Beyond the Heartbreakers
With other artists
Tom Petty wrote hits for other people, sang on their records, produced them, and lent them his band. Here are 35 of those records and stages with 21 artists, from Stevie Nicks and Del Shannon to Bob Dylan, Roy Orbison and Johnny Cash.
1970s
On stage
Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band: Stay
Shared lead vocals with Springsteen and Jackson Browne on a cover of the Maurice Williams song.
Recorded at Madison Square Garden on September 22, 1979, during the MUSE benefit shows. The performance stayed in the vaults until Springsteen's archive release of the concerts in November 2021.
From The Legendary 1979 No Nukes Concerts (released 2021)
Sources: The Legendary 1979 No Nukes Concerts - Wikipedia · Tom Petty discography - Wikipedia
1980s
Produced · with the Heartbreakers
Del Shannon: Drop Down and Get Me
Produced the album, sang backing vocals on 'Out of Time' and added harmonica and tambourine.
A comeback record for the 'Runaway' singer, cut with the Heartbreakers as his band. It turned out to be the last album of new material Shannon released while he was alive.
From Drop Down and Get Me (album)Chart Single 'Sea of Love': US Billboard Hot 100 #33
Sources: Drop Down and Get Me - Wikipedia
Duet · with the Heartbreakers
Stevie Nicks: Stop Draggin' My Heart Around
Co-wrote the song with Mike Campbell, co-produced it with Jimmy Iovine, sang co-lead and played guitar.
Written during the Hard Promises sessions, it was passed to Nicks for her first solo album and became that record's lead single. The Heartbreakers cut the backing track, with Donald 'Duck' Dunn sitting in on bass.
From Bella DonnaChart US Billboard Hot 100 #3; US Mainstream Rock #2
Sources: Stop Draggin' My Heart Around - Wikipedia · Bella Donna (album) - Wikipedia · Playback (Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers album) - Wikipedia
Produced · with the Heartbreakers
Stevie Nicks: Outside the Rain
Co-produced the track with Jimmy Iovine and played guitar.
The second Bella Donna track Petty worked on, with Heartbreakers Mike Campbell and Stan Lynch also playing. Nicks wrote the song herself.
From Bella Donna
Sources: Bella Donna (album) - Wikipedia · Tom Petty discography - Wikipedia
Written for them · with the Heartbreakers
Stevie Nicks: I Will Run to You
Wrote the song alone, co-produced it with Jimmy Iovine, and sang and played guitar on it.
Billed as a duet between Nicks and Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, with Campbell, Tench, Lynch and Howie Epstein in the credits. It was not released as a single but still got rock radio airplay.
From The Wild HeartChart US Mainstream Rock #35
Sources: The Wild Heart (album) - Wikipedia · Tom Petty discography - Wikipedia
Guest vocals
Dwight Twilley: Girls
Sang guest vocals.
Twilley was an old Shelter Records labelmate. Mike Campbell also plays on the Jungle album.
From JungleChart US Billboard Hot 100 #16
Sources: Tom Petty discography - Wikipedia · Jungle (Dwight Twilley album) - Wikipedia
Co-written
Maria McKee: Never Be You
Co-wrote the song with Benmont Tench and is credited among the soundtrack's producers.
Written for Walter Hill's film; Rosanne Cash also recorded it for the movie, but McKee's take went on the soundtrack. American Songwriter credits the track's production to Jimmy Iovine and Petty.
From Streets of Fire (original soundtrack)
Sources: Never Be You - Wikipedia · Streets of Fire (soundtrack) - Wikipedia · 7 Songs You Didn't Know Tom Petty Wrote for Other Artists - American Songwriter
On stage · with the Heartbreakers
Bob Dylan: Farm Aid set
Led the Heartbreakers as Dylan's backing band.
Dylan had no band of his own for the first Farm Aid, so the Heartbreakers backed him after playing their own set. It was meant to be a one-off and led straight to two years of touring together.
From Live performance, Memorial Stadium, Champaign, Illinois (September 22, 1985)
Sources: Farm Aid 1985: Tom Petty - Champaign County History · Bob Dylan and Tom Petty's Farm Aid rehearsal - Flagging Down the Double E's · Farm Aid - Wikipedia
Co-written
Lone Justice: Ways to Be Wicked
Wrote the lyrics; Mike Campbell wrote the music.
The second single from Maria McKee's band's debut album. Campbell also plays guitar on the Lone Justice recording.
From Lone JusticeTom's own version Ways to Be Wicked (Let Me Up sessions recording, released on Playback, 1995)
Sources: Lone Justice (album) - Wikipedia · Playback (Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers album) - Wikipedia
Co-written
Rosanne Cash: Never Be You
Co-wrote the song with Benmont Tench.
Cash had cut an unused version for Streets of Fire, then released her own as a single in September 1985. Billboard ranked it the top country single of 1986.
From Rhythm & RomanceChart US Billboard Hot Country Songs #1
Sources: Never Be You - Wikipedia
Produced · with the Heartbreakers
Bob Dylan: Band of the Hand
Produced the recording, with the Heartbreakers as Dylan's band.
