Tom Petty's Label Thought It Was a Joke, He Proved Them WRONG | Professor of Rock

An unlikely superstar partnership turned 3 simple chords into the biggest solo hit of a rock icon’s career. The story of the making, and the major label snubbing of the Tom Petty smash Free Fallin that he co-wrote with Electric Light Orchestra principal Jeff Lynne and Mike Cambell from the album Full Moon Fever. We discuss why this petty classic should’ve been #1 next on Professor of Rock. Thank you to this Episodes Sponsor, Zenni Optical Incredible Prices on New Glasses - https://bit.ly/ZenniOpticalShop ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Executive Producer Brandon Fugal Honorary Producers Paul J Simon, Mark Thompson ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Check out my Hand Picked Selection Below Professor's Store The 80s Collection https://amzn.to/3mAekOq 100 Best Selling Albums https://amzn.to/3h3qZX9 Ultimate History of 80s Teen Movie https://amzn.to/3ifjdKQ 80s to 90s VHS Video Cover Art https://amzn.to/2QXzmIX Totally Awesome 80s A Lexicon https://amzn.to/3h4ilrk Best In Ear Headphones (I Use These Every Day) https://amzn.to/2ZcTlIl ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Check Out The Professor of Rock Merch Store - http://bit.ly/ProfessorMerch ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Check Out Patron Benefits http://bit.ly/ProfessorofRockVIPFan Help out the Channel by purchasing your albums through our links! As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you, thank you for your support. Click here for Premium Content: https://bit.ly/SignUpForPremiumContent https://bit.ly/Facebook_Professor_of_... https://bit.ly/Instagram_Professor_of... #80smusic #TomPetty #classicrock Hey Music Junkies, Professor of Rock always here to celebrate the greatest artists and the greatest songs of all time, If you want to be part of the ultimate love letter to the best music of the rock era Subscribe below right now. To get even more content and even become a producer of this channel, make sure to check us out on patreon. Tom Petty met Jeff Lynne in England, when Petty was playing with The Heartbreakers as the backup band for the incomparable Bob Dylan. The two became fast friends, and collaborated with Dylan, George Harrison, and Roy Orbison in Traveling Wilburys- the SUPER of super groups- a concept & title that was conceived by Guitar George. Tom & Jeff developed a deep relationship that went well beyond their shared passion & excellence with music. The two legends found that they had much in common, even a love for bowling- which they enjoyed whenever they had the opportunity. Rumor has it that Jeff Lynne is actually an exceptional bowler. How great would that be…. You decide to go bowling, and you get to the bowling alley, and one of the lanes is occupied with Tom Petty & Jeff Lynne having a couple of cold ones throwing strikes… In the late 80s, discord festered within The Heartbreakers, and the great Tom Petty began to work on his his first solo record. Tom turned to Jeff to help him make the record. He LOVED the sound of George Harrison’s Cloud Nine album that Jeff Lynne produced, and became obsessed with it, playing it over and over again. Since it was his first solo album, and a pivotal crossroads in his career, Tom needed someone that he could trust. Someone that would pour their heart & soul into the quality of the music, just as Tom was planning to do. On paper, it would seem to be an odd couple to craft an album- with Tom Petty as the iconic American Rocker from Gainesville, Florida, and Jeff Lynne- the symphonic pop auteur from Birmingham, England. However, because of their friendship, and their shared vision, the pairing would prove to be a brilliantly calculated hunch. Jeff Lynne played an invaluable role on nearly every aspect of Petty’s debut solo LP- Full Moon Fever. Besides co-producing, he also co-wrote most of the songs for Tom’s solo record, including the first cut on the album- a track called “Free Fallin.” The two superstars were getting into the zone to work on fresh material. Lynne started playing elaborate keyboard parts, and Petty was jamming on a heavy guitar riff, then he playfully transitioned his style- strumming three simple chords. Lynne suggested that Tom stop playing the hard stuff, and just sing words to the pacing of those three chords.