Conversations with Tom Petty (Expanded Edition)

By: Paul Zollo

Narrated by: Jim Meskimen

Length: 16 hrs and 58 mins

Publisher's Summary

Tom Petty has long been considered one of the great songwriters of American rock 'n' roll, as well as one of the key standard bearers of integrity in the music business. Conversations with Tom Petty is the first authorized book to focus solely on the life and work of the man responsible for some of the most memorable rock anthems of our generation, including: "American Girl", "Breakdown", "Refugee", "The Waiting", "Don't Come Around Here No More", "I Won't Back Down", "Free Fallin", "Runnin' Down a Dream", "You Don't Know How It Feels", "Mary Jane's Last Dance", and many others. Author Paul Zollo conducted a series of in-depth discussions with Tom about his career, with special focus on his songwriting. The conversations are reprinted here with little or no editorial comment and represent a unique perspective on Tom's entire career. 

Originally published in 2005 (also by Omnibus Press), Tom's wife Dana has fully approved this updated edition, which retains its foreword by Petty, adds additional interview material, an expanded introduction as well as additional photos from Petty’s last ever live performance. This is, perhaps, as close as you can get to an autobiography by the great man. 

©2012 Paul Zollo (P)2020 Blackstone Publishing

Good, but unnecessarily repetitive

Good book with relevant information. A few sections were, overly repetitive, word for word, seemingly cut and pasted, from one chapter into another. I found those sections to annoying and of little value.

Wonderful book!

it was like being in the room talking with Tom. He was so gifted and I still can't believe he's gone. Thank you for writing this.

Around in Circles Going Nowhere

I’m over an hour into this and I’ve learned nothing except that Tom Petty was a passionate perfectionist songwriter/musician. I’m not sure if I can stand much more.

I just love Tom Petty

And, I love his songs. I love the songwriting craft. I loved getting a scope into his processes.

Repeat much?

Some great insights into Tom Petty his life and music. It does start to sound like a puff piece though with the non-stop worshipful language. Also their is a LOT of repetition, could have used some editing.

Fantastic Book on Tom Petty's Life, Music

This was an excellent book! It was as if I was hearing Tom himself talk. It went into such great detail. Getting to know the awesome person- husband, father, musician, that he was. His love for music in its purest form was amazing. Any Tom Petty fan should listen Ryo or read this book. Thank you.

Author Fanboy

Too gushing & repetitive in parts. Much of the interviews didn't seem that challenging. Still worth the time just for the song by song interview portion.

Really Enjoyed This

Really great, in depth talks with the artist, nothing held back. Really enjoyed all the places these talks explored.

An interesting listen

I have a lot more understanding of Tom Petty and his music. It was very well read by Jim Meskimen.

The big brother I wish I had

I was surprised to discover how similar I and Tom Petty are. We both started off on a Stella and Mel Bay guitar book, then played bass and both recorded at the Village recorder. It’s strange we never crossed paths, but I wish we had. I enjoyed this in-depth view of someone I knew of, but didn’t know.

Just so good

If you’re something of a Petty ‘completist’ then this is totally for you. The first part demonstrates the really insane life he twisted and turned through in a way that’s so personal and palpable there’s no room for second guessing. The second part where they both go through ever song up until Highway Companion again is honest and eye opening that has you pausing the book to listen back to the tracks that leap off the page the most.
The new intro that touches on Tom’s passing and legacy is particularly heartfelt and does a great job to help you the listener realise you’re in the presence of somebody that really really cared for Tom and his music and The Heartbreakers.
You have to read this book.

Good but repetitive

A good listen but it did tend to repeat itself on more than 1 occasion.

Nice Update on a good book

Read the original book on release.

I really enjoyed the updated audiobook.

I really felt the narrator seem to capture the essence of the late great Tom Petty.

A fantastic listening experience for me.👍👍

ok, not as good as it could be

this book is do sicophantic it's hard to get into, some of the information is good but not groundbreaking, there's about an hour of how amazing Tom Petty is to start with which isn't necessary because we already know that, I had to fast forward a bit, then quite a lot of repetition, and lots of how amazing Tom Petty is and etc and then more repetition, I would recommend this because of course Tom Petty is amazing etc

Conversations with Tom Petty, new edition.

I have the original edition and the extended edition in hardback and I was both excited to see this was produced for Audible and nervous that it would not meet my expectations given that it is voiced by an actor and not the author or Tom Petty himself.
We are very fortunate that hours of recorded material exists containing Tom Petty talking about his music and his life with the Heartbreakers. However, this means that we also have a direct comparison with the real thing. Among the material that exists are the tapes which Paul Zollo made of his conversations ( not publicly available), a small amount of which have been shared on social media by the author.
This production sounds as though it is being read rather than a conversation. The inflection of the actors voice is not particularly similar to Mr Petty and neither is the phrasing.
If you haven’t read the book, whichever edition, then this would be very interesting and worthwhile. But if you can read the book which also has some great photographs then I recommend that you do. It would also mean that the section which deals in depth with the songs on all the albums up until Highway Companion can be referred to rather like a reference book. When I am reading it I often pause to play the track so I understand the points that are being made. It would be difficult to do that with the audio version.
I knew that the voice would not be a totally accurate copy but I was disappointed with the pace, often too fast, and phrasing and wondered if I would be able to listen to the end, but I did find I was getting used to it and suspended my criticism somewhat and was able to enjoy it more.
The extended sections are not really suited to the audio edition as the reviews and articles included are very repetitive.. not meant to be read/listened to back to back. In fact many if the stories and incidents of the 40 year career get replayed over the whole. Which show up as slightly irritating in an audio version.
Writing this I realise that despite being heavily addicted to Audible with some 130 titles in my library and being even more addicted to Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers this is not a good match being produced in this way. Fans love Tom Petty’s voice. And he had a particular way of speaking. One can imagine his seriousness and often his humour. He was a great character and a sincere and thoughtful man, with gravitas and a sense of wonder at the way songs and music happened in his life. He often referred to it as the real magic.
This doesn’t do him justice, I am afraid. I will be dipping into the new edition hardback frequently but I probably will not listen to this again.