such a great writer, it was good to see him getting props in his later years. he was always a rocker and acknowledged as such but he deserved much praise for his writing. so many great songs.
Agree with you about Damn the Torpedoes and "Century City." For me that's a desert island album, and I've always respected and appreciated what Petty brought to the musical landscape. He became popular when I was a teenager, so I have all the (good/bad) associations with his music that was all over the radio at the time. The expanded Wildflowers is a fascinating dive into him as a later artist; if I had to choose, that's his masterpiece.
Highly recommend the Wildflowers doc they released on YouTube last year if you haven’t seen it. Great studio footage and an interview with Rick Rubin laying in the back of a convertible that makes me chuckle.
Back in my LA days, I had a buildout for an ambulance chasing law firm on the Fox lot in Century City that wanted a million dollar renovation on a few pennies budget. Used to think of this song while looking out at the gorgeous hills while their psychopath CEO was ripping me a new one on the 14th floor. Btw, Petty wasn’t done fighting MCA as the release of Hard Promises saw him forcing their hand at keeping record prices down. I miss him every day.
Good call, Kiley! I was working at Music Plus/Glendale at the time (5/5/81) "Hard Promises" was released. Needless to say, apart from reading about the MCA kerfuffle in real time (and in Billboard!), we ended up getting our product at the finalized $8.98 list price!
But, I remember it clearly, just like I remember receiving Tom's debut album (11/9/76) while at the U of Houston radio station, KUHF, where I was not only Music Director, but enjoyed a 3-hour daily afternoon shift! Sadly, his stuff didn't quite fit into our softer rock format. Quick, ask me if I accrued any class credits in the year I was there!
But, when I ascended to the CBS-owned "progressive" rock station, KLOL-FM, several weeks later, Tom was certainly on heavy rotation! Ah, memories!
Same here! I was already thinking about writing this up when a friend reposted a clip of herself at one of his last shows. Seemed like just the nudge I needed.
My high school friend/ride to and from school was a huge Tom Petty fan, so we listened to pretty much nothing but Tom during our years of carpool. I've been a fan ever since, but have never sat down and listened to an album front to back. Excited to listen to Damn the Torpedoes in full- some of my favorite songs are on here!
Tom Petty is a hero of mine. I loved just about everything he did and I followed him for nearly all of his 40+ year career. The Southern Accents Tour was my first concert (I wrote about it here if you're interested: https://goodmenproject.com/arts/shes-woman-love-not-cmtt/) and I probably saw him another dozen times since then. You always associate his voice and tone with Roger McGuinn, but on "Century City" I really feel like he's channeling Dylan. So great that they got to work together in the Wilburys. Great pick today. But, then again, any Tom Petty song would be a great pick.
CJ...you might enjoy hearing that I hosted the prez of Tom's fan club somewhere around 1978 or so. She (outgoing red-haired gal...can't remember her name) contacted me (I was in Tom's fan club at the time....but, whose fan club DIDN'T I join?!?) during his tour at the time, and wanted a place to stay as she was traveling with the band from town to town.
Gentleman that I am (or, WAS, anyway!), I let her sleep on the couch, and while friends of mine at the time were wailing, "That's ALL?", I can only recall brief small talk about Tom, the tour, etc. Hadn't thought of that in years!
That's a great story! After all this time, I would've embellished it to include some kind of racy anecdote (e.g. we ran naked through the wood, we knocked over a liquor store--something like that). The kind of story that ends "I wonder where she is now..."
I love it! We'll keep it, and add it to the movie adaptation! I do wish I could remember her name, though. I had at least one letter from her...her original way of contacting me about staying, but all my 2,000 albums, hundreds of singles, and memorabilia are all long gone! Nothing's left but the mammaries....the fond, warm mammaries!😱
That was a great read! No spoilers, but I was often the youngest one in the car going to shows, and the ticket incident you mention is utterly relatable.
It's on the expanded edition of Damn the Torpedoes but I love his version of Phil Seymour's "Surrender." Also Tom's playing guitar on Dwight Twilley Band's "Looking for the Magic." Such a fascinating career.
I think the Shelter-mates met sometime in '76, with Phil Seymour singing background vocals on "Breakdown" and "American Girl." I guess they all did some titting for tatting! Just subscribed, Thomas....we may have a lot in common: I, too, was in radio, and now live in Austin....and, write about music!
Loved their debut album so much; 'American Girl' obviously, but so many other great tracks (think 'Wild One, Forever' is my fave), but was then so disappointed by the follow-up that I simply blocked out/boycotted anything they did thereafter, on the assumption it would again pale against the first.
No matter how often since people have told me DtT is their classic album I've stubbornly stuck to this line ...
... until now, given the strength of recommendation here I'll have to give it a try, it's only taken me 43 years!
PS I've got a steadily growing number of 'Substack community' subscribers for my music themed novel https://challenge69.substack.com Why not join them (it's free!)
such a great writer, it was good to see him getting props in his later years. he was always a rocker and acknowledged as such but he deserved much praise for his writing. so many great songs.
OH! also: he was on John Prine's "Picture Show", a truly great song.
Agree with you about Damn the Torpedoes and "Century City." For me that's a desert island album, and I've always respected and appreciated what Petty brought to the musical landscape. He became popular when I was a teenager, so I have all the (good/bad) associations with his music that was all over the radio at the time. The expanded Wildflowers is a fascinating dive into him as a later artist; if I had to choose, that's his masterpiece.
