THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

769-Tom Petty-Free Fallin.’

1989-Number 59 single.

Best Bit-At 0.40. The start of your San Fernando Valley geography lesson.

Thomas Earl Petty was born on October 20th, 1950, in Gainesville, Florida, United States, he died on October 2nd, 2017, from an accidental overdose of prescribed painkillers, having been suffering from emphysema, knee difficulties, and a fractured hip, at the age of 66. Tom Petty was one of the worlds best selling artist, with sales in excess of 80 million Albums and singles sold worldwide, with the ‘Heartbreakers,’ the ‘Traveling Wilburys, ‘Mudcrutch,’ and also as a solo artist.

With the ‘Heartbreakers,’ as ‘Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers,’ there were 13 Albums released between 1976-2014, and a further three as a solo artist between 1989-2006, there are also a further 15 official live and compilation Albums available. Tom Petty was also one of the five members of the ‘supergroup’ the Traveling Wilburys, alongside George Harrison, (1943-2001) Jeff Lynne, Bob Dylan, and Roy Orbison (1936-1988.) As a member of the Traveling Wilburys between 1988-1991, Petty was given the stage name ‘Charlie T. Wilbury, Jr.’ appearing on both the groups two studio Albums in 1988, and 1990, as well as their seven singles issued between 1988-1991. Tom Petty also issued two Albums with ‘Mudcrutch,’ the first in 2008, and the second in 2016. In total Tom Petty appeared on 68 singles released between 1976-2020, with 16 of those tracks reaching the Billboard Hot 100 singles top 40, with ‘Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around,’ the 1981 collaboration between Stevie Nicks, and Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers,’ peaking the highest at Number 3, while ‘Free Fallin” reached Number 7. In the UK, Tom Petty has charted within the top 40 on four occasions, (not including ‘Handle with Care,’ with the Traveling Wilburys which made Number 21) with ‘I Won’t Back Down,’ peaking the highest at Number 28 in 1989.

‘Free Fallin’ was the third of five singles released from Tom Petty’s debut solo Album ‘Full Moon Fever’ from April 1989, the song was co-written by Petty, and Jeff Lynne, (see also best songs 970 and 25) with the production credited to Petty, Lynne, and long time Tom Petty collaborator Mike Campbell. All three of the aforementioned played on ‘Free Fallin,’ along with Phil Jones, who along with Campbell, had been a member of the ‘Heartbreakers.’

Tom Petty has explained how ‘Free Fallin’ came to fruition,’I used to ride down Mulholland Drive and make up songs. Some of the songs were good, and some of the songs just wouldn’t swing. I had this one [sings] ‘Mulholland Drive,’ and I never could get anywhere with that song. So, I sat down one day with my friend Jeff Lynne, and we were playing around on the keyboard. I hit this lick and he said, ‘That’s a good lick you got there,’ and I played it again. So, just to make him laugh I started to make up words. ‘She’s a good girl, loves her mama, loves Jesus and America too. She’s a good girl, crazy about Elvis…’ And he goes, ‘Good.’ I said, ‘What? What was good?’ ‘It’s all good, just sing that.’

‘Free Fallin” is the opening track on ‘Full Moon Fever,’ and is one of six tracks of the 12 that was co-written by Tom Petty and Jeff Lynne. ‘Free Fallin’ tells the story of a man who has his way with a naive girl, she believes everything that he says, but when he has got what he wants he dumps her. At first he is pleased with himself, but after a while he realises that what he has done is wrong, and a more meaningful long term relationship would be more fulfilling.

Tom Petty only has one song on this ‘1000 best of list,’ but two other tracks wouldn’t be listed if it wasn’t for him. The Red Hot Chilli Peppers 2006 song ‘Dani California (see also best songs 977) bears a close musical similarity to Petty’s ‘Mary Jane’s Last Dance.’ Tom Petty told ‘Rolling Stone’ magazine, ‘I seriously doubt that there is any negative intent there, and a lot of Rock N’ Roll songs sound alike, ask Chuck Berry.’ The Strokes took ‘American Girl’ for their song ‘Last Nite,’ (see also best songs 450) and I saw an interview with them where they actually admitted it. That made me laugh out loud. I was like, ‘OK, good for you’ … If someone took my song note for note and stole it maliciously, then maybe I’d sue. But I don’t believe in lawsuits much. I think there are enough frivolous lawsuits in this country without people fighting over pop songs.’

‘All the vampires walkin’ through the valley, move west down Ventura Boulevard. And all the bad boys are standin’ in the shadows, and the good girls are home with broken hearts.’