The Spill Magazine The Spill Magazine
The Spill Magazine The Spill Magazine
The Spill Magazine The Spill Magazine
  • Reviews
    • Album Reviews
    • Features
    • Live Reviews
    • Festivals
  • Portraits
  • Headlines
    • News
    • Contests
    • Events
    • Entertainment Headlines
    • Concert Listings
    • Toronto Concert Venues
  • New Music
    • Premieres
    • TOTD
  • Books + Movies
  • Scene Unseen
  • About
16
new
SPILL NEW MUSIC: SENSES – “DROP YOUR ARMS”
SPILL NEW MUSIC: PERMAFROST – “FEMME FATALE”
SPILL NEW MUSIC: BUTCHER BABIES – “YORKTOWN”
SPILL VIDEO PREMIERE: BEE APPLESEED – “ALL IS FORGIVEN”
SPILL NEWS: ALEX LITTLE & THE SUSPICIOUS MINDS ANNOUNCE ALBUM ‘WAITING TO GET PAID’ AND SHARE NEW SINGLE “BIG LIES”
SPILL NEW MUSIC: BELL ORCHESTRE – “IV: WHAT YOU’RE THINKING”
SPILL NEW MUSIC: ACTORS RELEASES SECOND SINGLE AND VIDEO FOR “STRANGERS” FROM UPCOMING ALBUM ‘ACTS OF WORSHIP’
SPILL NEW MUSIC: ANDREW W.K. – “BABALON”
SPILL FEATURE: HIS STORY RIGHT NOW – A CONVERSATION WITH cEvin Key
SPILL MUSIC PREMIERE: THE SAVANTS OF SOUL – “HONEY CHILD”
SPILL VIDEO PREMIERE: NICK HUDSON – “SURKOV’S DREAM”
SPILL ALBUM PREMIERE: LEAHY – GOOD WATER
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: cEvin Key AND THE SUBCONSCIOUS ELECTRONIC ORCHESTRA – RESONANCE
SPILL VIDEO PREMIERE: DAVID PICCO – “WAITIN’ FOR THE SUMMERTIME”
SPILL VIDEO PREMIERE: CROCODYLE – “PASSENGER SEAT”
SPILL LIVE REVIEW: LORD HURON ALIVE FROM WHISPERING PINES: EPISODE 2 OF 4 (VIRTUAL EVENT)
  • MORE
  • Reviews
    • Album Reviews
    • Features
    • Live Reviews
    • Festivals
  • Portraits
  • Headlines
    • News
    • Contests
    • Events
    • Entertainment Headlines
    • Concert Listings
    • Toronto Concert Venues
  • New Music
    • Premieres
    • TOTD
  • Books + Movies
  • Scene Unseen
  • About
  • Spill Menu
    • Reviews
      • Album Reviews
      • Features
      • Live Reviews
      • Festivals
    • Portraits
    • Headlines
      • News
      • Contests
      • Events
      • Entertainment Headlines
      • Concert Listings
      • Toronto Concert Venues
    • New Music
      • Premieres
      • TOTD
    • Books + Movies
    • Scene Unseen
    • About
Album Reviews
88
Editor Pick
previous article
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: THE VAMPS - CHERRY BLOSSOM
next article
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: JOEY MOLLAND - BE TRUE TO YOURSELF

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: TOM PETTY – WILDFLOWERS & ALL THE REST

Tom Petty

Tom Petty
Wildflowers & All The Rest
Warner Records

Three years ago, shortly before commencing his fortieth, and tragically his final tour, Tom Petty announced that his seminal 1994 album, Wildflowers, had an entire second half, written and recorded during the same sessions that he was hoping to release in the near future. The news came as a very welcomed surprise that the album was intended to be a double one. For many fans of his work, Wildflowers stands as a favourite throughout his iconic discography, and is among his most intimate and artistically driven works. Now, following a pair of greatest hits albums, the Petty estate has released Wildflowers & All The Rest, a collection consisting of the 2014 remastered Wildflowers, the fabled second half of the album, a series of demos, and live material from the era.

Needless to say, Wildflowers remains an essential classic, even 26 years later. From its massive hits “You Don’t Know How It Feels”, “Wildflowers“, “It’s Good To Be King”, and “You Wreck Me”, to the rocking riffs of “Honey Bee”, and finally the acoustic melancholic ballads “Only A Broken Heart”, and “Crawling Back To You”, the album has an incredible range of songwriting styles, performances, and emotions. Written and recorded during a period of isolation, heartbreak, addiction, and a drastically changing personal life, Wildflowers is a vulnerable album and perhaps the greatest example of Petty simply being Petty.

