Artist of the Week: 7/4/11 - Tom Petty

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Sub
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Artist of the Week: 7/4/11 - Tom Petty

Post by Sub »

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Intro:
I chose to do an Artist of the Week on Tom Petty because I think he is the perfect example of what great music is all about. He has been around 30+ years, gained fans from around the entire world and continues to still rock to this day and in the music industry that is no easy task. To be able to stick around for so long and to be able to do it well just doesn't happen, but in Tom Petty's case he's been able to make it work.



The Wiki Section:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Petty
Thomas Earl "Tom" Petty (born October 20, 1950) is an American singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. He is the frontman of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers and was a founding member of the late 1980s supergroup Traveling Wilburys and Mudcrutch. He has also performed under the pseudonyms of Charlie T. Wilbury, Jr. and Muddy Wilbury.

He has recorded a number of hit singles with the Heartbreakers and as a solo artist, many of which remain heavily played on adult contemporary and classic rock radio. His music, notably his hits, has become popular among younger generations as he continues to host sold-out shows.[1] Throughout his career, Petty and his collaborators have sold 60 million albums.[2]

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers (1976–Present)

Shortly after forming his musical aspirations, Petty started a band known as the Epics, later to evolve into Mudcrutch. Although the band, which featured future Heartbreakers Mike Campbell and Benmont Tench, were popular in Gainesville, their recordings went unnoticed by a mainstream audience, although their only single, "Depot Street", remains popular amongst fans. The original Mudcrutch included guitarist Danny Roberts who was later replaced by bass guitarist Charlie Souza.

After Mudcrutch split up, Petty reluctantly agreed to pursue a solo career. Tench decided to form his own group, whose sound Petty appreciated. Eventually, Petty and Campbell collaborated with Tench and fellow members Ron Blair and Stan Lynch, resulting in the first line-up of the Heartbreakers. Their first album, simply titled Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, gained minute popularity amongst American audiences, achieving more success in Britain. The single "Breakdown" was re-released in 1977 and peaked at #40 in early 1978 after the band toured in the United Kingdom in support of Nils Lofgren. The debut album was released by Shelter Records, which at that time was distributed by ABC Records.[13]

Their second album, You're Gonna Get It!, marked the band's first Top 40 album[13] and featured the singles "I Need to Know" and "Listen To Her Heart". Their third album, Damn the Torpedoes, quickly went platinum, selling nearly two million copies; it includes their breakthrough singles "Don't Do Me Like That", "Here Comes My Girl" and "Refugee".[14]

In September 1979, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers performed at a Musicians United for Safe Energy concert at Madison Square Garden in New York.[15] Their rendition of "Cry To Me" was featured on the resulting No Nukes album.[16]

1981's Hard Promises became a top-ten hit, going platinum and spawning the hit single "The Waiting". The album also featured Petty's first duet, "Insider" with Stevie Nicks.

Bass player Ron Blair quit the group, and was replaced on the fifth album (1982's Long After Dark) by Howie Epstein; the resulting line-up would last until 1994. In 1985, the band participated in Live Aid, playing four songs at Philadelphia's John F. Kennedy Stadium. Southern Accents was also released in 1985. This album included the hit single "Don't Come Around Here No More", which was produced by Dave Stewart. The song's video featured Petty dressed as the Mad Hatter, mocking and chasing Alice from the book Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, then cutting and eating her as if she were a cake. The ensuing tour led to the live album Pack Up the Plantation: Live! and to an invitation from Bob Dylan; Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers joined him on his True Confessions tour and also played some dates with the Grateful Dead in 1986 and 1987. Also in 1987, the group released Let Me Up (I've Had Enough) which includes "Jammin' Me" which Petty wrote with Dylan.[17]

Traveling Wilburys, solo career, and "return" to the Heartbreakers (1988–1991)

In 1988, Petty became a founding member of the Traveling Wilburys, along with Bob Dylan, George Harrison, Roy Orbison, and Jeff Lynne. The band's first song, "Handle With Care", was intended as a B-side of one of Harrison's singles, but was judged too good for that purpose and the group decided to record a full album, Traveling Wilburys Vol. 1. A second Wilburys album, incongruously titled Traveling Wilburys Vol. 3 and recorded without the recently deceased Orbison, followed in 1990. The album was named Vol. 3 as a response to a series of bootlegged studio sessions being sold as Travelling Wilburys Vol. 2. In recent years, Petty has begun to incorporate Travelling Wilburys songs into his live shows, consistently playing "Handle With Care" in shows from 2003–2006, and for his 2008 tour making "End of the Line" a staple of the setlist.

