Deeper Dozen - Tom Petty

Breakdown - The debut single and a standout from the Heartbreaker's eponymous 1976 release illustrates the bands effortless rock and roll style. Mike Campbell’s guitar and Benmont Tench’s keys jostle seamlessly on top of a cool bass and drum groove. The template for this song was echoed throughout the first phase of Petty’s career and can be heard on tracks like ‘You Tell Me’ or ‘Something Big’.

I Need to Know - The Heartbreaker's second album ‘You’re Gonna Get it!’ is a decent if not great follow up to their debut. That said, it did feature one of the most euphoric tracks that he ever released in 'I Need to Know'. Petty would go on to pen many excellent driving rockers including ‘Century City’, ‘Runnin’ down a dream’ and the snarling ‘Free Girl Now’ but few were as raucous as this one.

Here Comes My Girl - According to Jimmy Iovine, Petty played him two tracks when they first discussed collaborating on the third Heartbreakers album. Along with ‘Refugee’ he was played ‘Here Comes My Girl’. Iovine was so impressed that he said that no more songs were needed! A co-write with Mike Campbell, this song transcends courtesy of the notable influence of 'The Byrds'.

You Got Lucky - ‘Long After Dark’ does not have the same quality of songs as the two preceding Iovine produced long players and was largely redeemed by this single. Petty would push the 80s production style further during his collaboration with Dave Stewart, most famously ‘Don’t Come Around Here No More’. The mad but equally wonderful music videos for both tracks are worth a watch too - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mtLpZWNyM0I and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h0JvF9vpqx8

Southern Accents - The initial intention was for ‘Southern Accents’ to be a concept album. This was best realised on the title track. The album itself is a challenging listen not due to a lack of good quality songs rather because the ‘concept’ is not carried through and the production styles often feel at odds with one another. For example, ‘Southern Accents’, a beautiful piano and string laden ode to the American South was sandwiched between two synth heavy Dave Stewart collaborations.

Yer So Bad - This song can be found in the middle of ‘Full Moon Fever’ and appears in this list because it represents a great example of Petty’s ability to pen a witty lyric, in this instance backed by a catchy rockabilly beat.

Free Fallin’ - With its distinctive intro and immediate chorus 'Free Fallin'' is one if Petty’s most memorable. The song also showcased a knack that Petty had for writing songs with the plight of the female as a core theme (see ‘Listen to her Heart’ or Stevie Nicks duet ‘Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around’). Here, singing from the protagonist’s perspective, he notes “the good girls are home with broken hearts”.

Into the Great Wide Open - The title track to the ‘Full Moon Fever’ follow up is notable for another strong lyric and a music video that was considered such an integral part of the end product that the length of the song was adapted to support the Johnny Depp starring feature. This along with ‘Learning to Fly’ were both hits from the album. You can see the video here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xqmFxgEGKH0

To Find a Friend - ‘Wildflowers’ was Petty’s second solo album and one of the most critically acclaimed of his career. The Rick Rubin co-produced release was distinctive for the greater folk and country style of writing on display. ‘To Find a Friend’ is vulnerable, yearning and just stunning.

Walls (Circus) - Petty is responsible for some stunning pop writing. ‘Walls (Circus)’ is one of the best, so good it featured twice on the soundtrack for the film ‘She’s the One’! The version captured in the opening track is the one to look for. The crestfallen lyric (“I can’t hold out forever, even walls fall down”) is set against more blissful 'Byrdsian' jangling. It also featured Lindsey Buckingham as a fairly stellar backing vocalist.

Square One - Following 2002’s ‘The Last DJ’, Petty released his third and final solo record, ‘Highway Companion’. ‘Square One’ sets Petty’s fragile sigh against a sparse arrangement. The song received a Grammy nomination after featuring on the film ‘Elizabethtown’.

Jefferson Jericho Blues - This bluesy harmonica heavy hoedown from 2010’s ‘Mojo’ was a strong late career highlight.