The Tom Petty Project

Latest Episodes:

Straight Into Darkness Oct 19, 2022

Show notes

"Tom tells Paul Zollo that “Sometimes it takes a lot of work. Sometimes the songs won’t reveal themselves to you until you find the right sound and the right recording of it. And this one was like that. You couldn’t really get everybody grooving the same way until we went over to the piano, and then everybody instinctually found what to play. But that’s part of working with a group.”

Today's episode is dedicated to the sublimely brilliant Straight Into Darkness; track two from side two of Long After Dark.

You can listen to the song here: https://youtu.be/RyPeUV9-po8

Check out the Live Anthology version here: https://youtu.be/GDzgR8q7yoc

I mentioned a distinct similarity to King of Pain by The Police, which you can listen to here: https://youtu.be/tFN5DveQH0o

Do follow Megan on social media and go check out her website: http://www.meganvolpert.com and you can find her book for sale here: https://bit.ly/3BgUUav (OFFER CODE 08STRAIGHT) or here: https://amzn.to/3L227Q8

Don't forget to follow me on social media, like, subscribe, and please, leave a rating if you like the show.

Follow: https://linktr.ee/tompettyproject

Listen: https://pod.link/1580769475

All music, including the theme song, provided by my very best friend Randy Woods. Check him out at https://www.randywoodsband.com

A special thanks to Paul Zollo. Without his book, "Conversations with Tom Petty", this podcast wouldn't be nearly as much fun to research.

The Tom Petty Project is not affiliated with the Tom Petty estate in any way.

Producer: Kevin Brown

Executive Producers: Paul Roberts, Steve Ursell

Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/the-tom-petty-project.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We Stand a Chance Oct 12, 2022

Show notes

"We Stand a Chance is a fantastic way to open the second side of an album. Tom and the boys had a knack for starting side two strong. I Need to Know, Don’t Do Me Like That were side two openers and hey, those are pretty great songs! There’s more than enough going on here to make me really curious why this was never dusted off for a few outings on tour".

Today, we’re talking about the first track on side two of the Heartbreakers fifth studio release; We Stand a Chance

You can listen to the song here: https://youtu.be/6sMoU5esYcc

And here's the cover version by Darlene Love: https://youtu.be/EL-up2wPnjk

If you want to listen to the songs John played on his Last DJ spot, but don't have SiriusXM, I've created a playlist for you. You can find that here: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL9JRklgBG7NwUJ4wM5_Zbv3cZYSUqDW07

Don't forget to follow me on social media, like, subscribe, and please, leave a rating if you like the show.

Follow: https://linktr.ee/tompettyproject

Listen: https://pod.link/1580769475

All music, including the theme song, provided by my very best friend Randy Woods. Check him out at https://www.randywoodsband.com

A special thanks to Paul Zollo. Without his book, "Conversations with Tom Petty", this podcast wouldn't be nearly as much fun to research.

The Tom Petty Project is not affiliated with the Tom Petty estate in any way.

Producer: Kevin Brown

Executive Producers: Paul Roberts, Steve Ursell

Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/the-tom-petty-project.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dan Spiess Oct 05, 2022

Show notes

This week's episode is my wonderful conversation with Dan Spiess. Dan is the Producer the Tom Petty Weekend, which has run in 2018, 2019, and again this year (and has its origins in an impromptue tribute show in 2017). Dan was very kind to spend a couple of hours online with me and share his experience of Gainesville and most importantly, the details of how this year's festival came together and what Tom Petty fans can expect.

Dan also gave me an overview of his long term goal of creating a truly authentic Tom Petty experience in Gainesville in the same way that the city of Liverpool have honoured their favourite sons by building tourism around the landmarks and events that defined the Fab Four's career. It's an ambitious plan, but it will be fantastic if he pulls it off. With Dan's dedication and energy, I wouldn't rule that out!!!!!

