The Tom Petty Project

"It’s brilliant in that it’s a character song, but the character isn’t Spike. We never learn whether Spike is a good guy or a bad guy. We don’t know his age, any of his characteristics, where he’s from, or what he’s doing there. He just doesn’t belong he’s just there for caricature of unwelcoming yokels to contrast with. It’s a very clever way to write a lyric." Check out the song here: https://yo...

"What song would you perform on stage with the Heartbreakers"? Katie told me she's sing The Waiting and went on to deliver this incredible, succinct reason why. "It's so good. It's got this aphoristic chorus that is towing that wonderful Petty line; not joyful, not sorrowful, but that sort of tense, bright line that is the rest and most of our human experience." This is the second in my "10 Questi...

In this episode, I share the fantastic conversation that I had with writer, editor, music critic, and Tom Petty fan, Katie Moulton. In June of 2022, Katie released her memoir "Dead Dad Club: On Grief and Tom Petty" on Audible and forever changed the way most of us (or me at the very least) are going to want to listen to this type of story. Katie was incredibly easy to talk to and we quickly droppe...

Welcome to the first "Non Petty" bonus episode folks. I think these episodes might focus on slightly-less or smaller artists who either I listen to and other people may not or are close to me in one way or another. The timing of Jake's first full studio-released single was perfect as I was thinking about doing this for the past few weeks. With Tom’s music, I have an invaluable resource in Paul Zol...

"It has lots of elements that I like but it definitely does feel a little cobbled together at times. The minor key changes and the sometimes awkward chord progression just feels very slightly off. And where Don’t Come Around Here No More and You’re Gonna Get It took the Heartbreakers into new territory in which they planted their flagged and owned the space, I just never feel like their living in...

This episode is dedicated to Gwen and to her family, especially her daughter Patricia and her Granddaughter Leila, who she spoke of so fondly and with so much love and pride. It’s also dedicated to the community of decency and love that she built and that will go on in her memory as long as we stand by Gwen’s principles. My favourite author, Sir Terry Pratchett once wrote the following lines: “No...

"There’s so little instrumentation to dig into that I was initially thinking that it would be a fairly short episode. But I’ve ended up realizing that the power of this song is in how you connect with it. Yes it’s brilliant in its arrangement and beautifully played, but the emotion of the song is what carries it, along with one of the most perfect vocal performances Tom ever put onto vinyl." Check...

"Who would ever have thought that Dave Stewart’s underwear would be responsible for one of the highlights of one of the most iconic songs of the 80s? ... Yes it doesn’t really “fit” Southern Accents in the original concept that Tom had, but it soars as a piece of music, is elevated in video form, and perfected in one of the most brilliant live arrangements of all time." Check out the song here: ht...

"It’s another radical left turn for the band sonically and obviously is the first Heartbreakers song to be co-written with someone other than Mike Campbell. The introduction of Dave Stewart into the Heartbreakers tight little circle definitely rocked the boat and was a precursor to the restlessness that culminated in Tom working with Jeff Lynne, thereby capping the first phase of the Tom’s career"...

"I suspect that it’s the last verse that is appropriated by Confederate sympathizers and used out of context of the rest of the song. The last three lines of this verse though are sheer poetry of the very highest calibre. “I can still feel the eyes of those blue-bellied devil. Yeah when I’m walking ‘round at night through the concrete and metal” And all over the world, there are parochial attitude...

In this special episode, Kevin is joined, once again, by co-host John Paulsen. Today's album wrap up episode covers the fifth studio album, Long After Dark. Lots to talk about on this album and a song that both guys picked out as a favourite, with some interesting differences in their alternate track listings. The EPs will be posted this week (Kev is sick and hasn't had a chance to finish all the...

This bonus episode is my first "Ten Questions With" feature. I ask my guests ten questions ranging from who their favourite Heartbreaker is other than Tom, to which song would they love to perform onstage with the band. It's always surprising and Corey was fantastic with his answers! Look out for more bonus episodes featuring past guests trickling out over the next few weeks. Go find Corey on Twit...

