Turntable Tuesday

Turntable Tuesday! Tom Petty’s “Wildflowers and All the Rest.”

October 20, 2020

It’s Turntable Tuesday…because life is too short not to listen to great music! Turn that TV OFF and listen to some music on your local speaker! This week I am adding a few thoughts to an album package I have been waiting a long time to hear on my turntable. This weeks feature is the Tom Petty “Wildflowers and All the Rest” vinyl edition.

This box set is the seven piece vinyl edition. There are many versions of this release from cd to vinyl with many pieces of swag that one can purchase if they choose. I really like my vinyl version. It has a very nice book with stories, drawings, lyrics, and photos which is pictured here on the antique piano stool surrounded by some of the tools that are the same versions that are featured on this collection.

I opened my very well constructed shipping box on the album release date and took out this treasure knowing some things about the work that went into the packages that are being marketed. Most of all I knew about all the recording that was done many years ago and the mastery of that work from the lyrics, the music, and the recording sessions. This was Tom Petty’s second solo release and it could be called one of the best of his entire collection. There is not a lot for me to add on my blog about this album that has not already been written or said even from those involved with the project but I want to mark this time with a few thoughts. I will tell a few personal stories about how these songs came about or maybe even how I remember the time they released to give you a marker of what it felt like to hear this music as it was new over on my companion podcast.

The first side of “Wildflowers.” I already have a vinyl copy of this album in my collection. I still can’t believe what a masterpiece this record is and this first side is one best song after another.

It is awesome that many have worked to release these recordings but sad that we cannot hear Tom play them live on a stage today. That is the way life can be but thankfully as we always say “we have the music.” Many of us were fortunate to see Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers on stage and I can tell you that it was quite an experience. I think my favorite Tom Petty show was the one where Steve Winwood opened the show and I stood as he played in respect for his musical talent and history as many sat down. There were large incense pots hanging over my head as I was only a few feet from the stage. I could smell the fragrance drifting thought the air to set another aspect of the mood for this impending rock show. The music was incredible and just amazingly perfectly played by the masters on the stage. Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers will always be called one of the best of this generation.

Tom Petty in 2010. Photo by Andrew Talbert.
This video is a nice way to understand aspects of these recordings and the packaging of what is on the market. I will say that you can bet that in time there will not be this much variety for sale. I have seen it before in collections like this. They sell out and the inventory dries up not to mention the value goes up for collectors. The music is something a Tom Petty fan should hear…several times.

If you want to listen to my companion podcast you can listen here or subscribe for free on any of the streaming services you use. My podcast is easily searchable by entering “Andrew Talbert.”

This album is full of great songs and sonic experiences. You should take a day and clear your mind while listening to these tracks. They are exceptional. I turned my phone off and listened to several hours of this music and took some time to read the credits and follow some of the lyrics.
“Climb That Hill” from the album “All the Rest.” I would tell you to buy these tracks and crank this one up. The vinyl track is amazing.
“All the Rest”…it took all these years to finally hear these tracks. The songs are all very good music. “Climb That Hill” is one of my favorites to crank up from the newly released material.
Here are the track listings for the 7 LP collection from the back of my book.
Time to Move On….What lies ahead I have no way of knowing.

This was a brief run through this extensive collection of music. As I said I am not going to drill into details that are all over the internet and it is best to hear those stories straight from the source. I am very happy with this recent addition to my vinyl collection and I know it will get some additional play time and generate some smiles. I will add some background detail and a couple of personal stories on my companion podcast. It’s time to move on, it’s time to get going, what lies ahead I have no way of knowing. But I do have a few cool projects I am working on this week! Until next time I’ll see you, down the road.