too-short life. Hypnotic Eye is visceral and raw, the Rock’n’Roll of its songs coming true with spit and snarl, the way we chose to end the list.
Though Hypnotic Eye preceded the second Mudcrutch album by two years, it is a fitting end to a short list of songs from Tom Petty, chronicling an all-too-short life. Hypnotic Eye is visceral and raw, the Rock’n’Roll of its songs coming true with spit and snarl, the way we chose to end the list.
tom petty tributes are pouring in:
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some cool tom petty playlists from spotify:
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some t.p. / heartbreakers/wilbury's/mudcrutch vids:
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