When I think about the solo in this song, it has a gravity to it that makes it feel centuries old. You could almost imagine that it has been living underground in some secret grotto since time began, just waiting for the right song to come along and feed it. It feels like a primal life force all its own, as if Mike is possessed by it rather than being its architect and its master. And I know that isn’t the case and the reality is that Mike Campbell just has such complete mastery over his instrument and over the musical form that he can write and play something this good and just make it sound effortless and timeless.

Today’s guest conversation sees the return of the always entertaining Tommy Edwin. We chatted about the music he’s released since he was last on the show as well as Wildflowers and of course, this week’s song. Once I’m editing, I may break out part of our conversation to release as a standalone bonus episode, but for now, sit back, relax, and enjoy my chat with the marvelous and hugely talented, Tommy Edwin.

Check out Tommy's website here: https://www.tommyedwinmusic.com and go check out a live show if you get a chance!

To listen to the song, check out the official lyric video here: https://youtu.be/4gBnTnZRneo

And to listen to the home recording, check that here: https://youtu.be/PHtEBn3CbWs

And for the alternate version from American Treasure and Finding Wildflowers, check that one here: https://youtu.be/lqDHyrPW9vo

Don't forget to follow me on social media, like, subscribe, and please, leave a rating if you like the show.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thetompettyproject

Twitter: https://twitter.com/TomPettyProject

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thetompettyproject/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thetompettyproject

All music other than the piano version of Wildflowers, including the theme song, provided by my very best friend Randy Woods. Check him out at https://www.randywoodsband.com

The Tom Petty Project is not affiliated with the Tom Petty estate in any way and when you’re looking for Tom’s music, please visit the official YouTube channel first and go to tompetty.com for official merchandise.

A last very special thanks to Paul Zollo. Without his book, "Conversations with Tom Petty", this podcast wouldn't be nearly as much fun to research. And further thanks to Warren Zanes for his outstanding book "Petty, the Biography".

Producer: Kevin Brown

Executive Producer: Paul Roberts

Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/the-tom-petty-project.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the liner notes for Wildflowers and all the Rest, engineer Jim Scott remarks that “Tom would write a song like ‘Honey Bee’ on the spot and the band would just follow him. There are dozens of recordings just starting a song and making it up from top to bottom, coming up with funny lyrics.” Of course, there are plenty of deep cut or inside examples of this that are well known to the hard core fans, such as Juju Beads and the more widely loved Girl on LSD, but immediately Honey Bee is different. Whereas those songs are all about the playfully silly lyrics, Honey Bee also has a propulsive, irresistible groove to go along with it.

Today’s guest conversation is the most special one I’ve done so far. I’ve spoken to some fantastic musicians for this show and I’ve spoken to two men who have written seminal first hand accounts of Tom’s life and work. I’ve chatted with musicians and fans and have enjoyed every minute of it. But today, I’m chatting to one of the people I love most in the whole world, my youngest daughter Emma. When I asked her if she wanted to be one of my guests for this season, she agreed a little tentatively, but when I asked her to pick a song from the album, her answer was immediate. So we’ll dive into Honey Bee as well as where our musical tastes overlap as well as diverge. This was a wonderful conversation to have, so sit back, relax, and enjoy my conversation with my wonderful daughter, Emma Brown.

To listen to the song, check out the official lyric video here: https://youtu.be/tbyB10JSOHk

And to listen to the alternate version on the Finding Wildflowers release, go here: https://youtu.be/JWPsB-KAXB4

Please note: There is one use of the work f*** in this episode, used as a direct quote.

Don't forget to follow me on social media, like, subscribe, and please, leave a rating if you like the show.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thetompettyproject

Twitter: https://twitter.com/TomPettyProject

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thetompettyproject/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thetompettyproject

All music other than the piano version of Wildflowers, including the theme song, provided by my very best friend Randy Woods. Check him out at https://www.randywoodsband.com

The Tom Petty Project is not affiliated with the Tom Petty estate in any way and when you’re looking for Tom’s music, please visit the official YouTube channel first and go to tompetty.com for official merchandise.

A last very special thanks to Paul Zollo. Without his book, "Conversations with Tom Petty", this podcast wouldn't be nearly as much fun to research. And further thanks to Warren Zanes for his outstanding book "Petty, the Biography".

Producer: Kevin Brown

Executive Producer: Paul Roberts

Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/the-tom-petty-project.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As journalist Jaan Uhelski writes in the Wildflowers and All the Rest liner notes, “If Wildflowers is an album about taking stock of one’s life, “Only a Broken Heart” is a watershed moment on that excavation of self.” Everything about the way the final album version of this song is arranged and produced caters toward that excavation. The busyness of the piano and bass in the alternative version is stripped out and the harmonica lead from the demo is also abandoned in favour of allowing those double-tracked vocals take the weight of the lyrics and drop them in your lap. Coming between the titanic It’s Good to Be King and Honey Bee, this song could easily have become a little lost or overwhelmed but I think that, outro aside, the production choices on this song ensure that it holds its place as a sonic rest period and an eerie, forlorn interlude that acts as that “watershed” moment that Jaan Uhelski talks about

This episode includes a conversation with my very good friend and musical mentor, Randy Woods!

To listen to the song, check out the official lyric video here: https://youtu.be/9-9k5hELSlw

To listen to the home demo version, go here: https://youtu.be/t1Tk12Pz9PA

And to listen to the alternate version on the Finding Wildflowers release, go here: https://youtu.be/DTrLCZStfA8

Don't forget to follow me on social media, like, subscribe, and please, leave a rating if you like the show.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thetompettyproject

Twitter: https://twitter.com/TomPettyProject

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thetompettyproject/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thetompettyproject

All music other than the piano version of Wildflowers, including the theme song, provided by my very best friend Randy Woods. Check him out at https://www.randywoodsband.com

The Tom Petty Project is not affiliated with the Tom Petty estate in any way and when you’re looking for Tom’s music, please visit the official YouTube channel first and go to tompetty.com for official merchandise.

A last very special thanks to Paul Zollo. Without his book, "Conversations with Tom Petty", this podcast wouldn't be nearly as much fun to research. And further thanks to Warren Zanes for his outstanding book "Petty, the Biography".

Producer: Kevin Brown

Executive Producer: Paul Roberts

Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/the-tom-petty-project.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.