Excited to see Tom Petty

I’ve been a little overexcited lately.  One of my favourite artists has announced he will be playing a solo gig in the UK after nearly 20 years.  Tom Petty is at the top of a very short list of bands I want to see live, the others are Marc Cohn, Jill Scott and Mumford and Sons and the thought of getting tickets to see him live has left me as giddy as a school kid on their first date.

As a result I have spent the past week listening to every album in his back catalogue.  His music is pretty varied and the standard is remarkably high for someone who has been on the scene so long and who has released so many albums.  Of course there are some albums that move me more than others and I’m glad to say that one of my favourite albums is one that Tom himself rates as one of his best, ‘Wildflowers’.

But one of my other favourite albums is one that critics were pretty harsh to and which seems to slip under most fans radar.  ‘Echo’ was written at a time when Tom was going through a divorce and when his bass player, Howie Epstien, was ill with various drug related illnesses.  Yet the songs on the album have a particular feel that seems to connect with me.  It isn’t an accessible album and you certainly need to give it a few listens, but it is well worth the effort.  I love the backing harmonies on ‘Swingin’ and the groove on ‘One more day, one more night’ never fails to get me swaying along and it ends the album perfectly.

Tom’s early work is also great and songs like ‘American Girl’, ‘Refugee’ and ‘Breakdown’ never fail to plaster a goofy grin on my face as I sing along.  I especially love the version of ‘Breakdown’ on the live album ‘Pack up the Plantation’ where the audience sing along perfectly.



I grew up on Tom’s music and I guess whenever I hear him I feel comfortable and nostalgic for my childhood.  The fact that he is an extraordinary songwriter and his lyrics are outstanding only helps keep my interest as an adult.

I watched some live DVD’s this week as well and got myself all stirred up ready for the gigs he will play in June.  He really seems to connect with his audiences and I can’t wait to feel that same connection and sing along and whoop and shout my approval with the rest of them.

If you have yet to try Tom Petty then I recommend him VERY highly indeed.  Give the Greatest Hits album a try, but be aware his later albums aren’t represented as he changed record company.  I love ‘Wildflowers’, ‘Echo’, ‘Damn the Torpedoes’, ‘She’s the One’, ‘Full Moon Fever’, ‘Into the Great Wide Open’…..hell it would be easier to just say I love them all in their own way.

I’ll report back later in the year and let you know how I get on at the gigs.  I anticipate I may embarrass myself with my over exuberant antics and get some strange looks, but it’ll be worth it.