In 1989, Petty released Full Moon Fever, which featured hits "I Won't Back Down", "Free Fallin'" and "Runnin' Down a Dream". It was nominally his first solo album, although several Heartbreakers and other well-known musicians participated: Mike Campbell co-produced the album with Petty and Jeff Lynne of Electric Light Orchestra, and backing musicians included Campbell, Lynne, and fellow Wilburys Roy Orbison and George Harrison (Ringo Starr appears on drums in the video for "I Won't Back Down", but they were actually performed by Phil Jones). Since all the original Traveling Wilburys except Bob Dylan participated on the album, it is sometimes considered the unofficial Traveling Wilbury's "Volume Two".[by whom?]

Petty & the Heartbreakers reformed in 1991 and released Into the Great Wide Open, which was co-produced by Lynne and included the hit singles "Learning To Fly" and "Into The Great Wide Open", the latter featuring Johnny Depp, Gabrielle Anwar, Faye Dunaway, and Matt LeBlanc in the video.

Before leaving MCA Records, Tom and the Heartbreakers got together to record, live in the studio, two new songs for a "Greatest Hits" package. "Mary Jane's Last Dance" and Thunderclap Newman's "Something in the Air". This was Stan Lynch's last recorded performance with The Heartbreakers. Tom commented "He left right after the session without really saying goodbye." The package went on to sell over ten million copies, therefore receiving diamond certification by the RIAA.

Move to Warner Bros. Records (1991–present)

In 1989, while still under contract to MCA, Petty secretly signed a lucrative deal with Warner Bros. Records, to which the Traveling Wilburys had been signed.[18] His first album on his new label, 1994's Wildflowers (Petty's 2nd of 3 solo albums), included the singles "You Don't Know How It Feels", "You Wreck Me," "It's Good to Be King" and "A Higher Place". The album, produced by Rick Rubin, sold over three million copies in the U.S.

In 1996, Petty, with the Heartbreakers, released a soundtrack to the movie She's the One, starring Cameron Diaz and Jennifer Aniston (see Songs and Music from "She's the One"). The album's singles were "Walls (Circus)" (featuring Lindsey Buckingham), "Climb that Hill" and a song written by Lucinda Williams, "Change the Locks." The album also included a cover of "Asshole," a song by Beck. The same year, the band accompanied Johnny Cash on Unchained, for which Cash would win a Grammy for Best Country Album (Cash would later cover Petty's "I Won't Back Down" on American III: Solitary Man).
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers performing live in Indianapolis, June 23, 2006.

In 1999, Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers released their last album with Rubin at the helm, Echo. Two songs were released as singles in the U.S., "Room at the Top" and "Free Girl Now". The album reached number 10 in the U.S. album charts.

Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers played "I Won't Back Down" at the America: A Tribute to Heroes benefit concert for victims of the September 11, 2001 attacks. The following year, they played "Taxman", "I Need You", and "Handle With Care" (joined for the last by Jeff Lynne, Dhani Harrison, and Jim Keltner) at the Concert for George in honor of Petty's friend and former bandmate George Harrison.

2002's The Last DJ included several attacks on the music industry, criticizing it for greed, watering down music, and releasing pop music made by scantily-clad young women and reached number 9 on the U.S. charts. Tom has commented though that he didn't like being called "bitter" by the media and that The Last DJ is full of hope, if you look for it.

In 2005, Petty began hosting his own show "Buried Treasure" on XM Radio, on which he shares selections from his personal record collection.

In February 2006, Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers agreed to be the headline act at the fifth annual Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival. Following that announcement came the itinerary for Tom & the Heartbreakers' "30th Anniversary Tour". Special guests included Stevie Nicks, Pearl Jam, The Allman Brothers, Trey Anastasio, The Derek Trucks Band, and The Black Crowes (who also opened for Petty on their 2005 Summer Tour). Stevie Nicks would join Tom and the Heartbreakers on stage for renditions of "Stop Draggin' My Heart Around" and "Insider," and "I Need to Know" where Nicks took the lead vocal spot. Eddie Vedder of Pearl Jam also joined Tom and the Heartbreakers on stage at some shows where Vedder sang the lead on "The Waiting" (which is available on the Runnin' Down a Dream package: bonus features) and a verse in the concert-closer "American Girl".

