Thomas Earl Petty b October 20 1950.
Well, I watched the Peter Bogdanovich documentary about Tom Petty, and suddenly I found myself wondering why I seemed to have missed him all these years (except for the Traveling Wilburys, you know); and when I was telling Matt he said I was really lucky because now I had all this music to discover. I didn’t tell him I already had 20 albums at that stage. See, when I like someone, I really like them. I’m just sorry I missed this part but hey, there’s always YouTube:
Lots more after the jump!
So there was Tom Petty, growing up in Gainesville, Florida, and he was in several bands (including Mudcrutch, of whom more later) with his mates, and in the fullness of time they all got in a car and went to LA and there TP signed one of those contracts you sign when you’re young and dumb. “I didn’t know what publishing was,” he says in the film. “I thought it was books.” Well, you would, wouldn’t you? So he went to law, and he won, and he wrote a song about it.
And the years went by, and he sold a lot of records; and he had two wives, and he broke his hand:
Doctor: I hear you’re a gee-tar player?
TP: Yep
Doctor: Son, you won’t be playin’ the gee-tar no more
and his house burned down; but what this post is really about is that he doesn’t seem to be suffering (unlike some, and yes, I include certain other people I like in that category) from old-rockstar-syndrome – he can still write good songs. goneforeign has already mentioned the new album with the Heartbreakers, Mojo, which is rather more bluesy than usual and very good with it; and last year TP reformed his old band Mudcrutch and they recorded a new album which is also ace and toured it about a bit. So here’s Shady Grove by Mudcrutch (which is one of the songs I learned at primary school from BBC schools radio) and Good Enough from Mojo for your listening pleasure.
And on one of the concert CDs I have, TP says of songwriting that “it’s kind of like having an orgasm – there’s various ways of getting there.” (This is over some idiot in the audience shouting “Stop doing covers!”) So maybe that’s the secret. RT and Bruce, please note. Happy birthday, Tom, and it’s only a number, you know.
Thanks again to Maki for techy help.
This is a lovely post, tfd!
I never got seriously into Tom Petty, but a couple of years ago I saw a local band (quite young kids) who only play Tom Petty covers and realised how GOOD many of the songs were.
I’m looking forward to listening to this later.
Thank you!
I remember back when I was 12ish (1979ish) ….my brother was trying to get Tom Petty tickets, asking me if I wanted to go….I asked what songs does he sing….ratteling off “American Girl”, “Breakdown” and a couple of others …I said ya, I’ll go since I never went to a concert before.
It turned out that my brother couldn’t get the tickets and 10 years goes by and I get tickets. Best concert ever. Been to about 7 more after that …lost count. Love his music – have all his music – love the band.
Well Mr Petty – Happy damn 60th birthday bud!
I found that documentary very interesting. He’s been at the side of my radar for years and that film showed me a talented, inventive musician of integrity deserving of respect. Sure, there’s a strong ego – and I’m sure many perspectives were more than a little skewed in his favour – but his belief in the band rather than the individual chimed with my view of music. I admit to finding his songs a little too similar to each other to hold my long-term interest, but he isn’t alone on that score. And I’m very glad to learn that pot consumption is still part of his creative process at 60!
Tom’s still a spring chicken, though. Even Bob Weir, the baby of the Grateful Dead, was 63 a few days ago and Phil Lesh is now 70! Both still gigging regularly.
Great post Tfd! I have enjoyed reading it and am looking forward to listening and youtubing the rest.
TFD – Great post. As I said on the RR nobody has to convince me about TP. I’ve seen him 6 or 7 times and they’ve been tight every time. Caught them backing Dylan in the early 80s
and was easily the best I’d seen Dylan play. Great chemistry. This is perfect got 1/2 hr of business to put in the computer , Tom Petty to keep me company & then Giants baseball! Thanks loads.
Ooh, thank you, folks!
Chris, I think if you’re doing that job you need to have a bit of an ego…as for the songs sounding the same, I did think so a bit myself to start with (the early stuff, anyway) but the more you listen, well…But I expect the Dead take up a lot of your time!
Steve and fintan: jealous jealous jealous! I have several recordings from the Dylan tour, fintan, and they sound great. Ah well.
…and I’,m free … freefalling …