Paul Archuleta/FilmMagicOne of Tom Petty’s biggest hits almost didn’t happen.
A new biography on the Florida rocker, Petty: A Biography, reveals that “Free Fallin” and all of his solo album, Full Moon Fever, was initially rejected by his then label, MCA. That according to excepts of the book published by Billboard. by author Warren Zanes provided a few excerpts, which are available on Billboard.com.
“Petty had made what he felt was a great record, only to have the doubters at his record label be among the first to hear it and pass judgment on it. The rejection knocked him down,” author Warren Zanes, former guitarist for The Del Fuegos, shares. “It hadn’t ever happened that way. That anyone at MCA felt they were in a position to respond as they did left Petty stunned.”
The album was released, but the bad vibes lead to a secret deal with Warner Brothers Records, the label that released Petty’s solo album, Wildflowers, in 1994.
Another revelation: “Don’t Come Around Here No More” was originally created in a recording session for Stevie Nicks. The song, written by Petty and The Eurythmics‘ Dave Stewart and co-produced by Jimmy Iovine, was intended for Nick’s vocals, but she balked after hearing Petty’s vocals on a demo.
“Tom had done a great vocal, a great vocal. I just looked at them and said, ‘I’m going to top that? Really?'” she said. “I got up, thanked Dave, thanked Tom, fired Jimmy and left.”
Zanes’ Petty: A Biography arrives November 10.
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