The second half of Wildflowers proves to be just as artistic and, simply put, magnificent as the original release. Largely comprised of acoustic tracks and somber, down-tempo tracks, one can understand why they’d be cut in order to deliver Wildflowers as a single album, rather than a double; however, it is clear that the inclusion of these additional 10 tracks makes Wildflowers an even more complete composition. Songs like “Confusion Wheel”, “Leave Virginia Alone”, and the previously released “Somewhere Under Heaven” add to Petty’s legacy of songwriting brilliance, while “Harry Green” and “California” speak to the special simplicity of his work. In short, the second half of Wildflowers is equally as essential as the original which, ultimately, makes one of Petty’s greatest albums even stronger.

Of the demos, or rather home recordings, as they’re titled, Petty continues to surprise with a series of 15 early recordings stripped down to the bare bone of songs that would eventually be released on Wildflowers in either 1994 or 2020. While the odd demo can prove interesting as it lifts the curtain to the workings of the wizard, very rarely does a collection of demos prove to be; after all, most would prefer to listen to the completed studio version. The home recordings of Wildflowers & All The Rest, on the other hand, prove to be almost as compelling as the completed material. While some demos are simply acoustic recordings of songs with Petty singing , as are “A Higher Place”, “You Don’t Know How It Feels”, and “To Find A Friend”, others prove to be far more special. Most notable is the even more haunting demo of “Don’t Fade On Me”, the completely different campfire swing of Crawling Back To You”, and “Wildflowers” which originally featured a bridge that shared the same melody and chord progression of “To Find A Friend” before the two were likely written to be separate songs. In many ways, the home recordings demonstrate Petty’s creative process, but also speak to the involvement of producer, Rick Rubin, and the members of The Heartbreakers, most notably guitarist Mike Campbell and pianist Benmont Tench, who appeared throughout the recording sessions.

Of the final quarter, the 14 live tracks recorded likely throughout Petty’s subsequent tour with The Heartbreakers in ‘94 and ‘95 are as exciting and lively as any of the other live collections Petty has released over the years. The selection is based largely around that of Wildflowers – performing 11of the original 15 tracks – but also includes “Walls”, “Drivin’ Down To Georgia”, and “Girl On LSD”. The material reinforces just what a tight unit The Heartbreakers were as they breathe a new sense of life into the music while Petty’s dry humour and earnest charm can be heard while introducing some songs. Standout performances include “Cabin Down Below”, “Wildflowers”, “House In The Woods”, “It’s Good To Be King”, and, of course, the hard-rocking “Honey Bee”.

While it is common for such expanded reissues to add an abundance of quantity without managing to improve the original album’s legacy, Wildflowers & All The Rest stands as a breathtaking exception as Petty’s family and bandmates dig deep to expand Wildflowers to reach a far greater potential than the original. Truly, this collection paints a picture of Petty’s creative state, prior to, during, and following the sessions for Wildflowers. Refusing to fall short of essential, Wildflowers & All The Rest is truly an incredibly beautiful collection that speaks boundless volumes to the artistry of Tom Petty.



Artist Links

website_flat_2016 facebook_flat_2016 twitter_flat_2016 instagram_flat_2016

Editor Pick
Item Reviewed

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: TOM PETTY – WILDFLOWERS & ALL THE REST

Author

Gerrod Harris

Here's what we think...
Spill Rating
Fan Rating
Rate Here
New Criteria
10
—
10
Total Spill Rating
—
Total Fan Rating
You have rated this
Album Reviews
album reviewalbum reviewsleave virginia alonetom pettywarner recordswildflowers & all the rest
album review, album reviews, leave virginia alone, tom petty, warner records, wildflowers & all the rest
About the Author
Gerrod Harris
Gerrod Harris
A passion for music has always been a part of Gerrod’s life. As a young boy, he was raised on a steady diet of the music from The Chili Peppers, Aerosmith, The Stones, Prince, and others from his mum. Raised in the GTA, Gerrod continued to foster his love for music by attending a wide range of concerts and learning the drums. His unapologetic passion for music has no bounds and has spread to a wide variety of styles, whether it be the 90’s rock that sound tracked his teenage years, the jazz he studied in university, or his newfound love for hip-hop. He recently received his bachelors in music and education from York University and is passionate about writing and reviewing good (and less than good) music. Gerrod is also the drummer and songwriter for a Toronto based rock & roll band, One In The Chamber.
RELATED ARTICLES
album reviewalbum reviewstom petty
 
10
cEvin Key
10

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: cEvin Key AND THE SUBCONSCIOUS ELECTRONIC ORCHESTRA – RESONANCE

by Kathy Nichols on February 19, 2021
cEvin Key And The Subconscious Electronic Orchestra Resonance Artoffact cEvin Key’s fifth solo album, Resonance (formerly [...]
 
8.0
Creedence Clearwater Revival

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL – PENDULUM/MARDI GRAS (50TH ANNIVERSARY HALF-SPEED MASTERS)

by Ljubinko Zivkovic on February 12, 2021
Creedence Clearwater Revival Pendulum/Mardi Gras (50th Anniversary Half-Speed Masters) Craft Recordings Creedence Clearwater [...]
 
