Tom Petty, widely celebrated for his rock grit and California anthems, stands as a pivotal influence on contemporary country music. Born in Gainesville, Florida, Petty's journey took him from the American South to Los Angeles, all while maintaining a profound connection to his Southern roots. This regional influence permeates his discography, blending stories of Southern life with his signature melodies and rugged vocal style, which continue to shape the landscape of country music today.
New tribute album, ‘Petty Country' finds a glittering array of Country music stars paying tribute to Petty's legacy and its influence on the genre.
Petty's affinity for country music is evident through his collaborations and friendships with some of the genre's most legendary figures. He inducted Carl Perkins into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and had The Heartbreakers serve as Johnny Cash’s backing band on the album ‘Unchained.' His connections extended to artists like June Carter Cash, Marty Stuart, John Prine, Dolly Parton, Tammy Wynette, George Strait, Hank Williams Jr., and Willie Nelson. Country songwriters frequently cite Petty as a major influence, acknowledging how his sound has shaped their own music.
Throughout his 40-year career, Tom Petty emerged as a global cultural icon. Alongside the 13 studio albums recorded with The Heartbreakers, Petty released three solo albums, including the critically acclaimed ‘Full Moon Fever' and ‘Wildflowers.' He was also a member of the supergroup Traveling Wilburys, with George Harrison, Bob Dylan, Roy Orbison, and Jeff Lynne, and played in the pre-Heartbreakers band, Mudcrutch.
‘Petty Country' delivers a dynamic and heartfelt homage to this legendary artist. Each track brings a unique interpretation, blending Petty's rock roots with modern country flair, creating an album that is both reverent and refreshing. Chris Stapleton’s ‘I Should Have Known It' kicks off the album with a gritty, dirty guitar riff that channels an almost Black Sabbath-esque heaviness. Stapleton, known for his powerful vocal delivery, embraces the rock elements of the song, adding a groovy, funky, and heavy twist that makes it a standout opener. The track stays faithful to Petty's original while amplifying its intensity, setting a robust tone for the album.
Thomas Rhett’s rendition of ‘Wildflowers,' meanwhile, takes a more breezy and delightful approach. Infused with fiddle-driven rhythms and a subtle Gaelic lilt introduced by pipes in the second half, Rhett transforms the song into a gentle country ballad. This version is distinctly country yet captures the essence of Petty's original, making it a charming and uplifting addition to the album.
Elsewhere, Luke Combs tackles ‘Runnin’ Down a Dream' with his characteristic energy and drive. Staying remarkably true to Petty’s version, Combs delivers a performance that feels like a seamless blend of his style with Petty’s. The driving beat and uptempo rhythm highlight Combs' strong vocals, offering a faithful homage that resonates with both Petty fans and country music enthusiasts. Similarly, Dolly Parton’s interpretation of ‘Southern Accents' is a poignant and wistful rendition that showcases her iconic voice and emotive delivery. The song’s lilting melody and troubadour-esque quality suit Parton perfectly, turning it into a country ballad with profound weight and gravitas. Her rendition is filled with heart and soul, making it one of the most moving tracks on the album.
Another track that stays faithful to Petty's original sound is Justin Moore’s ‘Here Comes My Girl,' which transforms Petty’s classic into a big, driving rock-country anthem. Moore’s style shines through as he blends spoken verses with sung choruses, capturing the essence of small-town life, love, and hopefulness. The Springsteen-esque chorus, combined with the interplay of guitars and pianos, adds a refreshing modern touch, making it one of the album’s best tracks.
The album continues to impress with Dierks Bentley’s ‘American Girl' which refreshes the classic with a blend of guitars, banjos, and fiddles, and Lady A’s ‘Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around,' where their harmonies and dramatic flair turn it into a standout track worthy of radio play. Lady A”s interpretation of this Petty classic is full of ‘Need You Now' drama, making the song sound like it could have been recorded on one of their albums if you didn't know the original at all. Similarly, The Brothers Osborne’s ‘I Won’t Back Down' and Wynonna Judd and Lainey Wilson’s duet on ‘Refugee' also shine, each bringing a distinct country flair to Petty’s timeless songs. The former sees TJ and John utilising that distinct underlying 80s sound that can be found on recent tracks of theirs like ‘Break Mine' and ‘Nobody's Nobody' whilst Wynonna Judd and Lainey Wilson absolutely go to town on ‘Refugee,' making it a fantastic duet that feels very earthy and southern replete with big Rolling Stones influences too. There's a bed of guitars and fiddles here producing one of the best singalong choruses on the album on a song that could also go to radio as a teaser or promo for the project as a whole.
Petty's two most iconic songs, ‘Learning to Fly' and ‘Free Fallin' are both handled with care as the Eli Young Band and The Cadillac Three do little to twist or re-imagine the songs, which is probably the right decision. Similarly, Ryan Hurd and Carly Pearce cover ‘Breakdown' in a faithful way, bringing some more muscle and modern production values to one of Petty's most funkiest songs. Think Springsteen meets Prince here on another album highlight.
Midland's cover of ‘Mary Jane's Last Dance' is a funky affair that sees the lead vocals changing hands throughout whilst Marty Stuart rocks out on his version of ‘I Need to Know,' taking what was quite a punkish, 70's urban rocker and walking it down the Country / Americana / Honky Tonk line in a way that only an artist like Stuart can do. Perhaps the biggest re-imaging on the album comes with Rhiannon Giddens' cover of ‘Don't Come Around Here No More.' Alongside the Silkroad Ensemble and original Heartbreakers keyboard player, Benmont Tench, Giddens takes a song that was originally on 1985’s ‘Southern Accents’ album, in a sort of Paul Simon meets the Eagles form, and really leans into the ‘world music’ esque elements of it. With the percussion and choir leading the drive of the song on top of a layer of strings, ‘Don't Come Around Here No More' becomes a fascinating mix of sounds and styles unlike anything else on the album with its definite Gospel meets African influences. Original Heartbreakers guitarist Mike Campbell also appears on the album alongside Margo Price on her spirited and vibrant version of ‘Ways to be Wicked.'
‘Petty Country' is a compelling tribute that honours Tom Petty’s legacy while showcasing the versatility and talent of modern country artists. From faithful renditions to creative reinterpretations, this album is a must-listen for fans of both Tom Petty and country music. It captures the spirit of Petty’s music while breathing new life into his beloved songs, making it a fitting homage to one of music's greatest legends.
Tracklist: 1. I Should Have Known It by Chris Stapleton 2. Wildflowers by Thomas Rhett 3. Runnin’ Down A Dream by Luke Combs 4. Southern Accents by Dolly Parton 5. Here Comes My Girl by Justin Moore 6. American Girl by Dierks Bentley 7. Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around by Lady A 8. I Forgive It All by Jamey Johnson 9. I Won’t Back Down by Brothers Osbourne 10. Refugee by Wynonna Judd & Lainey Wilson 11. Angel Dream No.2 by Willie Nelson & Lukas Nelson 12. Learning To Fly by Eli Young Band 13. Breakdown by Ryan Hurd feat. Carly Pearce 14. Yer So Bad by Steve Earle 15. Ways To Be Wicked by Margo Price feat. Mike Campbell 16. Mary Jane’s Last Dance by Midland 17. Free Fallin’ by The Cadillac Three feat. Breland 18. I Need To Know by Marty Stuart And His The Fabulous Superlatives 19. Don’t Come Around Here No More by Rhiannon Giddens feat. Silkroad Ensemble and Benmont Tench 20. You Wreck Me (Live) by George Strait Record Label: Big Machine Records Release Date: June 21st Buy ‘Petty Country' right here
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