Today’s post covers the only album missing from my Tom Petty Deep Dive, his second record with the band Mudcrutch.
Titled simply 2, this 2016 release was the final studio recording made by Petty, who died a year later after six months of touring. 2 came eight years after the previous, self-titled, Mudcrutch album, with two Heartbreakers albums dropping in-between.
Mudcrutch was Petty’s first band, and included future Heartbreakers Mike Campbell and Benmont Tench, along with Randall Marsh and Tom Leadon (brother of the Eagles’ Bernie). They split in 1975 (when the Heartbreakers were formed) without recording an album.
The band reformed in 2008 and dropped a solid collection of roots rock that I enjoyed but found a bit overstuffed.
I expected the same from this follow-up — a solid if unspectacular album that is basically an excuse for old friends to jam together. And it is that, but it turns out it’s a lot better than that.
Half of these songs fit that description, but the other half are just wonderful. I’d stack a few tracks up there with Petty’s top tier output with the Heartbreakers and as a solo artist.
First single ‘Trailer’ was originally recorded for the 1985 Heartbreakers album Southern Accents but was abandoned when that album was reenvisioned from a two-disc concept album about the American South into the nine-track grab bag it became. Petty blames his drug use for dropping the ball on that project.
There’s no question ‘Trailer’ would have fit beautifully on Southern Accents, and it fits beautifully here with an additional verse and a quarter century of experience under Petty’s and the band’s belts.
Other standouts include ‘Dreams of Flying,’ ‘Beautiful Blue,’ ‘Save Your Water,’ and ‘I Forgive it All,’ all of which feature excellent vocals by Petty and delicious Southern rock by one of the tightest bands in the business.
I’m so glad I caught up with this album. Discoveries like this are the reason I do deep dives — you never know what gems you’ll unearth.
🎵 Tom Petty Deep Dive 🎵
→ My exploration of Tom Petty’s catalog
I graduated high school, I bought her a trailer
In a little park by the side of the road
I coulda had the Army, I coulda had the Navy
But no, I had to go for a mobile home
[Chorus]
Yes, I gave it all to you, babe
All to you and that trailer, too, babe
[Verse 2]
I kept up my interest, I kept up my payments
She never said goodbye, I never asked why
Man, we used to dance to Lynyrd Skynyrd
Aw, she used to look so good at times
[Chorus]
Yes, I gave it all to you, babe
Wasn’t room in that trailer for two, babe
[Bridge]
I can’t find a thing, babe, that gives me an answer
That shines any light on the way things went
I get by on my own time, I ain’t cut out for workin’
I ain’t cut out for nothin’ that pays my rent
[Chorus]
I guess, I gave it all to you, babe
All to you, and that trailer, too, babe
