Skip to main content

(Don't know if this belongs in OAN or not, but...)

I received the new Tom Petty DVD for Christmas, and have been enjoying it immensely over the past week. Peter Bogdanovich really did a great job with this, its very well done. Even casual Petty fans might want to check it out.

I've always really liked Tom Petty. He's an excellent songwriter, and his music has always had a lot of humor in it, something that has been in increasingly short supply in music. He's also an outstanding live performer. And the Heartbreakers have always been a great band. They can do it all...kick ass rock, country, pop, you name it.

As I was watching it, I was really struck how Petty & Bruce have had somewhat parallel careers (I recognize this is not new news). Although Petty started a couple of years later, both artists went through a similar evolution...humble beginnings, fame, lawsuits, a mid-career divorce from the band, personal upheaval, then an eventual reconciliation with the band.

Three things I came away with...
1) At certain points in their careers, you could argue that Petty was a better songwriter than Bruce.
2) Mike Campbell may be the best guitarist in the business.
3) Bruce should call Rick Rubin to produce his next album.




Original Post

Replies sorted oldest to newest

Originally Posted By: Bobby_G

1) At certain points in their careers, you could argue that Petty was a better songwriter than Bruce.

Yes. 1989-94.
Originally Posted By: Bobby_G

2) Mike Campbell may be the best guitarist in the business.

Fuck no.
Originally Posted By: Bobby_G

3) Bruce should call Rick Rubin to produce his next album.

As long as it's without the E Street Band.

Can you deny, there's nothing greater
Nothing more than the traveling hands of time?

I love Springsteen and Petty. Two of my favorites. However, neither has had a fantastic CD in some time now. When I look at their work from the past 10 years, I would give the nod to Springsteen, and that is based solely on The Rising. For me, that one sticks out among all the rest from both artists. Yet, it doesn't compare favorably to their work when both where in their prime.
Pro-Life or Pro-War? Make up your mind.
Originally Posted By: SoulBoogieAlex
Rick Rubin makes everything sound like a Rick Rubin album.

And Brendan O'Brien makes everything sound like another Georgia Satellites album. Let Steve produce the next record, and I'll bet it sounds better than anything Petty's done.

Handle every situation like a dog:
If you can't eat it or hump it, piss on it and walk away.

Originally Posted By: Markpackman
I love Springsteen and Petty. Two of my favorites. However, neither has had a fantastic CD in some time now. When I look at their work from the past 10 years, I would give the nod to Springsteen, and that is based solely on The Rising. For me, that one sticks out among all the rest from both artists. Yet, it doesn't compare favorably to their work when both where in their prime.


Yup, agreed. Petty's last 3 albums (Echo, Last DJ, and Highway Companion) have had some nice moments, but have been kinda weak in comparison with his earlier work. Similar to Bruce's last 3.


Originally Posted By: Baines
I'm sure Bruce could take TP in a bareknuckle fight.


He probably could, but one thing you get from the film is that Petty is one tough S.O.B. There's a scene where he really rips into Roger McGuinn's A&R guy for giving McGuinn crappy material to record. He seems very feisty.

Also, Petty could bite Bruce in half with his freakishly gigantic teeth.
Yup. Indeed he did.
Quote:
Petty & the Heartbreakers spent nearly three years making Southern Accents, the followup to Long After Dark. Hiring Eurythmic Dave Stewart as a producer, the band attempted to branch out musically, reaching into new territories like soul, psychedelia and New Wave. However, the recording wasn't easy--at its worst, Petty punched a studio wall and broke his left hand, reportedly in frustration over the mixing.

Handle every situation like a dog:
If you can't eat it or hump it, piss on it and walk away.

Originally Posted By: Bobby_G
you're right...best in the business is a bit much. I should have maybe said 'underrated'.



I wouldn't even say that. I think Mike Campbell is a well respected guitarist both with his fellow musicians and fans. Hell, even Patti has worked with him

"I had nothing to offer anybody except my own confusion."

Mike Campbell is a very underrated guitarist. Best? Hell, no, but he is way above average.

I have seen Petty a lot, including back in 89 with the Replacements as the opening band, and he is great, but not even close to the level of Brucey boy. While Tom writes some great songs, how many are on the level of Jungleland, Born to Run, Incident, etc.? And I love Petty's catalog.

Mike Campbell is a brilliant rock and roll guitarist. He colors Petty's music without overdoing it, and fits in. Nils- as much as I love Nils- sometimes steps outside the context of Bruce's music and plays a solo that doesn't so much "fit". I think of Mike as a David Lindley kind of guy... quiet, multitalented, plays fiddle. He also co-wrote some of Tom's best songs.

I kind of agree about Rick Rubin producing a Bruce record. It would definetely be cool somewhere along the line. However, the problem with Bruce's last few records is that the soundwaves are too big, and that's Rick Rubin's thing. Big fat soundwaves.

Now maybe Jeff Lynne could produce Bruce next....

In terms of the songwriting, although the two have similar styles, Bruce is more of a poet and Tom is more of a pop songwriter. That's not to say that Bruce hasn't written anything pop, and Tom hasn't written anything deep- because both of them have. But the bulk of Bruce's material is powerful, deep, passionate stories. Tom's style is more, as Mike Campbell said, "Don't bore us, get to the chorus".

That being said, most people wrote better songs than Bruce from 1989-1994.

The documentary is great though, go get it.
Funny how Petty and Bruce have surrounded themselves with top notch musicians. Benmont Tench and Campbell are excellent musicians. I liked Lynch but apparently, he was too much of an asshole.

Hmm, if you could blend the two bands? How bout Max on drums, roy on piano, Benmont on organ, Tallent on bass, Campbell and Nils on guitar, and the homeless dude outside of Penn Station on sax? A dream band.
The big difference is simply Petty has been sought out by and worked with "real" musicians(Dylan, Harrison, Cash, Nicks).Sorry Joe Grushecky and the others that Bruce has worked with are nothing more than Bar band players at best.

As far as guitarist go Mike Campbell can play rings around Little Steven, Nils now that's a different story.

Also when petty does a solo album, he can take it down a notch and not go totally in another (sometimes good, sometimes not good) direction.


Originally Posted By: Mars
I thought we did the whole Petty/Springsteen discussion thing before....

They are the two most common artists in my CD players ... my kids like Petty better.


You're from Pittsburgh, these guys are still considered relevant there. Hey, I drove through Pittsburgh last year and the radio stations were just beginning to play the Gin Blossoms and Wallflowers.
Post
×
×
×
×
Link copied to your clipboard.
×
×