MaryJanes2ndLastDance

I always liked the Orion's belt line in Dark of the Sun but, much like Kings Highway, it just doesn't work musically and is also a tune where the Jeff approach (tm Shelter) is really evident. It's uptempo but a bit too twee for me; like Jeff was trying to reconstruct Penny Lane through the Heartbreakers and failing both at the same time. However, the songs that work are quite good. Have they written another song as heavy and powerful as All or Nothin'? That's a wall of guitars, no a wave of guitars washing over the listener; right from the beginning, there's such a powerful groove to the song. I'm assuming Jeff had a hand in the finished version. And without him, no Full Moon Fever...! Tom's said it, others have observed it but ITGWO was really an attempt to mesh Jeff and the Heartbreakers and when it worked, it was great and when it didn't it was bland...and unfortunately not a good time for the band. Per usual, what's great or bland (and anywhere in between) differs wildly for everyone! cheers

I don't know. Well, actually that's a good point about "fully integrated." But...for me, there's a good chunk of songs that don't work and I wonder if I'd like them more had there been less Lynne influence and more Lynch influence. I just realized, those last names are quite similar...synchronicity, perhaps?

I agree. I watched this so damn much I started recognizing faces in the...crowd.

There's a lot of great acoustic playing on FMF. particularly the chorus of Runnin' Down a Dream and Yer So Bad. Runnin' really benefits from the mix of electric and acoustic on the chorus. Of course, full on electric in concert is also great on this song!

Those are both really good, particularly Even the Losers. The song becomes so powerful when it's reduced to acoustic guitar and maybe some Benmont flourishes.The version out there from the 89 S. Carolina boot is phenomenal, if you haven't heard it, find a copy! American Girl works well acoustically, too. Maybe it was played that way in the Fillmore shows? cheers

Kings Highway is one of those generic rockers that don't quite rock, but for some reason, the sparse, mellow approach worked. I think because I don't care for the original musically, having all those over the top Lynne moments and touches and the blandness of the chords stripped away, reveals a more interesting core. I think the theme of "getting out" is still there, just expressed in a perhaps more subtle fashion. I understand your points about why it doesn't work for you, though. cheers

cheers Cheers!

What??? I understand your thoughts on Century City, that song has gone down with time since I first heard it; the song is a bit generic, one of those rockers lacking the riff of let's say, Runnin' Down A Dream. It sounds like it's trying to be a longer I Need To Know and failing. For me, Finding Out is the opposite! There's catchiness to the music, power in the lyrics and an amazing bridge. While Tom and the fellas have come out with some generic, derivative filler type rock songs over the years, I think Finding Out is one of their finest. cheers

Yes, I love the drumming. And I think what Steve does on You Don't Know...fits that song perfectly as well and was an interesting accident, having no cymbals. But as to why he limits Steven's playing, or keeps it to a minimum, I don't know, since presumably, Steve gets on fine with everyone in the band. It must just be Tom's drumming preference. I guess I'll pay extra attention to the drumming on Mojo since it was a very self-indulgent album and see if Steve had more freedom than usual. cheers

That's a good idea. Side A for the concept, Side B for the songs that don't fit. Could've changed Southern Accents and this album quite a bit!

You don't have to qualify it! I figure everyone on here is expressing their thoughts on TPATH and Mudcrutch! I think it was a magazine article or maybe it was an online review but when they said the Last Dj needed to be electrified I knew they were right. With your love of acoustic, there's quite a wealth of material for you to enjoy. I hope if you got to see them live, they went on one of their extended mid set acoustic moments while you were in the audience! Oh, you must really love the acoustic Kings Highway...! That really transformed the song, and made it much better, in my opinion. cheers

Looks like ITGWO has some competition...

When I've the time I plan on sharing my thoughts on Mojo. cheers

I heard about that, a very poor decision. They could just add Jammin and Stop Draggin' to the album as is, plenty of room for all of those songs; knocking off Something In The Air was a mistake!

