Tom Petty songs

Roland

This is the classic covers band dilemma. We're playing a wedding next year, and they've asked for some Tom Petty songs, particularly from the Full Fever Moon period. Now I'm not a follower of Tom Petty. I've spent part of this afternoon running through his material on YouTube. Apart from "Running Down a Dream" there's not much up tempo danceable stuff on that album. I suppose we could do "I Won't Back Down" and segue to Sam Smith.

Any Tom Petty connoisseurs who can point me in the right direction?

stickyfiddle

I'd make sure I played something from that record, and then make sure I also played American Girl and Refugee. Once they've had some drinks they won't care

IvisonGuitars

Unless it's specifically for their first dance, do I Won't Back Down then carry on with your usual set.

The times we have been sent lists of songs the bride and groom want played or they have spent WEEKS putting together a playlist for their iPod during the sets (too tight to pay a DJ!) and, when it comes to the night, the Bride & Groom and the guests couldn't give a monkeys...they are too busy drinking and chatting to guests or dancing to your tried and tested "wedding floor filler set".

Don't Sweat it! :-)

not_the_dj

We do "Running Down a Dream" and it goes down great, also it's such a fun song to play and so easy to solo over.

EricTheWeary

Running, Won't Back and Free Falling are probably the known songs from that album. Not sure any of them are very danceable though. American Girl is good for the Silence of the Lambs fans in the crowd.

bigjon

I do "Free Falling" - it's dead easy & is a good slow number

Wazmeister

You Wreck Me... Always great live

mart

My sister got lucky and married a yuppy, took him for all he was worth .... sounds like an ideal wedding song to me.

vasselmeyer

Running Down a Dream is a real favourite and you can really wig out on the solo. The only other up-tempo one from that album is Zombie Zoo but not many people will know it as it wasn't a single.

ICBM

Doing I Won't Back Down and seguing into and maybe back out of Stay With Me would be funny, and probably go down well.

Running Down A Dream would be the obvious one for a more uptempo choice though, and Free Falling for a slower one. I think Yer So Bad is quite well-known too.

KKJale

Here Comes My Girl would never go amiss.

Parker

Get your guitar synth out, set it to Sitar and play 'Don't Come Around Here No More'. Make it really indulgent and stare the bride in the eyes!

Jalapeno

All good suggestions.  I learned Free Falling in 5 minutes to back up a vocalist.  Piece of cake.

pigface

We used to do 'Learning to Fly'. You can rock it up a bit and it's certainly danceable.

FelineGuitars

One of my favourite Petty tunes - but wrong era and wonder if it's a good fit

Jalapeno

vasselmeyer said:

Running Down a Dream is a real favourite and you can really wig out on the solo. The only other up-tempo one from that album is Zombie Zoo but not many people will know it as it wasn't a single.

And on that topic Mike Campbell is a monster player !

Jalapeno

While we're at it - here's the 30th Anniversary concert in full !  It's ruddy marvellous.

vasselmeyer

You can have a wow for that @Jalapeno, that version of Running Down a Dream was what we used when we did the song. It's bloody great for the soloing guitar player because you can just go for it. Less interesting as a rhythm guitarist though.

Aidanspaghetti

Feel a whole lot better! Gotta gets some Schwarz into the mix Belting tune

JezWynd

Does it have to be an uptemo number? If not, perhaps A Face In The Crowd. Slow dance number, v romantic.