10
The Band

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: THE BAND – STAGE FRIGHT (50th ANNIVERSARY EDITION)

by Ljubinko Zivkovic on February 12, 2021
The Band Stage Fright (50th Anniversary Edition) Capitol Records The latest reissue from The Band Stage Fright, is a prime example of many things. Firstly, it is [...]
 
7.0
The Holdouts
8.2

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: THE HOLDOUTS – FOR REASONS UNKNOWN

by Gerrod Harris on February 8, 2021
The Holdouts For Reasons Unknown Tarantula Tapes The latest offering from Tarantula Tapes’ roster is St. Catharine, Ont.-based The Holdout’s sophomore EP, For Reasons Unknown. It [...]
 
7.0
Cultures Of Soul

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: VARIOUS ARTISTS – SATURDAY NIGHT: SOUTH AFRICAN DISCO POP HITS 1981-1987

by Gerrod Harris on February 5, 2021
Various Artists Saturday Night: South African Disco Pop Hits 1981-1987 Cultures Of Soul While the likes of Prince, Madonna, and Michael Jackson [...]
Latest Album Reviews
View All
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: cEvin Key AND THE SUBCONSCIOUS ELECTRONIC ORCHE...
10
10
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL – PENDULUM/M...
8.0
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: THE BAND – STAGE FRIGHT (50th ANNIVERSARY...
10
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: THE HOLDOUTS – FOR REASONS UNKNOWN
7.0
8.2
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: VARIOUS ARTISTS – SATURDAY NIGHT: SOUTH A...
7.0
Latest Live Reviews
View All
 
Lord Huron

SPILL LIVE REVIEW: LORD HURON ALIVE FROM WHISPERING PINES: EPISODE 2 OF 4 (VIRTUAL EVENT)

by Robert Defina on February 18, 2021
61
 
Small Town Titans

SPILL LIVE REVIEW: SMALL TOWN TITANS @ SMT HQ, YORK (PA)

by Gerrod Harris on February 6, 2021
30
 
Lord Huron

SPILL LIVE REVIEW: LORD HURON ALIVE FROM WHISPERING PINES: EPISODE 1 OF 4 (VIRTUAL EVENT)

by Robert Defina on January 7, 2021
359
 
Wardruna

SPILL LIVE REVIEW: WARDRUNA – ‘KVITRAVN’ PRESENTATION (ONLINE PERFORMANCE)

by Samantha Wu on December 10, 2020
188
 
Evanescence

SPILL LIVE REVIEW: EVANESCENCE @ ROCK FALCON STUDIO, NASHVILLE (TN)

by Melinda Welsh on December 5, 2020
59
Tweets by @spillmagazine

SPILL MAGAZINE MENU
  • Home | The Spill Magazine
  • Premieres
  • Album Reviews
  • Books + Movies
  • Features
  • Live Reviews
  • Festivals
  • Portraits
  • News
  • Events
  • Entertainment Headlines
  • Concert Listings
  • Toronto Concert Venues
  • About Us
  • Contests
  • New Music
  • Spill Magazine Contributors
  • TOTD
  • Privacy Policy
  • The Scene Unseen
  • Newsletter

Copyright © 2020 | The Spill Magazine
All Rights Reserved.

TRENDING RIGHT NOW
   
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: FRONT LINE ASSEMBLY – MECHANICAL SOUL
670
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: PAUL McCARTNEY – McCARTNEY III
575
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: GUIDED BY VOICES – STYLES WE PAID FOR
550
 
SPILL MUSIC PREMIERE: CHURCH OF TREES FEAT. CAROLE POPE – “WORLD’S A BITCH”
460
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: BLACK PISTOL FIRE – LOOK ALIVE
359
 
SPILL LIVE REVIEW: LORD HURON ALIVE FROM WHISPERING PINES: EPISODE 1 OF 4 (VIRTUAL EVENT)
359
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: GEORGE THOROGOOD AND THE DESTROYERS – LIVE IN BOSTON, 1982: THE COMPLETE CONCERT
347
 
SPILL NEW MUSIC: “SHAMELESS” STAR WILLIAM H. MACY RELEASES DEBUT SINGLE “WHISKEY DELL” UNDER “WILLIE CREEKS” MONIKER
321
 
SPILL LIVE REVIEW: LOWEST OF THE LOW @ LEE’S PALACE, TORONTO
307
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: THE DIRTY NIL – FUCK ART
278
 
SPILL FEATURE: TRULY ORCHESTRATING HIS OWN LIFE – A CONVERSATION WITH RICK SPRINGFIELD
273
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: CHRIS CORNELL – NO ONE SINGS LIKE YOU ANYMORE
272
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: GRIEVOUS ANGELS – SUMMER BEFORE THE STORM
264
ENTERTAINMENT HEADLINES