Top 10 Tom Petty Songs

We start our list with the tune that put Petty and company on the musical map. Sounding unlike anything that had come before it, this single stood out in an era of prog-rock, Zeppelin, and disco. More importantly however, it had that special quality and the catchiness necessary to make it an enduring classic; in fact, to this day, “Breakdown” still gets regular rotation on rock radio stations. Written by the singer during a short recording break, the moody tune wasn’t a hit when it was first released, but it went on to be a top 40 hit in North America and a concert regular. 

Rife with Neil Young-style harmonica fills, electric piano and stripped-down drums, this hit from Petty’s second solo album is the perfect song for cruising along on a summer day. Notable for featuring Steve Ferrone - who would soon become the drummer for Petty’s main outlet, the Heartbreakers – this was the biggest hit off the album, Wildflowers. However, because of a passing reference to drug use, it actually caused a stir with radio stations. In the end, many outlets played a censored version of the song, replacing the word “roll” with “hit,” or a version with the offending line distorted altogether.

Proving once again that all you really need is four chords and something to say, this song – co-written with fellow Wilbury and ELO frontman Jeff Lynne – topped the Billboard Album Rock Tracks chart in 1991, becoming the band’s longest-running number one, and achieved the extremely respectable position of number 28 on the Hot 100. Although not immediately apparent in the lyrics, Petty has said the song was inspired by the Gulf War. Once you have that in mind however, you can see how the “rock melting” and “sky burning” psychedelic imagery came from news coverage of the time. 

Co-written with Heartbreaker guitarist Mike Campbell and ELO’s Jeff Lynne, this riff-rocker hit the top of the Billboard Album Rock tracks and landed at 23 on Canadian and American singles charts. The song not only showcases Petty’s unique gifts as a lyricist but also proves that Campbell has guitar chops to rival the best of them. With its tight rhythm track and scorching guitar work, “Dream” is unsurprisingly a live favorite, with only “Refugee” and “American Girl” receiving more plays. Even decades later, it continues to show up in film, video games and television. 
 

This title track from the album of the same name features the Beatles-esque production style of ELO’s Jeff Lynne, who once again also co-wrote the track with Petty. In addition to being labeled as a “return to form” for the band and reaching the #4 spot on Billboard’s Album Rock Tracks chart, this single also prompted one of the singer’s best known videos, thanks in no small part to the fact that Johnny Depp took the lead role. While it’s far more common in the rock genre for a song to get shortened for radio or music videos, “Into the Great Wide Open” was actually extended in length to accommodate the Julien Temple short epic. The more the better.

Although the roots of this song go back to the Full Moon Fever album, the song was finally completed and recorded for inclusion on Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers’ Greatest Hits album. It earned its right to be there soon after, hitting number 1 on the Album Rock Tracks chart, and a solid 14 on the Hot 100 when released as a single. The last Heartbreakers recording to feature drummer Stan Lynch who left the group in 1994, this is another Tom Petty song that prompted a memorable video featuring a Hollywood star. However, despite rumors, the song is not a reference to marijuana use and was written with the working title “Indiana Girl.” 

Pro tip: Any musicians looking to make it in the industry should attempt to befriend Jeff Lynne, Petty’s frequent collaborator. Just sayin’. The Wilbury co-write hit #1 on the Billboard Album Rock track chart, 12 on the Hot 100, and 29 on the Modern Rock chart. Far cooler though, it features a genuine Beatle in the form of George Harrison. And yes, while Ringo does man the traps in the video, Starr does not in fact play on the track - although he would appear on later Petty songs. 

As the story goes, this song was originally written by Mike Campbell as a simple jam track to practice blues licks over, but the guitarist soon realized he was onto something bigger. Once the tune was presented to Petty, the singer wrote a set of lyrics in a matter of minutes, with the overall feel of the song reflecting the troubles the band was having with their record company at the time. When released as a single it hit #15 on the Billboard Hot 100 and cemented Tom Petty and his crew firmly in the public eye. Talk about ten minutes of work very well spent. 

Pop quiz: who plays the 12-string guitar on this one? Answer: no one. Channeling Bo Diddley and sounding so much like the Byrds that one might’ve thought they wrote it, this original was an instant classic and remains Petty’s most played live song. Byrd guitarist Roger McGuinn himself became the first of a long list of people to cover the track, with even The Strokes confessing to lifting the riff for their hit “Last Night.” The story behind the song’s lyrics, meanwhile, has morphed into an oft repeated, but untrue, urban legend about a teen suicide. Whatever it’s about, it’s an unforgettably frenetic track, and a Petty staple. 

Before we unveil our top pick here are a few honorable mentions:
- “The Waiting”
Hard Promises (1981)

- “You Wreck Me”
Wildflowers (1994)

- “Here Comes My Girl”
Damn the Torpedoes (1979)

Taking our top spot is Tom Petty’s signature solo hit. Once again, this track was written with the help of Jeff Lynne, and Petty cited the creative process behind it as a relaxed and casual one; many of the verse lyrics were ad-libbed in the demoing stage while Lynne supplied the hook and title. An ode to California life and the pursuit of freedom, this song paints a picture like few others. It certainly connected with fans, as the tune hit #7 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1990 and has also been covered by a variety of artists including Keith Urban and John Mayer. Not bad for a song and an album recorded in a garage!