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Rating: Tom Petty is a great traditionalist of rock music. Throughout his brilliant career, his goal has always been to keep alive and continuous the classic sound of artists like Bob Dylan, Byrds, Chuck Berry, and Rolling Stones. These fundamental artistic references have been enriched by his undeniable songwriting skills and over the years Tom has therefore given us great songs, unforgettable concerts, luxury collaborations, and albums that have become classics. That's the case with "Wildflowers," an album released in the fall of 1994.
"Wildflowers" is Petty's personal jukebox and collects the various musical tastes that have influenced his work throughout his entire career. The artist is captured here in a brilliant creative moment. Even the interviews from that period reveal a serene, confident, and optimistic man. His voice always delivers emotions, the musicians (both Mike Campbell and Benmont Tench are great) play the songs as if they've always been tattooed on their skin, Rick Rubin's production is clean. "Wildflowers" is a tribute to all of Petty's heroes and enjoying the fifteen tracks of the album, it's easy to guess who they are. A sort of personal greatest hits of his passions and a dive into the memories of the sixties when the radio would broadcast dreamy music that encouraged a boy to learn to play the guitar and form a band. "Wildflowers" is reassuring both in sound and lyrics. A small classic inspired by the classics. The graceful title track recalls acoustic hints of the Beatles while "Only A Broken Heart" is a direct tribute to his friend George Harrison. "Cabin Down Below" is pure John Fogerty and "Crawling Back To You" has the formal elegance of Fleetwood Mac, marked "Tusk".
Every now and then, Byrdsian folk rock atmospheres ("A Higher Place"), southern rock flare-ups ("House In The Woods"), and atypical acoustic blues ("Don't Fade On Me") emerge. Carl Wilson's presence in the harsh "Honey Bee" pays homage to the Beach Boys, Ringo Starr's discreet drumming gives a skiffle touch to the Dylan-esque "To Find A Friend", and "Time To Move On" travels the love tunnel of Springsteen. A special mention goes to the lively "You Wreck Me", the sweetly pianistic "Wake Up Time", and "You Don't Know How It Feels", pure Petty sound.
"Wildflowers" is overall an excellent album that elegantly settles in a small corner of the history of American rock as it summarizes the contents of at least two decades. Another proof of the fact that great music does not arise by chance but needs true roots to grow. Thus was born this group of songs, a bunch of fifteen wildflowers destined to last forever.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
01 Wildflowers (03:11)
you belong among the wildflowers
you belong in a boat out at sea
sail away, kill off the hours
you belong somewhere you feel free
run away, find you a lover
go away somewhere all bright and new
i have seen no other
who compares with you
you belong among the wildflowers
you belong in a boat out at sea
you belong with your love on your arm
you belong somewhere you feel free
run away, go find a lover
run away, let your heart be your guide
you deserve the deepest of cover
you belong in that home by and by
you belong among the wildflowers
you belong somewhere close to me
far away from your trouble and worry
you belong somewhere you feel free
04 You Wreck Me (03:23)
Tonight we ride, right or wrong
Tonight we sail, on a radio song
Rescue me, should I go down
If I stay too long in trouble town
Oh, yeah, you wreck me, baby
You break me in two
But you move me, honey
Yes you do
Now and again I get the feeling
Well if I dont wi n, Im a gonna break even
Rescue me, should I go wrong
If I dig too deep, if I stay too long
Oh, yeah, you wreck me, baby
You break me in two
But you move me, honey
Yes you do
Ill be the boy in the corduroy pants
You be the girl at the high school dance
Run with me wherever I go
And just play dumb, whatever you know
Oh, yeah, you wreck me, baby
You break me in two
But you move me, honey
Yes you do
07 Honey Bee (04:58)
Come on now, give me some sugar
Give me some sugar, little honey bee
Don't be afraid, not gonna hurt you
I wouldn't hurt my little honey bee
Don't say a word, 'bout what we're doin'
Don't say nothin' little honey bee
Don't tell your momma, don't tell your sister
Don't tell your boyfriend, little honey bee
She like to call me king bee
She like to buzz 'round my tree
I call her honey bee
I'm a man in a trance
I'm a boy in short pants
When I see my honey bee
and I've got something to say
Look here now, peace in the valley
Peace in the valley with my honey bee
Don't say a word, 'bout what we're doin'
Don't say nothin ' little honey bee
She give me her monkey hand
And a Rambler sedan
I'm the king of Milwaukee
Her juju beads are so nice
She kissed my third cousin twice
I'm the king of Pomona
And I've got something to say
11 To Find a Friend (03:24)
In the middle of his life
He left his wife
And ran off to be bad
Boy, it was sad
But he bought a new car
Found a new bar
And went under another name
Created a whole new game
And the days went by like paper in the wind
Everything changed, then changed again
It's hard to find a friend
It's hard to find a friend
Meanwhile then
His wife's boyfriend moved in and
Took over the house
Everybody was quiet as a mouse
And it changed their lives
Changed their plans
Slowly they grew apart
Boy, it woulda broke your heart
And the days went by like paper in the wind
Everything changed, then changed again
It's hard to find a friend
It's hard to find a friend
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