Swingin' by Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers

Album: Echo (1999)

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Songfacts®:

This Tom Petty composition runs to 5 minutes 30 seconds and is Track 5 on the 1999 Echo album. It was also released as a promo single. The same year, Petty explained its genesis in an episode of VH1 Storytellers:

"We did a lot of songs for this particular album and there was one song that we thought that we might could make a little better if we went back and had one more go at it. And The Heartbreakers are legendary for not really being big on having one more go at things, because we usually do the best thing we're gonna pretty early on in the program, and the rest of the night just turns into drinking and talking. That's pretty much it. Some people actually can do the song over and over and get better and better, but this is not our case.

And so, at this session, let's just say the session wasn't going great because we were not bettering the song that we'd done. And, I tended to wander off into my own little space in my headphones. While they were playing that song, I wrote another song that was really a lot better, and so I said, "You know, while you guys were playing that, I wrote another song and I think it's a lot better." And it turned out that we did actually like the new song a lot better and I want to play it for you now. And the new song is called 'Swingin'.'"
Although on stage Petty played mainly rhythm or accoustic guitar, here he shares the lead with Mike Campbell. He also played harmonica on the album version. >>>
Suggestion credit:
Alexander Baron - London, England, for above 2

Comments: 2

Al from HoustonBenny Goodman, Glenn Miller, Tommy Dorsey, Sammy Davis and Sonny Liston all notables in the "swing" era. Although he might have stretched some with Sammy and Sonny (was the heavy favored boxer who lost to the greatest - Ali in early 60's). What a great song. My wife and I have had many discussions on Tom and his band. They were simply amazing and some people say what a poet he was who happened to be a rock and roller. But to me, it's not only his words and that he could sing, but it was also how he sang. The sometimes monotone, the short yells, the deep southern accent, the inflection or bending his voice at certain points. All part of the legend and why he and Heartbreakers were among the best..
Rae from Boca Raton FlaWhat are all the names in swinging?

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