In July 2006, Petty released a new solo album titled Highway Companion, which included the hit "Saving Grace". It debuted at number 4 on the Billboard 200, becoming Petty's highest chart position since the introduction of the Nielsen SoundScan system for tracking album sales in 1991. Highway Companion was briefly promoted on the "30th Anniversary Tour" with the Heartbreakers in 2006 with performances of "Saving Grace", "Square One", "Down South," and "Flirting with Time".

In 2006, the American Broadcasting Company hired Petty to do the music for its National Basketball Association playoffs coverage.

During the summer of 2007, Petty reunited with his old bandmates Tom Leadon and Randall Marsh along with Heartbreakers Benmont Tench & Mike Campbell to reform his pre-Heartbreakers band Mudcrutch. The band originally formed in 1967 in Gainesville, Florida before relocating to California where they released one single in 1974 before breaking up. The quintet recorded this self titled new album of fourteen songs that was released on April 29, 2008 (on iTunes, an additional song "Special Place" was available if the album was pre-ordered). The band supported the album with a brief tour of California in the spring of 2008.

In 2007, artists as diverse as Willie Nelson, Lucinda Williams, Norah Jones, Lenny Kravitz and Paul McCartney paid tribute to Fats Domino on the double-CD covers set Goin’ Home: A Tribute to Fats Domino. The album's sales helped buy instruments for students in New Orleans public schools and they contributed to the building of a community center in the city’s Hurricane Katrina-damaged Ninth Ward. Tom and the Heartbreakers’ contributed a critically acclaimed cover of “I'm Walkin'" to the package.[19]

In January 2008, it was announced that the band would be embarking on a North American Tour which was set to start on May 30 following the appearance at Super Bowl XLII.[20] Steve Winwood served as the opening act, who joined Petty and the Heartbreakers on stage at select shows, starting on June 6, 2008 in Philadelphia, PA. Winwood's Spencer Davis Group hit "Gimme Some Loving" was performed and occasionally his Blind Faith hit "Can't Find My Way Home" was performed before it.

On February 3, 2008, Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers performed during the halftime-show of Super Bowl XLII at the University of Phoenix Stadium. During the halftime-show they played "American Girl", "I Won't Back Down", "Free Fallin'", and "Runnin' Down a Dream", in that order. 'I Won't Back Down' was used in the closing credits of the coverage on BBC2.

The Live Anthology is the most-recently announced project of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers.[dated info] Its announcement comes nearly a year after Petty's last record, Extended Play Live, by Mudcrutch.

In November 2009, Petty told Rolling Stone that he is working on a new album with the Heartbreakers, saying "It's blues-based. Some of the tunes are longer, more jam-y kind of music. A couple of tracks really sound like the Allman Brothers — not the songs but the atmosphere of the band." In February 2010, Petty announced a new Heartbreakers Album, Mojo to be released on June 15, 2010.[dated info] This will be followed by a North American Summer Tour beginning on June 1, 2010.[dated info] Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers also appeared as musical guests on the season finale of Saturday Night Live on May 15, 2010.

Petty and his band the Heartbreakers celebrated their 30th anniversary with a tour in 2006, though Petty has occasionally released solo work, such as 2006's Highway Companion,[13] on which he performed most of the backing instrumentation. Members of the Heartbreakers have played on each of his solo albums and the band has always backed him when touring in support of those albums. He has also toured with Mudcrutch in order to promote their debut album.

Petty has been managed by Tony Dimitriades since 1976.[5] On February 3, 2008, Petty and the Heartbreakers performed at the Super Bowl XLII Halftime show.[2


Albums:
With the Heartbreakers
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Petty_ ... 28album%29
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/You%27re_Gonna_Get_It!
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Damn_the_T ... 28album%29
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hard_Promises
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Long_After_Dark
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southern_Accents
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Let_Me_Up_ ... _Enough%29
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Into_the_Great_Wide_Open
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Songs_and_ ... the_One%22
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Echo_%28Tom_Petty_album%29
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Last_DJ
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mojo_%28album%29

Solo
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Full_Moon_Fever
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wildflower ... 4_album%29
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Highway_Companion

Live & Compilation
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Official_Live_%27Leg
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pack_Up_th ... tion:_Live!
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greatest_H ... y_album%29
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Playback_% ... box_set%29
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthology: ... _the_Years
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Live_Anthology
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mojo_Tour_2010

The Video Section:
Some random Petty Videos...









