Gems - Tom Petty

In the final instalment here is an article highlighting some lesser known Tom Petty Gems…

Casa Dega - The b-side to ‘Don’t Do Me Like That’ is a slow, soulful, sway driven by hypnotic bass with subtle guitar licks and keyboards all set to a lyric of romantic redemption.

Insider - 1981’s ‘Hard Promises’ was the follow up to ‘Damn the Torpedoes’ and though it lacks the same volume of hits it contains a very good batch of tunes. ‘Insider’ is a vulnerable ballad where Petty is joined by Fleetwood Mac’s Stevie Nicks for a compelling duet. She had a hit with Petty and Campbell co-write ‘Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around’ which featured on her debut album ‘Bella Donna’.

Rebels - The sessions for the’ Southern Accents’ album were long, fraught and drug fuelled. Petty famously broke his hand punching a wall having become frustrated during the recording of this song. The album is one of Petty’s more enduring despite the confused direction.

It Ain’t Nothin’ to Me - This Dave Stewart co-write illustrates the lack of a cohesion on ‘Southern Accents’. The funky guitars, hip-hop drum beat and horn led intro, with Petty’s call and response vocal are at odds with the heart on sleeve rock and roll of the opening track. Nonetheless, the song works in isolation and is too catchy to overlook!

It’ll All Work Out - Despite a Bob Dylan cowrite in ‘Jammin’ Me’, ’Let Me Up (I’ve had enough)’ is probably the weakest Heartbreakers album. Not enough tunes and lots of stodgy, dated rock production. Even Petty himself has suggested that the album title itself speaks for itself. One track that stands out is the stripped back ‘It’ll All Work Out’, a moving a plea to his then wife.

You and I Will Meet Again - Whilst ‘Into the Great Wide Open’ heralded the return of the Heartbreakers, some have criticised Jeff Lynne’s ‘middle of the road’ production style. A more compelling argument is that the sound compliments the many excellent melodies on show. ‘You and I Will Meet Again’, ‘Kings Highway’ and the Motown beat of ‘Built to Last’ are great examples. The album also manages to rock in places see the searing guitar lick of ‘All or Nothin’’ or the rollicking ‘Makin’ Some Noise’.

Honey Bee - A grungy if un-typical cut from ‘Wildflowers’. Here Petty drops the ‘roll’ in favour of pure ‘rock’. There is an explosive live version of this song from 'Saturday Night Live’, appropriately featuring Dave Grohl as stand-in drummer following the departure of Stan Lynch - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SYhYOdsqK5Y

Room at the Top - The opening track on ‘Echo’ is folorn and desolate. There is some resolve but it is heart-wrenching stuff - “Please love me, I’m not so bad, I love you so”.

Flirting with Time - ‘Flirting with time’ is another piece of pop perfection featured here on an album (Highway Companion) which arguably has the strongest opening four song salvo of any in Petty’s career.

Shadow People - The closing track of the final Heartbreaker’s album showcases a muscular riff, typical of the rockier approach taken on ’Hypnotic Eye’ and ‘Mojo’. This brooding track sees Petty dabbling in socio-political commentary for one of the only times in his career “And this one carries a gun for the USA, He’s a 21st century man, And he’s scary as hell, Because when he’s afraid, He’ll destroy anything he don’t understand”.

Wise words indeed. Rest in peace Tom Petty, you are missed.