Highly recommend the Wildflowers doc they released on YouTube last year if you haven’t seen it. Great studio footage and an interview with Rick Rubin laying in the back of a convertible that makes me chuckle.
Thanks for this! Adding to my list to check out this week.
I had forgotten how solid of record it was. It's definitely a Desert Island Disc for me too!
I can't believe I am not familiar with Century City - it will be explored for possible use on a future playlist
thanks as always
I don't know if your travels take you through Century City often, but if they do, I hope you get a chance to take one of your pics while there!
Back in my LA days, I had a buildout for an ambulance chasing law firm on the Fox lot in Century City that wanted a million dollar renovation on a few pennies budget. Used to think of this song while looking out at the gorgeous hills while their psychopath CEO was ripping me a new one on the 14th floor. Btw, Petty wasn’t done fighting MCA as the release of Hard Promises saw him forcing their hand at keeping record prices down. I miss him every day.
Good call, Kiley! I was working at Music Plus/Glendale at the time (5/5/81) "Hard Promises" was released. Needless to say, apart from reading about the MCA kerfuffle in real time (and in Billboard!), we ended up getting our product at the finalized $8.98 list price!
But, I remember it clearly, just like I remember receiving Tom's debut album (11/9/76) while at the U of Houston radio station, KUHF, where I was not only Music Director, but enjoyed a 3-hour daily afternoon shift! Sadly, his stuff didn't quite fit into our softer rock format. Quick, ask me if I accrued any class credits in the year I was there!
But, when I ascended to the CBS-owned "progressive" rock station, KLOL-FM, several weeks later, Tom was certainly on heavy rotation! Ah, memories!
Same here! I was already thinking about writing this up when a friend reposted a clip of herself at one of his last shows. Seemed like just the nudge I needed.
My high school friend/ride to and from school was a huge Tom Petty fan, so we listened to pretty much nothing but Tom during our years of carpool. I've been a fan ever since, but have never sat down and listened to an album front to back. Excited to listen to Damn the Torpedoes in full- some of my favorite songs are on here!
Would love to hear your thoughts once you've given it a spin!
Tom Petty is a hero of mine. I loved just about everything he did and I followed him for nearly all of his 40+ year career. The Southern Accents Tour was my first concert (I wrote about it here if you're interested: https://goodmenproject.com/arts/shes-woman-love-not-cmtt/) and I probably saw him another dozen times since then. You always associate his voice and tone with Roger McGuinn, but on "Century City" I really feel like he's channeling Dylan. So great that they got to work together in the Wilburys. Great pick today. But, then again, any Tom Petty song would be a great pick.
CJ...you might enjoy hearing that I hosted the prez of Tom's fan club somewhere around 1978 or so. She (outgoing red-haired gal...can't remember her name) contacted me (I was in Tom's fan club at the time....but, whose fan club DIDN'T I join?!?) during his tour at the time, and wanted a place to stay as she was traveling with the band from town to town.
Gentleman that I am (or, WAS, anyway!), I let her sleep on the couch, and while friends of mine at the time were wailing, "That's ALL?", I can only recall brief small talk about Tom, the tour, etc. Hadn't thought of that in years!
That's a great story! After all this time, I would've embellished it to include some kind of racy anecdote (e.g. we ran naked through the wood, we knocked over a liquor store--something like that). The kind of story that ends "I wonder where she is now..."
I love it! We'll keep it, and add it to the movie adaptation! I do wish I could remember her name, though. I had at least one letter from her...her original way of contacting me about staying, but all my 2,000 albums, hundreds of singles, and memorabilia are all long gone! Nothing's left but the mammaries....the fond, warm mammaries!😱
We can give her a name based on the story. Something like Trixie or Lola. Oooh, how about Wynona?
That was a great read! No spoilers, but I was often the youngest one in the car going to shows, and the ticket incident you mention is utterly relatable.
Oh, it was tragic! I had such a crush on that girl and I was trying so hard to be cool. Just a perfect storm of teenage awkwardness.
It's on the expanded edition of Damn the Torpedoes but I love his version of Phil Seymour's "Surrender." Also Tom's playing guitar on Dwight Twilley Band's "Looking for the Magic." Such a fascinating career.
I think the Shelter-mates met sometime in '76, with Phil Seymour singing background vocals on "Breakdown" and "American Girl." I guess they all did some titting for tatting! Just subscribed, Thomas....we may have a lot in common: I, too, was in radio, and now live in Austin....and, write about music!
It really was, wasn't it? I'm not sure I've heard either of the tracks you've mentioned, so I'll need to get on that asap!
Finally getting to listen today. I have a feeling there’s gonna be some heavy Tom rotation over the weekend!
YES!
I have a strange relationship with TP&Hs.
Loved their debut album so much; 'American Girl' obviously, but so many other great tracks (think 'Wild One, Forever' is my fave), but was then so disappointed by the follow-up that I simply blocked out/boycotted anything they did thereafter, on the assumption it would again pale against the first.
No matter how often since people have told me DtT is their classic album I've stubbornly stuck to this line ...
... until now, given the strength of recommendation here I'll have to give it a try, it's only taken me 43 years!
PS I've got a steadily growing number of 'Substack community' subscribers for my music themed novel https://challenge69.substack.com Why not join them (it's free!)
Nice
You know I'm a deeper cuts kind of gal, but this track was not taking a spot on my liked list. That has been rectified. Keep up the great work, Kevin.
Will do & Thank you, Mallie!