Many artists have been influenced by Tom Petty the list really is endless, here's a few video examples...






Tom Petty had a brief acting career here's a couple clips from that...




Two Full Length Shows...



Other Stuff...



Links:
http://www.tompetty.com/
http://www.youtube.com/user/tompetty
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Petty
http://grooveshark.com/#/artist/Tom+Pet ... eakers/695

Iowan
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Re: Artist of the Week: 7/4/11 - Tom Petty

Post by Iowan »

One of the Top 5 American born songwriters. I feel that his brilliance, influence, and overall importance is underrated.

More than any artist, I've found anectdotaly that everyone likes Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. Everyont. I've never met one person who actually dislikes his music, be they a fan of metal, rap, or Top 40 pop.

Sub
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Re: Artist of the Week: 7/4/11 - Tom Petty

Post by Sub »

Absolutely, it really is nothing short of amazing what Tom Petty has been able to accomplish through out his career. I think he has had a larger impact in music then he gets credit for but for a guy like Tom Petty it probably doesn't bother him too much because he's just so genuinely passionate about what he does.

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Re: Artist of the Week: 7/4/11 - Tom Petty

Post by Clams »

I'm not so sure Petty's underrated. I think he gets his due respect. But I do think he gets overshadowed by contemporaries like Springsteen and Neil Young. Some of my favorite Petty records are Long After Dark, Let Me Up I've Had Enough, Full Moon Fever and Wildflowers. I also like some of his early songs like Listen to Her Heart and Need to Know. Seen him a bunch of times and frankly his arena shows with the Heartbreakers have become rote. They play the same polished set night after night and seem to mail it in. And the shows are expensive. Haven't seen him since 2008 and don't plan on seeing him anytime soon. Had DBT opened for him here in Philly I would've had a tough decision. First time I saw him was at the Spectrum in April 1983 when Long After Dark came out. I was 16 and it was probably one of the first few concerts I ever saw. I want to say Nick Lowe opened, but I'm not sure. THAT was a great show. I also saw him with Dylan in 86 at the Spectrum. Tom was much better than Bob.

PS - Thanks to Sub for getting this thread together on short notice due to a cancellation. 8-)
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Sub
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Re: Artist of the Week: 7/4/11 - Tom Petty

Post by Sub »

Trivia


In 1986 and 1987, Tom and The Heartbreakers toured the world with Bob Dylan. The group served as his back-up band and Tom shared vocals with Dylan on several songs each night. The resulting Live In Australia DVD remains unreleased in the United States (although it was briefly available on VHS).

Although (when not with The Wilburys) Tom usually writes alone, his most frequent collaborator is his good buddy and co-producer, "Heartbreakers" lead guitarist Mike Campbell.

In 1982, Petty and The Heartbreakers recorded Hard Promises, only to discover that his record company planned to use the band's name and reputation to justify increasing the list price for LP's to $9.98. Tom withheld the master tapes and threatened to re-title his record "$8.98" in protest. The company decided not to raise the price. The LP cover shows Tom in a record store - an old store which is perhaps selling cheap, used records.

One of Tom's first guitar teachers was fellow Gainesville resident and fellow Elvis Presley fan, Don Felder - who would later join The Eagles.

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers were awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 7018 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California.

Tom has been married to Dana York since June 3, 2001.

Tom Petty is ranked number 9 on rock.com's top 25 solo rock artists of all time.

"Free Falling" is ranked number 82 on rock.com's top 500 classic rock songs of all time.

Tom Petty guest starred on The Simpsons episode How I Spent My Strummer Vacation.

Tom has made three solo albums. They were Full Moon Fever (1989), Wildflowers (1994) and Highway Companion (2006).

Tom plays 6 and 12 string electric and acoustic guitar, acoustic piano and assorted electric keyboards, bass guitar, harmonica, drums and tambourine.