If you're attending this year's event and see Dan around, go shake his hand and thank him for giving so much of his time to make sure this event is the colossal success it is sure to be.

If you're still looking for tickets or information about the event, please visit the Tom Petty Weekend website here: http://www.tompettyweekend.com

Don't forget to follow me on social media, like, subscribe, and please, leave a rating if you like the show.

Follow: https://linktr.ee/tompettyproject

Listen: https://pod.link/1580769475

All music, including the theme song, provided by my very best friend Randy Woods. Check him out at https://www.randywoodsband.com

A special thanks to Paul Zollo. Without his book, "Conversations with Tom Petty", this podcast wouldn't be nearly as much fun to research.

The Tom Petty Project is not affiliated with the Tom Petty estate in any way.

Producer: Kevin Brown

Executive Producers: Paul Roberts, Steve Ursell

Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/the-tom-petty-project.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Finding Out Sep 28, 2022

Show notes

There’s also another one of Tom’s clever lyrical twists in this one, in that first verse, when he sings “I must be looking over something” rather than “overlooking something”. A simple little bit of wordplay that subtly changes the impact of the line and changes the cadence of how it bounces along. Overall though, it’s definitely a hopeful, positive song and resolves in the bridge with the line “You have pulled me from this river of loneliness”

If you want to listen to the track before we dig in, check out the official video: https://youtu.be/IljIy5lP0R4

You can check out the live performance on the French show Houba Houba here: https://youtu.be/_cwgzXXwTyo

And finally, I found an immaculate lockdown cover by The Refugees, a Tom Petty tribute from the Bay Area. Give it a listen: https://youtu.be/lqGH6oOLLfg

Don't forget to follow me on social media, like, subscribe, and please, leave a rating if you like the show.

Follow: https://linktr.ee/tompettyproject

Listen: https://pod.link/1580769475

All music, including the theme song, provided by my very best friend Randy Woods. Check him out at https://www.randywoodsband.com

A special thanks to Paul Zollo. Without his book, "Conversations with Tom Petty", this podcast wouldn't be nearly as much fun to research.

The Tom Petty Project is not affiliated with the Tom Petty estate in any way.

Producer: Kevin Brown

Executive Producers: Paul Roberts, Steve Ursell

Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/the-tom-petty-project.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Change Of Heart Sep 21, 2022

Show notes

Tom tells Paul Zollo that it’s “Not one of my great songs. But it’s a good rock song.” I think that simple doesn’t necessarily mean "not great". The beauty of this song is at least partially down to the economy of it: Let the riff drive the melody. Let the rhythm section keep the tempo high and danceable, and let the lyrics tell a story of disenfranchisement and loneliness. Today’s episode looks at Change of Heart, which is the fourth track from the album we’re currently listening to; Long After Dark.

If you want to listen to the track before we dig in, check out the official video: https://youtu.be/d6tOlI2hqMM

If you want to hear the ELO track, Do Ya, that Tom talked about as being the inspiration for this song, you can check that out here: https://youtu.be/piBQ0aRDarM

I also found a video of a fourteen year old Jake Thistle singing this song and really enjoyed his youthful exuberance. Even at 14 you can see the massive talent and love of the music that he has. https://youtu.be/RqhQXTAcf_A

Don't forget to follow me on social media, like, subscribe, and please, leave a rating if you like the show.

Follow: https://linktr.ee/tompettyproject

Listen: https://pod.link/1580769475

All music, including the theme song, provided by my very best friend Randy Woods. Check him out at https://www.randywoodsband.com

A special thanks to Paul Zollo. Without his book, "Conversations with Tom Petty", this podcast wouldn't be nearly as much fun to research.

The Tom Petty Project is not affiliated with the Tom Petty estate in any way.

