Conversations with Tom Petty

by Paul Zollo, Tom Petty (Foreword by)

Overview

It's an of-told story: a young Tom Petty lucks his way onto the movie set for Elvis's Follow That Dream. The lightning bolt that is rock 'n' roll struck him and, at that moment, his future was defined and Tom Petty went on to become one of the greatest songwriters in rock 'n' roll history.

This expanded edition of the first authorised book on Tom Petty, and the only one in his own words, includes additional interviews, articles and reviews.

Featuring a foreword and photo captions written by Tom himself, Conversations with Tom Petty is a must-read for all who admire the man behind some of the most memorable rock anthems of a generation.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781915841483
Publisher:	Omnibus Press
Publication date:	08/06/2024
Pages:	480
Product dimensions:	5.10(w) x 7.70(h) x 1.70(d)

About the Author

Paul Zollo is a singer-songwriter, author, photographer, and music writer. Conducted as editor of SongTalk, his interviews with some of the world’s greatest songwriters have been collected in the books Songwriters On Songwriting and More Songwriters On Songwriting.

His other previous publications include Hollywood Remembered: An Oral History Of Its Golden Age and Zappa On Zappa. He has also contributed to magazines such as Billboard and Variety, and written the liner notes for artists including Paul Simon, Laura Nyro, and Dan Fogelberg.

As a songwriter, Paul has written songs with many artists and released a self titled album with his band The Ghosters and two solo albums, Universal Cure and Orange Avenue. His photos of Tom Petty and others are represented by Morrison Hotel Galleries in New York, Los Angeles, and Maui.

Tom Petty was an American singer, songwriter and guitarist. In addition to a successful solo career, his bands included Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, and the supergroup the Travelling Wilburys. 

Tom Petty was an American singer, songwriter and guitarist. In addition to a successful solo career, his bands included Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, and the supergroup the Travelling Wilburys.


Dana Petty, widow of Tom Petty, is the Managing Partner of Tom Petty Legacy LLC.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments vi

A Conversation With Dana Petty viii

Foreword To First Edition xii

Introduction To First Edition xiii

Introduction To Expanded Edition xvi

A Pure Heart xxi

Part 1 Life

Chapter 1 Dreamville 3

Chapter 2 California 41

Chapter 3 Anything That's Rock And Roll 59

Chapter 4 Tangles And Torpedoes 66

Chapter 5 Changing Horses 77

Chapter 6 Who Got Lucky 88

Chapter 7 Don't Come Around Here As Much 93

Chapter 8 Runaway Trains 107

Chapter 9 Handle With Care 121

Chapter 10 Into The Great Wide Open 142

Chapter 11 Somewhere You Feel Free 151

Chapter 12 Some Days Are Diamonds 163

Chapter 13 Angel Dream 169

Chapter 14 Howie 181

Chapter 15 Joe 190

Part 2 Songs

Chapter 16 The Records 205

Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers 205

You're Gonna Get It! 213

Damn The Torpedoes 222

Hard Promises 231

Long After Dark 240

Southern Accents 245

Pack Up The Plantation: Live! 251

Let Me Up (I've Had Enough) 252

Full Moon Fever 257

Into The Great Wide Open 265

Greatest Hits 276

Wildflowers 276

Playback 286

Songs And Musk From She's The One 303

Echo 305

Anthology: Through The Years 314

The Last DJ 319

Highway Companion 325

Part 3 Additional Interviews, Articles And Reviews

Chapter 17 Interview For Tom's Website 341

Chapter 18 Tom, Woody And The Genius of Simplicity 377

Chapter 19 Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers At The Forum In Los Angeles, October 10, 2014 384

Chapter 20 Hypnotic Eye 388

Chapter 21 The Beatles On The Ed Sullivan Show 393

Chapter 22 Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers At The Hollywood Bowl 397

Chapter 23 Purity & Passion 403

Chapter 24 In Memoriam: The Life And Times Of Tom Petty 413

Discography 430

About The Author 444

Editorial Reviews

"The notoriously media-wary Petty responds... about his life, career, and craft with articulate and intelligent answers that even nonfans can enjoy." Publishers Weekly

“The big strength of this oral approach is that its intimacy enables us to feel closer to Petty, the way his mind thinks and his generosity of spirit” Long Live Vinyl

"Insightful, breezy, and loaded with recollections from Petty's formative years" Orlando Sentinel

"Paul has extracted what is certainly our most in-depth biography ever." Tom Petty

"Reveals some fascinating facts" Billboard

From the Publisher

"Insightful, breezy, and loaded with recollections about Petty's formative years in Gainesville."
—Orlando Sentinel - June 10, 2005

Jim Abbott

This lengthy but highly readable compilation of interviews with rock star Petty covers every aspect of his four-decades-long career, from his first success in the 1970s blending the sound of the Beatles, the Rolling Stones and the Byrds ("I think we kind of invented the New Wave"), to his controversial stance on 2002's The Last DJ as a critic of the greed and homogeneity in the current rock establishment ("I wanted to write an album about what everybody thought but wouldn't say"). While too many of journalist and musician Zollo's questions to Petty about his songwriting contain phrases like "It's got a beautiful chorus," overall the book is successful because the notoriously media-wary Petty responds to Zollo's almost obsessive knowledge about his life, career and craft with articulate and intelligent answers that even nonfans can enjoy. Petty also provides insights into his various side projects, including backing Bob Dylan on tour ("It's a little like playing with a jazz artist") and playing in the Traveling Wilburys with George Harrison ("He wanted to be in a band, but he wanted to avoid all those pitfalls that a band has"). Photos. (Nov.) Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.

Publishers Weekly

Every so often someone like Tom Petty comes along and proves Leo Durocher wrong: nice guys don't always finish last. One of rock's most consistent songwriters and performers of the past 30 years, Petty sat for interviews with author and songwriter Zollo between 2004 and 2005, chronicling his career from his youth in Gainesville, FL, through success with his backing group the Heartbreakers, side trips as a solo artist, and as one-fifth of the ultimate supergroup, the Traveling Wilburys, right up to the present day. The Q&A format is ideal for showcasing Petty's likable personality, and his passion for the music he creates is palpable. Zollo, a longtime fan, comes well prepared with knowledgeable and insightful questions that spur Petty's detailed recollections. Especially good is the book's second part: a discussion of nearly every song that Petty has written, recounted simply enough to engage lay readers but with enough on the nuts and bolts of songwriting to serve as an excellent primer for budding tunesmiths. Fans will be in Petty heaven; casual listeners will have a new appreciation for the artist and his music. This first comprehensive biography is recommended for medium and large pop music collections.-Lloyd Jansen, Stockton-San Joaquin Cty. P.L., CA Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.

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