Tom was hired by ABC to do the music during the NBA Playoffs coverage in 2006.

Tom received a Golden Note Award, for his song writing, from The American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP) in April of 1996.

Tom has had sixteen Grammy Award nominations since the year of 1981. Out of the sixteen nominations he has received three Grammy Awards. One of the Grammy Awards received was in 1989 for Best Rock Performance By A Duo or Group With Vocal for his work he had done with the Traveling Wilburys.
His second and third Grammy Awards were received in 1994 for Best Male Rock Vocal Performance for the song "You Don't Know How It Feels" and Best Engineered Album which was non-classical.

In 1989, Petty released "Full Moon Fever." Though nominally a solo project, other members of the Heartbreakers and well-known musicians participated in the album's production.

Tom had a small part in the film Made in Heaven with Timothy Hutton and Kelly McGillis. Tom played the character Stanky. Timothy Hutton kept calling him "Stinky". Tom corrects him saying "It's Stanky". Also Ric Ocasek of The Cars and Neil Young have cameos. Tom also has a small role in The Postman starring Kevin Costner.

Tom wrote "Free Girl Now" about his second wife, Dana, and her experiences with a man she used to work for.

The first name of Tom's band was the Sundowners, then the name was changed to The Epics, and then Mudcrutch, and finally the band was known as Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers.

In 1961, Tom met Elvis Presley while Elvis was making the movie Follow That Dream in Ocala, Florida. He became an instant Elvis fan.

If you look in the "Playback" booklet, two pages contain pictures of all the singles released since 1993. One of them depicts a "torn" picture of Petty, a guitar case, and the words "Tom Petty: I Won't Back Down" in a sticker similar to the Wilburys' logo.

"Last Night" was the only song on the album Traveling Wilburys: Volume One that Tom Petty was lead vocals for.

Tom was added to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2002 (as a member of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers).

Tom had two daughters, Adria and Anna Kim, with his first wife, Jane Benyo.

Tom is a rock singer/guitarist, recording and performing solo. He is also the leader of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers.

15 of Petty's albums have sold more than a million copies.

Quotes

Tom: I think for it to be unhip to be idealistic is weird, you know? I mean, even all the best rebels to me had some sense of hope in them.

Tom: (on his songs being used in political campaigns) It's very uncomfortable to hear them used when I don't agree with what's being said. But I recognize that those songs have entered into a bigger life, a life all their own. They belong to the audience. How they're used isn't always something I can control.

Tom: It's funny how the music industry is enraged about the Internet and the way things are copied without being paid for. But you know why people steal the music? Because they can't afford the music. I'm not condoning downloading music for free. I don't think that's really fair, but I understand it.

Tom: I remember seeing A Hard Day's Night and thinking, "That's obviously the way to go." You've got farming over here and on this side - The Beatles.

Tom: Young people are very cynical now, you know? Very cynical! They've been taught cynicism, they've been - they've been bred cynicism. So, I think it's important to give them hope and realism in the same package, you know? You can be realistic but there should be - there should be hope in it. Because hope's what we're about. If we don't have hope then we don't go on.

Tom: These people are looking at balance sheets, not music. Most people involved in putting this music on the air or bringing it to us aren't really listening to it.

Tom: I have turned down a lot of money for things that would have made me feel cheesy.

Tom: I never ride in a limousine, you know. I feel gross if I get in a limousine. One good thing about the Sixties was it sort of was the opposite back then. You looked silly trying to appear rich.

Tom: It's very easy to be cynical about the hall of fame. But on the other hand, it's really a beautiful thing for someone like me. I dedicated my entire life to this music.

Tom: You don't hear any more of, "Hey, we did something creative and we turned a profit, how about that?" Everywhere we look, we want to make the most money possible. This is a dangerous, corrupt notion. That's where you see the advent of programming on the radio, and radio research, all these silly things. That has made pop music what it is today. Everything -- morals, truth -- is all going out the window in favor of profit.

Tom: I don't believe in censorship, but I do believe that an artist has to take some moral responsibility for what he or she is putting out there.

Tom (about college): You have four years to be irresponsible here. Relax. Work is for people with jobs. You'll never remember class time, but you'll remember time you wasted hanging out with your friends. So, stay out late. Go out on a Tuesday with your friends when you have a paper due Wednesday. Spend money you don't have. Drink 'til sunrise. The work never ends, but college does.