Producer: Kevin Brown

Executive Producers: Paul Roberts, Steve Ursell

Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/the-tom-petty-project.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Deliver me Sep 14, 2022

Show notes

"It’s one of those sneaky Tom Petty tracks that really burrows its way into your brain and sits there playing itself in the back of your mind. It definitely follows a trusted template and because of that I think it might be slightly overlooked in the catalog." Today’s episode looks at the third track from Long After Dark; Deliver Me.

If you want to listen to the track before we dig in, check out the official video: https://youtu.be/4sXP17MbvBQ

If you want to hear Tom singing on the Joni Mitchell song from last week's Petty Trivia, check that out here: https://youtu.be/_RMOct08pGY

And if you wanna watch Billy Idol rock out to "To Be a Lover", check this one out! https://youtu.be/q9g6U7iV_is

Oh and go check out the new merch! https://www.teepublic.com/user/the-tom-petty-project

Don't forget to follow me on social media, like, subscribe, and please, leave a rating if you like the show.

Follow: https://linktr.ee/tompettyproject

Listen: https://pod.link/1580769475

All music, including the theme song, provided by my very best friend Randy Woods. Check him out at https://www.randywoodsband.com

A special thanks to Paul Zollo. Without his book, "Conversations with Tom Petty", this podcast wouldn't be nearly as much fun to research.

The Tom Petty Project is not affiliated with the Tom Petty estate in any way.

Producer: Kevin Brown

Executive Producers: Paul Roberts, Steve Ursell

Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/the-tom-petty-project.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Megan Volpert Sep 07, 2022

Show notes

Hello you lot! I mentioned on social media that this episode would be slightly delayed and that turns out to be correct, but thankfully I’m still getting it posted up on a Wednesday for you!

I switched gears a little and decided to publish a conversation I had last week with Megan Volpert, whose new book, Straight Into Darkness, Tom Petty as Rock Mystic is available right now at fine retailers everywhere as well as online.

You can find her book here (use 08STRAIGHT to receive a 30% discount!): https://ugapress.org/book/9780820362465/straight-into-darkness/

and here

https://www.amazon.ca/Straight-Into-Darkness-Petty-Mystic/dp/0820362468/

Follow Megan on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook @MeganVolpert and do check out her extensive body of work on her website at www.meganvolpert.com

Also, check out the excellent arricle, which we talked a little about, that she wrote shortly after Tom's death in 2017: https://www.popmatters.com/tom-petty-life-lessons-from-hardcore-pettyhead-2495376449.html

WARNING: There are one or two instances of profanity in this episode.

Don't forget to follow me on social media, like, subscribe, and please, leave a rating if you like the show.

Follow: https://linktr.ee/tompettyproject

Listen: https://pod.link/1580769475

All music, including the theme song, provided by my very best friend Randy Woods. Check him out at https://www.randywoodsband.com

A special thanks to Paul Zollo. Without his book, "Conversations with Tom Petty", this podcast wouldn't be nearly as much fun to research.

The Tom Petty Project is not affiliated with the Tom Petty estate in any way.

Producer: Kevin Brown

Executive Producers: Paul Roberts, Steve Ursell

Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/the-tom-petty-project.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

You Got Lucky Aug 31, 2022

Show notes

When I think about the arrangement of this song, with the synths leading, Mike filling in those gaps with artfully placed licks, and Tom soulfully ripping his heart out for the audience, I think he’s dead on with that assessment. Today’s episode looks at the second track from Long After Dark, You Got Lucky.

If you want to listen to the track before we dig in, check out the official video: https://youtu.be/_QZixvUjNH4

If you haven't seen the fantastic video for this track (living under a rock???) check it out here: https://youtu.be/mtLpZWNyM0I

If you want to hear live cut that I talked about in the episode, you can check that out here: https://youtu.be/sg7IuLjdO0Q

I also found a couple of really cool live versions by other people. One you might expect and one you probanly wouldn't. This one is by Blackberry Smoke, who have covered a few Tom Petty tracks on their YouTube channel. This version features Amanda Shires on violin and harmony vocals: https://youtu.be/td8To6gb3qA. This version is by Slipknot screamer and Stone Sour vocalist Corey Taylor and is refreshingly brilliant: https://youtu.be/EgGkgyeZF-4

Don't forget to follow me on social media, like, subscribe, and please, leave a rating if you like the show.

