Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers’ Hit List
Tom Petty once said of “Refugee,” “If I’d known it was going to be such a big hit I think I would have spent a lot more time working on it.” The quote reveals a casual, self-depreciating nature. Of course, recoding that song wasn’t that easy. Read on…
#10. Here Comes My Girl
“(The song) was interesting because we had the chorus and Tom wasn’t sure how to do the verse, he kept trying to sing it different ways and he finally came across sort of half-talking it, and that’s when the song seemed to come to life,” noted Heartbreaker guitarist Mike Campbell.
#9. Free Falling
From Petty’s debut solo album, “Full Moon Fever” (1989) was written by Petty and his writing partner for the album, Jeff Lynne (Electric Light Orchestra), and featured Lynne on backing vocals and bass guitar.
#8. Mary Jane’s Last Dance
It was recorded while Petty was recording his “Wildflowers” album and was produced by Rick Rubin, Campbell, and Petty. The sessions were the last to include drummer Stan Lynch before his eventual departure in 1994.
#7. Into The Great Wide Open
Petty took the line “a rebel without a clue” from Jim Steinman who wrote “Rebel Without A Clue” for Bonnie Tyler.
#6. American Girl
Despite limited chart success, “American Girl” became one of Petty’s most popular songs and a Classic Rock staple.
#5. You Got Lucky
“The guitar solo was Tom’s idea,” offered Campbell. “He suggested we do an Ennio Morricone guitar sound, kind of a vibrato. Sort of a surf guitar with a tremolo arm.”
#4. I Won’t Back Down
The song was co-written by Petty and Jeff Lynee, his writing partner for the album. It reached #12 on the Billboard Hot 100 and topped the Album Rock Tracks chart for five weeks.
#3. Learning To Fly
It became Petty’s most successful single on the Billboard Album Rock Tracks chart, reaching the top and staying for six-weeks.
#2. Don’t Do Me Like That
Petty wrote the song and recorded a demo version with his previous band Mudcrutch in 1974. At one time he considered giving the song to the J. Geils Band because he thought it had their sound. During the “Damn The Torpedoes” sessions producer Jimmy Iovine convinced Petty to include it on the album because he sensed it would be a hit.
#1. Refugee
That was a hard record to make,” explained Campbell. “We must have recorded that 100 times. I remember being so frustrated with it one day that – I think this is the only time I ever did this – I just left the studio and went out of town for two days. I just couldn’t take the pressure anymore, but then I came back and when we regrouped we were actually able to get it down on tape.”
Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers (Key Members)
Tom Petty – lead vocals, rhythm and lead guitar (1976–2017)
Mike Campbell – lead and rhythm guitar (1976–2017)
Benmont Tench– piano, organ, keyboards, backing vocals (1976–2017)
Ron Blair– bass guitar, backing vocals (1976–1982, 2002–2017)
Stan Lynch – drums, percussion, backing vocals (1976–1994)
Howie Epstein – bass guitar, rhythm guitar, backing vocals (1982–2002; died 2003)
Scott Thurston – rhythm and lead guitar, keyboards, harmonica, backing vocals (1999–2017) t
Steve Ferrone – drums (1999–2017)
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