Tom (accepting the Billboard Century Award ): I'll endeavor to deserve it and may I remind you that this ain't the end. I can still kick some ass. God bless you.

Tom: Nirvana, to me, was the most significant thing since The Beatles.

http://www.tv.com/tom-petty/person/87848/trivia.html

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Re: Artist of the Week: 7/4/11 - Tom Petty

Post by bovine knievel »

Keeping Me Alive is the perfect song to roll-down-the-windows and turn-up-the-tunes, kinda song. It never gets old and always makes me feel good. Tom Petty is summertime music. Thanks for the showcase, Sub.
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Re: Artist of the Week: 7/4/11 - Tom Petty

Post by Kudzu Guillotine »

Iowan wrote:More than any artist, I've found anectdotaly that everyone likes Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. Everyont. I've never met one person who actually dislikes his music, be they a fan of metal, rap, or Top 40 pop.


On several songs, his voice tends to grate on my last nerve but over the years, I've found there's probably more of his songs I like than I dislike. Still, I would barely even consider myself a casual fan. The extent of my Tom Petty collection includes the first Greatest Hit records and will very likely never extend beyond that. On the upside, I do enjoy his Buried Treasure show on XM.

As far as his acting credits there was also his role as Elroy "Lucky" Kleinschmidt on King of the Hill:

Image

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Re: Artist of the Week: 7/4/11 - Tom Petty

Post by Iowan »

Clams wrote:I'm not so sure Petty's underrated. I think he gets his due respect. But I do think he gets overshadowed by contemporaries like Springsteen and Neil Young. Some of my favorite Petty records are Long After Dark, Let Me Up I've Had Enough, Full Moon Fever and Wildflowers. I also like some of his early songs like Listen to Her Heart and Need to Know. Seen him a bunch of times and frankly his arena shows with the Heartbreakers have become rote. They play the same polished set night after night and seem to mail it in. And the shows are expensive. Haven't seen him since 2008 and don't plan on seeing him anytime soon. Had DBT opened for him here in Philly I would've had a tough decision. First time I saw him was at the Spectrum in April 1983 when Long After Dark came out. I was 16 and it was probably one of the first few concerts I ever saw. I want to say Nick Lowe opened, but I'm not sure. THAT was a great show. I also saw him with Dylan in 86 at the Spectrum. Tom was much better than Bob.

PS - Thanks to Sub for getting this thread together on short notice due to a cancellation. 8-)


I've seen them once (when DBT opened for them in Omaha last year) and while I know it was the same set list they had played all tour, they definitely weren't mailing it in that night. Great show. Doubt I would go back right away (due to repetitious set list), but that has more to do with cost.

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Re: Artist of the Week: 7/4/11 - Tom Petty

Post by Sub »

Kudzu Guillotine wrote:As far as his acting credits there was also his role as Elroy "Lucky" Kleinschmidt on King of the Hill:

Image

Lucky is awesome...

Kahn: Why do they call you Lucky?
Lucky: True story: I was at Costco one day and all of a sudden, nature called. Yelled is more like it. So I high-tailed into the John and there's some sensitive guy changing his little boy's diaper on one of them baby ironin' boards, and don't you know, I slipped on pee-pee and broke two vertebrae which had to be fused together. I'm in constant pain, but by God I got me a $53,000 settlement.
Elvin: This son' bitch is never gonna have to work another day in his life.
Lucky: That's why they call me Lucky.
Kahn: That's a great story.

Side note DBT played Tom Petty's Rebels during that same episode of King of the Hill.

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dime in the gutter
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Re: Artist of the Week: 7/4/11 - Tom Petty

Post by dime in the gutter »

always seems to be the coolest dude in the room.