I like the song, but don't feel as strongly about it as you do. I remember reading an opinion saying it should've been more electric and I agreed; picture the same riff, but with more of a bite to it. Would that approach have worked for you or you're happy with it as is? cheers

Overall, it's a shame the concept isn't properly developed on this one, but it does start and end strong.

I agree! Terrible song. I understand it's a tribute to George Harrison (only because I read that somewhere) but I don't care. It's an awful song. This album needed more rockin' songs, not this weird beatles/jeff lynne hybrid. I just tried listening to it before finishing this post and I stopped. cheers

I think it's one of his most unique songs, a dreamlike melody without a chorus. Think how odd that is for Tom, who writes songs with verse/chorus/solo (bridge) structures. The strings on this one help create a strange, floating feeling, like you're listening to a fable. It's sad and fits the themes of the record, yet could also be heard outside of that context as a lament on its own. cheers

Holding out for the Phonautogram edition.

I don't think the "jeff sound" lasted very long at all, actually, I don't even know if it happened at all. I think, the Heartbreakers overtook the Jeff sound from the album and made the songs their own on stage. I also don't really associate Lynne's sound (got tired of typing Jeff's sound) with heaviness. It seems more twee. cheers

Yes, I think he was hoping for something like You Wreck Me and I agree, his drumming would've done good on that one!

From the Carolina 89 or 90 bootleg, I think their sound on the Strange Behavior Tour had more in common with their 70s/80s sound and Touring the Great Wide Open was the mid-transition tour. They don't quite sound like they had before, but at the same time, they haven't achieved the heaviness either. 95 to me, sounded heavier, with some nice thick guitar sounds. While I like the Echo tour as well, whatever they were doing guitar-wise isn't as satisfying. Still good, though! That sound kinda felt the same through the Last Dj. 2010 and 2012 seem to have some nice Mojo influenced guitars, etc. I enjoy the prominence of Ron Blair's bass as well.

All right, that makes it even more confusing as to why they left it off! Was it the celebrity references?

Greatest Hits is the perfect Tom Petty album for the casual fan and it’s obvious why it’s such a successful album; it’s some of his best song writing in one place; no filler. The chronological track listing is great, one good song after another, with American Girl as the perfect opening song. If I were a casual TPATH fan I’d probably listen to it quite a bit. The only songs missing are: Jammin’ Me. C’mon, why wasn’t it on here? Would’ve fit perfectly between Don’t Come Around and Won’t Back Down. It’s a good shift in tempo from those two songs. Maybe it wasn't a huge hit, but it was a big enough radio single to qualify. And Stop Draggin’ my heart around. Maybe it was skipped cause it’s considered a Stevie Nicks song? But Tom wrote it and sings on it! And it made the other collection that came out years later. Oh well. How strange and cool that Mary Jane is on here and became a huge hit…! Has that happened with other bands? A new contractual song added to an album that becomes a big hit? People purchasing the album after 93 would think, well, of course Mary Janes is on here, not knowing that it was new at the time. Their last HUGE hit, to date. I even enjoy the cover (the song) quite a bit, Something in the Air just feels like the most random song to have on here; it’s not even something they play live (except maybe once in 93?). It feels like a nice little bonua. What a great album. A bit of a double edged sword from a certain perspective though. While it did make them wealthier, it also cemented the notion that they are a Greatest Hits band and nothing more. The only thing to have prevented this would’ve been Tom taking some version of the Pearl Jam approach to live shows; different set lists night to night, longer shows and a healthy dose of whatever the new album is. It’s possible (maybe not?) that TPATH could’ve acquired a very large energized fan base following them from city to city or even country to country. Sure, a lot of people on here do it, but I’m guessing this is a minority of his concert going fans. But he didn’t and consequenlty they are largely known as a Greatest Hits group. Go see them, sing along to Even the Losers and Free Fallin’ and grab some peers or go to the bathroom during a new song. But it's still just a great album. I also like the cover (of the album). There’s a playfulness to that image that appeals. A fun camaraderie. cheers

Nice. Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this topic. cheers