Tom Petty would have been 75 tomorrow and I’m celebrating / remembering his greatness this whole weekend by posting some of my favorite songs. I’ve always really appreciated Tom Petty’s music. It’s always connected to me. Deeply. Profoundly. I’ve always loved it. But it’s not easy articulating how. Or why.

There’s a lot there.

It’s Tom’s unique and nasally voice, his slow southern accent, and his wry and dry sense of humor. It’s his laid-back style, his incredible versatility, and the way he made all of it look so easy, like he wasn’t even really trying. Part of it is the way Tom says “down” and “town.” I love that.

Mostly, though, it’s the lyrics. Tom’s not just a rock and roll legend, he is one of this country’s greatest ever songwriters. No one can paint a more vivid portrait or tell a more captivating story in just a three-minute song like Tom Petty–like he puts YOU in his song.

Take the opening lines of “The Wild One, Forever,” off Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers’ 1976 debut: “The moon sank and the wind blew and the streetlights slowly died.”

Man, you can SEE that. You know exactly what that street looks like, you can see the sky, what color it is, you can feel the wind. You can FEEL the whole scene.

You’re in it. You’re hooked. And you want to know what’s going to happen.

This is a deep cut. An unappreciated gem from their first album. I hope you enjoy it.

Peace,
Allan