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Re: Artist of the Week: 7/4/11 - Tom Petty

Post by Bill in CT »

I've been a Petty fan since the 80s. Clams, I also saw that Dylan/Petty tour (my show was at MSG) and Petty was also better at my show. That was my first Petty show. My latest one was last July in Cincinnati with DBT opening the show. The full DVD documentary (which runs just under 4 hours) is excellent. One oddity for me is that even though I've only seen Petty five times, he's the only artist I've seen in 4 decades (80s, 90s, 00s, and current decade).
The closer you get to the meaning
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Re: Artist of the Week: 7/4/11 - Tom Petty

Post by Tequila Cowboy »

Tom Petty is one of my favorite artists of all time. He's also easy to take for granted. When I saw him at Bonnaroo 2006 it had been probably 15 years since I'd seen him and while I was glad he was on the bill that year I wasn't all that psyched. Then he took the stage. Hot damn! This man can play two hours of hits and you know what? They don't suck. Unlike a lot of artists whose best songs are deep album tracks, some of Petty's best songs were monster hits. Plus the Heartbreakers are just damned cool. Mike Campbell is one of the greatest guitar players in rock, Benmont Tench is as good a keyboard player as there's ever been, Ron Blair took two decades off, came back and rock as hard as he ever did and Scott Thurston and Steve Ferrone are no slouches themselves. Oh and for twenty years (while Blair was gone) they had the wonderful Howie Epstein who played bass like the demons that chased him and had the sweetest high harmony voice this side of Richard Manuel. He puts out album after album of good music and every so often releases something classic and timeless (Damn The Torpedoes, Southern Accents, Wildflowers and Echo fit this bill for me). I'm never sure where to put ol' Tom in my favorites list, I like Dylan better as a songwriter, the Stones better as a band, Neil Young better as a cool customer and Springsteen in his prime better as a writer of sing along anthems, but somehow he's all of these in one skinny dude package. There's something to be said for just being Tom Petty too you know.
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Re: Artist of the Week: 7/4/11 - Tom Petty

Post by Clams »

Tequila Cowboy wrote: Hot damn! This man can play two hours of hits and you know what? They don't suck. Unlike a lot of artists whose best songs are deep album tracks, some of Petty's best songs were monster hits.


True. A TP show is just one hit after another, all night long. No filler. Just great songs. And you know the words to just about every one of them.
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Re: Artist of the Week: 7/4/11 - Tom Petty

Post by Smitty »

I can't remember a time when Tom Petty's music wasn't a part of my life; I grew up with his greatest hits, and like TC said it's really easy to take him for granted.
My favorite Petty album: Echo






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Re: Artist of the Week: 7/4/11 - Tom Petty

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Re: Artist of the Week: 7/4/11 - Tom Petty

Post by dime in the gutter »

i am very partial to the last dj.

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Re: Artist of the Week: 7/4/11 - Tom Petty

Post by BigTom »

As I am reading this thread "Breakdown" comes on the radio. Perfect timing.
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Re: Artist of the Week: 7/4/11 - Tom Petty

Post by cortez the killer »

I like and appreciate all his early records with The Heartbreakers, but Wildflowers is head and shoulders above everything he has ever recorded in my opinion. I think the last time (and only time) I saw Petty live was in support of that album.
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Re: Artist of the Week: 7/4/11 - Tom Petty

Post by Iowan »

cortez the killer wrote:I like and appreciate all his early records with The Heartbreakers, but Wildflowers is head and shoulders above everything he has ever recorded in my opinion. I think the last time (and only time) I saw Petty live was in support of that album.


Have you spent much time with Highway Companion? It's a tad uneven, but the best songs are top notch and it reminds me of a rougher Wildflowers.

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Re: Artist of the Week: 7/4/11 - Tom Petty

Post by dime in the gutter »



1981

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Re: Artist of the Week: 7/4/11 - Tom Petty

Post by cortez the killer »

Iowan wrote:
cortez the killer wrote:I like and appreciate all his early records with The Heartbreakers, but Wildflowers is head and shoulders above everything he has ever recorded in my opinion. I think the last time (and only time) I saw Petty live was in support of that album.


Have you spent much time with Highway Companion? It's a tad uneven, but the best songs are top notch and it reminds me of a rougher Wildflowers.

I do have it, but I don't remember it sounding anything like Wildflowers. Maybe I'll have to pull it out and listen again. Interestingly enough, as I was eating lunch today @ a pizza joint, "Wildflowers" was played.
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Re: Artist of the Week: 7/4/11 - Tom Petty

Post by brstigerfan »

Definitely one of the greats, and he is under-appreciated for sure. Cortez, you're right; Wildflowers is the best in a great catalog.