Follow: https://linktr.ee/tompettyproject

Listen: https://pod.link/1580769475

All music, including the theme song, provided by my very best friend Randy Woods. Check him out at https://www.randywoodsband.com

A special thanks to Paul Zollo. Without his book, "Conversations with Tom Petty", this podcast wouldn't be nearly as much fun to research.

The Tom Petty Project is not affiliated with the Tom Petty estate in any way.

Producer: Kevin Brown

Executive Producers: Paul Roberts, Steve Ursell

Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/the-tom-petty-project.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A One Story Town Aug 24, 2022

Show notes

Good morning, good afternoon, or good evening, my fine friends. Welcome to the first episode of the fifth season of the Tom Petty Project Podcast! I am your host, Kevin Brown. This is the podcast that digs into the entire Tom Petty catalog song by song, album by album and includes conversations with musicians, fans, and people connected with Tom along the way. The first song we’re digging into is the lead track from the album, A One Story Town. If you’re new to the podcast, first of all I’m glad you found it and really hope you enjoy it.

If you want to listen to the track before we dig in, check out the official video: https://youtu.be/7s1lx39sTxA

If you want to hear liive cut that I talked about in the episode, you can check that out here: https://youtu.be/97mYaU4akVE

Don't forget to follow me on social media, like, subscribe, and please, leave a rating if you like the show.

Follow: https://linktr.ee/tompettyproject

Listen: https://pod.link/1580769475

All music, including the theme song, provided by my very best friend Randy Woods. Check him out at https://www.randywoodsband.com

A special thanks to Paul Zollo. Without his book, "Conversations with Tom Petty", this podcast wouldn't be nearly as much fun to research.

The Tom Petty Project is not affiliated with the Tom Petty estate in any way.

Producer: Kevin Brown

Executive Producers: Paul Roberts, Steve Ursell

Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/the-tom-petty-project.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jeff Slate Aug 17, 2022

Show notes

Today’s episode is the incredibly fun and wide-ranging conversation I had with Jeff Slate. Jeff is an ASCAP-award-winning singer songwriter from New York City who has fronted several bands including the 80’s mod punk band the Mindless Thinkers, has worked with musicians such as Earl Slick and Carlos Alomar, has opened for Sheryl Crow, toured Europe and has released numerous albums and singles both as part of different bands and as a solo artist. He’s also a prolific journalist, writing for publications such as Rolling Stone, The New Yorker, The Wall Street Journal, and Esquire and has interviewed or written about artists as varied as Bob Dylan, Bob Geldof, David Bowie, Willie Nelson, and of course Tom Petty.

You can find Jeff's tour dates, his music, and tons more information about the incredible body of work he's put together over the last few decades here! https://jeffslatehq.com/

Check out Jeff sitting down with his frequent collaborator, Earl Slick, and Heartbreaker Ron Blair to promote the 2019 Tom Petty All Star Weekend too: https://youtu.be/gyOxdQ0ATRc

Don't forget to follow me on social media, like, subscribe, and please, leave a rating if you like the show.

Follow: https://linktr.ee/tompettyproject

Listen: https://pod.link/1580769475

All music, including the theme song, provided by my very best friend Randy Woods. Check him out at https://www.randywoodsband.com

A special thanks to Paul Zollo. Without his book, "Conversations with Tom Petty", this podcast wouldn't be nearly as much fun to research.

The Tom Petty Project is not affiliated with the Tom Petty estate in any way.

Producer: Kevin Brown

Executive Producers: Paul Roberts, Steve Ursell

Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/the-tom-petty-project.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.