Today's episode is a fan chat I had with one of the best indie podcasters, and all round genuinely nice fella, Corey Morrissette. Yes, that's spelled correctly, Alanis doesn't spell her name properly! Corey is the host of the superb podcasts And The Podcast Will Rock (dedicated to breaking down the catalogue of Van Halen with his brilliant co-host Mark Camire), Back Tracks: Aerosmith Revisited (wi...

"Completing the -Iovine Trilogy-, Long After Dark closes in a similar way to Hard Promises before it and Damn The Torpedoes before that. All three songs drop the tempo on each successive album but all three are more “mood”-oriented rather than really hanging on any of the band member’s virtuosity. I actually think this one might be the pick of the three closers. I would say that Louisiana Rain is...

"I’ve made no bones about the fact that I think Long After Dark is a better album than it often gets credit for and I think this is a deep cut that can have a tendency to be overlooked. Just a good groove, a great riff and given it was basically recorded live, a shining example of why this group of musicians formed such a brilliant band that was so much more than the sum of its already impressive...

"The song opens with Mike’s crunchy blues riff and some percussion in the background, most likely a woodblock. One thing that’s slightly surprising is that it’s in C. Most blues riffs are in G or E as they’re way easier to play on guitar, but hey, this is Mike Campbell!" Today's episode is dedicated to the greasy, the sleazy, the Stonesy track from side two of Long After Dark; The Same Old You. Yo...

"Tom tells Paul Zollo that “Sometimes it takes a lot of work. Sometimes the songs won’t reveal themselves to you until you find the right sound and the right recording of it. And this one was like that. You couldn’t really get everybody grooving the same way until we went over to the piano, and then everybody instinctually found what to play. But that’s part of working with a group.” Today's episo...

"We Stand a Chance is a fantastic way to open the second side of an album. Tom and the boys had a knack for starting side two strong. I Need to Know, Don’t Do Me Like That were side two openers and hey, those are pretty great songs! There’s more than enough going on here to make me really curious why this was never dusted off for a few outings on tour". Today, we’re talking about the first track o...

This week's episode is my wonderful conversation with Dan Spiess. Dan is the Producer the Tom Petty Weekend, which has run in 2018, 2019, and again this year (and has its origins in an impromptue tribute show in 2017). Dan was very kind to spend a couple of hours online with me and share his experience of Gainesville and most importantly, the details of how this year's festival came together and w...

There’s also another one of Tom’s clever lyrical twists in this one, in that first verse, when he sings “I must be looking over something” rather than “overlooking something”. A simple little bit of wordplay that subtly changes the impact of the line and changes the cadence of how it bounces along. Overall though, it’s definitely a hopeful, positive song and resolves in the bridge with the line “Y...

Tom tells Paul Zollo that it’s “Not one of my great songs. But it’s a good rock song.” I think that simple doesn’t necessarily mean "not great". The beauty of this song is at least partially down to the economy of it: Let the riff drive the melody. Let the rhythm section keep the tempo high and danceable, and let the lyrics tell a story of disenfranchisement and loneliness. Today’s episode looks a...

"It’s one of those sneaky Tom Petty tracks that really burrows its way into your brain and sits there playing itself in the back of your mind. It definitely follows a trusted template and because of that I think it might be slightly overlooked in the catalog." Today’s episode looks at the third track from Long After Dark; Deliver Me. If you want to listen to the track before we dig in, check out t...

Hello you lot! I mentioned on social media that this episode would be slightly delayed and that turns out to be correct, but thankfully I’m still getting it posted up on a Wednesday for you! I switched gears a little and decided to publish a conversation I had last week with Megan Volpert, whose new book, Straight Into Darkness, Tom Petty as Rock Mystic is available right now at fine retailers eve...

When I think about the arrangement of this song, with the synths leading, Mike filling in those gaps with artfully placed licks, and Tom soulfully ripping his heart out for the audience, I think he’s dead on with that assessment. Today’s episode looks at the second track from Long After Dark, You Got Lucky. If you want to listen to the track before we dig in, check out the official video: https://...

Good morning, good afternoon, or good evening, my fine friends. Welcome to the first episode of the fifth season of the Tom Petty Project Podcast! I am your host, Kevin Brown. This is the podcast that digs into the entire Tom Petty catalog song by song, album by album and includes conversations with musicians, fans, and people connected with Tom along the way. The first song we’re digging into is...