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Re: Artist of the Week: 7/4/11 - Tom Petty

Post by dime in the gutter »

petty has had an extremely rare and storied career marked by way many touchstone albums and songs. he has been doing it for 35 plus years. he has always been, and still is, a voice that speaks truth to power w/n the record industry. he is still releasing relevant shit. i prolly listen to his latter career work more than the classic petty era.

not many can claim his longevity and quality of work while still maintaining their soul.....

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Re: Artist of the Week: 7/4/11 - Tom Petty

Post by rlipps »

Petty's one of my top 3 favorite artists of all-time and the Heartbreakers are probably the best sounding band I've ever heard in concert. I reread Conversations With Tom Petty this past week, and I would highly recommend it to any of you that haven't read it yet. It's cool to hear him talk about writing and recording specific songs and then going back and listening to them after hearing what he says about them.

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Re: Artist of the Week: 7/4/11 - Tom Petty

Post by Tequila Cowboy »

cortez the killer wrote:I like and appreciate all his early records with The Heartbreakers, but Wildflowers is head and shoulders above everything he has ever recorded in my opinion. I think the last time (and only time) I saw Petty live was in support of that album.


Wildflowers is a great album, but oddly enough when I reach for Petty I rarely listen to it. Lurleen and I had it on in the car this weekend though and there isn't a bad song on it. As far as "go to" Petty for me it's Damn The Torpedoes or Southern Accents.
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Re: Artist of the Week: 7/4/11 - Tom Petty

Post by Iowan »

cortez the killer wrote:
Iowan wrote:
cortez the killer wrote:I like and appreciate all his early records with The Heartbreakers, but Wildflowers is head and shoulders above everything he has ever recorded in my opinion. I think the last time (and only time) I saw Petty live was in support of that album.


Have you spent much time with Highway Companion? It's a tad uneven, but the best songs are top notch and it reminds me of a rougher Wildflowers.

I do have it, but I don't remember it sounding anything like Wildflowers. Maybe I'll have to pull it out and listen again. Interestingly enough, as I was eating lunch today @ a pizza joint, "Wildflowers" was played.


Maybe I'm off my rocker, but it seemed to have that same mix of vulnerability with some solid rockers mixed in for good measure. Similar production, too. Very "live" sound to it, which I guess is how I view most post-Lynne Petty material. Like all "solo" Petty albums, I don't think it was really was one.

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Re: Artist of the Week: 7/4/11 - Tom Petty

Post by redstains »

i believe rebels is my favorite on the fine print.

it damn near sounds like it could be a dbt song.

it reminded me of just how awesome petty was.

found southern accents at goodwill yesterday and i've been cranking it since. (although it aint nothing to me is a bit dated i must admit.) (but fuck it so am i.)

i love it when a connection is made that brings to light the influences that artists have on each other. i dig tom petty fine, and always have, and when i heard rebels and southern accents a while back i knew they were awesome, powerful, honest words and music. but tom petty fell off my radar for a while. not sure why. glad to have him back on it thanks to the truckers and thanks to you guys i got lots to go on.

i'm feeling i should give wildflowers a full listen soon.

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Re: Artist of the Week: 7/4/11 - Tom Petty

Post by rlipps »

To anyone that hasn't saw the wonderful Petty documentary, Runnin' Down a Dream, Best Buy had it on their website for $4.99 a week or so ago. Not a bad deal at all, it's a 4-disc set which includes the documentary, a full concert and a bonus disc of audio.

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Re: Artist of the Week: 7/4/11 - Tom Petty

Post by Iowan »

rlipps wrote:To anyone that hasn't saw the wonderful Petty documentary, Runnin' Down a Dream, Best Buy had it on their website for $4.99 a week or so ago. Not a bad deal at all, it's a 4-disc set which includes the documentary, a full concert and a bonus disc of audio.


Prior to "The Secret to a Happy Ending" it was my favorite music film. Just a great watch.

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Re: Artist of the Week: 7/4/11 - Tom Petty

Post by Kudzu Guillotine »

I've never seen the Petty documentary but a friend of mine that's a huge fan related the whole "there won't ever be any girls in the Heartbreakers" scene to me in regards to when Stevie Nicks was following Petty around on tour back in the 80s. Sometime in the last couple of weeks, I heard an announcer on XM say that Petty has made her an "unofficial" member of the band.

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