Although Tom Petty first made his name at the start of the new wave and punk era, I wouldn’t really call him new wave, and he’s certainly not punk. But he was nevertheless a similar breath of fresh air amid all that classic arena-rock bombast, a return to simpler, more direct music. You could call him a new wave roots rocker, in a way.
In general, there’s nothing challenging in listening to a Tom Petty album, no new musical ground broken—just engaging, hook-filled, classic-sounding rock songs. His music has spent countless hours playing on my radio, especially during my high school classic-rock days.
Here are two playlists of prime Tom Petty (most with his band the Heartbreakers). Enjoy!
Playlist 1
The first playlist covers the early years of Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers. The consensus classic from this time period is his third album, Damn the Torpedoes (1979), but his eponymous debut is also solid, as is Hard Promises.
Playlist 2
The second playlist covers a period of rebirth for Petty. After touring with Bob Dylan, Petty began working with Jeff Lynne (of E.L.O. fame) as producer and co-writer; Lynne’s production gave Petty’s sound a more pop-friendly feel. His solo album Full Moon Fever is probably the best of his career; Into the Great Wide Open and the underappreciated Let Me Up (I’ve Had Enough) are other solid listens. Petty also collaborated with both Dylan and Lynne—along with George Harrison and Roy Orbison—in the Travelling Wilburys.
Cover Art:
- Damn the Torpedoes: Source, Discogs.com, Fair use.
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