It’s been almost three years since the sad passing of rock legend Tom Petty. And it’s been 26 years since the release of his solo album Wildflowers, perhaps the best work of the man’s storied career.
Petty’s family plans to release a retrospective collection, perhaps as soon as this year, celebrating that great album. The release will include demos and early recordings pulled from the Wildflowers sessions.
Today’s SOTD is the first taste of that material, a home recording of the single ‘You Don’t Know How It Feels.’ This version has slightly different lyrics than the eventual album cut, including a verse that showed up in another Wildflowers track, ‘Crawling Back to You.’
Let me run with you tonight
I’ll take you on a moonlight drive
There’s someone I used to see
But they don’t give a damn for me
[Chorus 1]
But let me get to the point, let’s roll another joint
And turn the radio loud, I’m too alone to be proud
You don’t know how it feels
You don’t know how it feels to be me
[Verse 2]
I’m so tired of being tied
Sure as night will follow day
Most things that I worry ’bout
Never happen anyway
[Chorus 2]
So let’s get to the point, let’s roll another joint
And let’s head on down the road, there’s somewhere I gotta go
You don’t know how it feels
You don’t know how it feels to be me
[Verse 3]
My old man was born to rock
He’s still tryin’ to beat the clock
Make of me what you will
I’ve got a little space to fill
[Chorus 2]
So let’s get to the point, let’s roll another joint
And let’s head on down the road, there’s somewhere I gotta go
You don’t know how it feels
You don’t know how it feels
No, you don’t know how it feels to be me
You don’t know how it feels
You don’t know how it feels
No, you don’t know how it feels to be me
Meet Me In Montauk 
I am usually skeptical about these posthumous releases, as they often feel like cash grabs by the artist’s estate, releasing material the artist may never have wanted released. Here, though, it doesn’t feel like that is the motive and, hopefully, Petty would have approved. Looking forward to hearing the different takes on a great album.
Glad his estate has threatened to sue tRump’s campaign if they continue to use his music