Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers

Runnin’ Down a Dream

I caught this 4 hour documentary on Sundance channel which traces Petty from his tough childhood through modern day. Many famous people, including band members, Johnny Depp, record producers, and Eddie Vedder talk about Petty’s albums, his influence, and his longevity – and at 4 hours, much, much more is discussed. Below are some brief thought, recollections, and favorite moments . . .

1. Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers were initially ignored in the U.S. but popular in the UK. Strange since the group hails from the South (Gainesville, FL) and epitomized the American rock sound from the late 70s to the mid 90s.

2. Petty took on his record company in court after his first 2 albums since he didn’t feel the contract he signed was fair. He is convincing when he admits he had no idea about the specifics of the music business.

3. Tom Petty hired Jimmy Iovine to produce their 3rd record (Damn the Torpedoes), who said that after hearing “Refugee” and “Here Comes My Girl”, no more songs were needed (to make a great album). “Even the Losers” and “Don’t Do Me Like That” are included on the album.

4. 14 year old Eddie Vedder bought Petty’s 4th album Hard Promises the day it was released at lunch, memorized the song “The Waiting” during the afternoon at school and was able to play it that night. Petty’s songwriting style is interesting and well-depicted. When writing “The Waiting”, Petty indeed patiently waited for the song to come to him (almost like it’s provided by the Almighty – he admits he doesn’t try to understand where the songs come from – for fear of losing the ability to create them). Vedder is seen singing “The Waiting” with Petty, clearly a childhood dream come true.

5. Stevie Nicks wanted to quit Fleetwood Mac and join the Heartbreakers. Petty and Nicks collaborated on “Stop Dragging My Heart Around”.

6. “Keepin’ Me Alive” is a fantastic song that Iovine left off the album Long After Dark.

7. “Don’t Come Around Here No More” was written by the other Eurythmic – David A. Stewart.

8. Bob Dylan wanted to have a “cool” group back him up at a Farm Aid in 1986 and a producer recommended the Heartbreakers. Dylan liked them so much, they toured the world together for the next 2 years. The Heartbreakers credit Dylan for showing them how be a great live band – prepared but extemporaneous at the same time, willing to go to places that are uncomfortable and often result in serendipitous events.

9. The producing styles of (Trveling Wilburys member and producer) Jeff Lynne and Jimmy Iovine are well-contrasted. Lynne building the song in layers and Iovine recording every part simultaneously. ("Refugee" is said to have around 150 takes).

10. The Traveling Wilburys (Petty, Dylan, Lynne, Roy Orbison, and George Harrison) were formed by one strange coincidence after another. Many of the Heartbreakers members credit their tour with Dylan and Petty’s encounters with the Wilbury clan for their longevity and mid-career creative spark.

I’ll return with hopefully 10 more ideas about this long but consistently fascinating documentary by director Peter Bogdanovich. If you like Petty’s music, you’ll find it interesting, not only as a history of the band, but of America itself from the 50s through the current era.