Recorded in Sydney in February 1986 during a break in the tour, with Stevie Nicks among the backing singers. Dylan wrote the song for the film of the same name.
From Band of the Hand (soundtrack single)Chart US Mainstream Rock #28
Sources: Band of the Hand (song) - Wikipedia · Tom Petty discography - Wikipedia
Heartbreakers as the band
Bob Dylan: True Confessions Tour
Toured as Dylan's band and co-headliner with the Heartbreakers.
Sixty shows across Australia, New Zealand, Japan and North America. Two Sydney nights were filmed by Gillian Armstrong for the HBO special Hard to Handle.
From Tour (February–August 1986); concert film Hard to Handle
Sources: True Confessions Tour - Wikipedia
Co-written · with the Heartbreakers
Bob Dylan: Got My Mind Made Up
Co-wrote the song with Dylan and played on the album.
The one song Dylan and Petty are credited with writing together outside the Wilburys. Several Heartbreakers are in the album credits, but the per-track lineup isn't documented.
From Knocked Out LoadedTom's own version Got My Mind Made Up (Let Me Up sessions recording, released on Playback, 1995)
Sources: Knocked Out Loaded - Wikipedia · Playback (Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers album) - Wikipedia · 7 Songs You Didn't Know Tom Petty Wrote for Other Artists - American Songwriter
Guest vocals
Hank Williams Jr.: Mind Your Own Business
Sang one of the guest verses.
A remake of his father's song, with guest vocals from Petty, Reba McEntire, Willie Nelson and Reverend Ike. It was issued as a single in October 1986.
From Montana CafeChart US Billboard Hot Country Songs #1
Sources: Montana Cafe - Wikipedia · Tom Petty discography - Wikipedia
Heartbreakers as the band
Bob Dylan: Temples in Flames Tour
Toured Israel and Europe as Dylan's band with the Heartbreakers.
Thirty shows, opening in Tel Aviv and ending at Wembley Arena, with Roger McGuinn reported as the opener. It was the last time Dylan toured with Petty's band.
From Tour (September–October 1987)
Sources: Temples in Flames Tour - Wikipedia · True Confessions Tour - Wikipedia
Guest vocals
Joni Mitchell: Dancin' Clown
Sang guest vocals alongside Billy Idol.
One of several guest-heavy tracks on Mitchell's 1988 album; Petty's part is shared with Billy Idol.
From Chalk Mark in a Rain Storm
Sources: Chalk Mark in a Rain Storm - Wikipedia · Tom Petty discography - Wikipedia
Guest guitar
Randy Newman: Land of Dreams
Played guitar and sang backing vocals.
Jeff Lynne co-produced part of the album, which is how Petty ended up on it. The credits do not say which tracks he plays on.
Sources: Land of Dreams (Randy Newman album) - Wikipedia · Land of Dreams, 30 Years On - Rock & Roll Globe
Co-written
Traveling Wilburys: Traveling Wilburys Vol. 1 and Vol. 3
Founding member alongside George Harrison, Bob Dylan, Jeff Lynne and Roy Orbison; songs credited to the group.
Covered in full in the site's Traveling Wilburys section; listed here only as a pointer.
From Traveling Wilburys Vol. 1 (1988); Vol. 3 (1990)Chart Vol. 1: US Billboard 200 #3
Sources: Tom Petty discography - Wikipedia
Co-written
George Harrison: Cheer Down
Helped Harrison finish the lyrics and shares the writing credit.
Harrison started the track during the Cloud Nine sessions and finished it with Petty; Jeff Lynne co-produced. It opened the soundtrack and played over the film's end credits.
From Lethal Weapon 2 (soundtrack)
Sources: Cheer Down - Wikipedia · 7 Songs You Didn't Know Tom Petty Wrote for Other Artists - American Songwriter
Co-written · with the Heartbreakers
Roy Orbison: You Got It
Co-wrote the song with Orbison and Jeff Lynne, played acoustic guitar and sang backing vocals.
The first song the three wrote together; Lynne produced it. Heartbreakers Campbell, Epstein and Tench play across Mystery Girl, which came out weeks after Orbison's death in December 1988.
From Mystery GirlChart US Billboard Hot 100 #9; US Adult Contemporary #1; UK #3
Sources: You Got It (Roy Orbison song) - Wikipedia · Mystery Girl - Wikipedia
Co-written · with the Heartbreakers
Roy Orbison: California Blue
Co-wrote the song with Orbison and Jeff Lynne, played acoustic guitar and sang backing vocals.
Released as a single in June 1989. Petty also sang backing vocals on a third Mystery Girl track.
From Mystery Girl
Sources: Mystery Girl - Wikipedia
1990s
Co-written
Jeff Lynne: Blown Away
Co-wrote the song with Lynne.
From Lynne's first solo album, made between the two Wilburys records. Petty is credited as a writer only, not as a performer.
From Armchair Theatre
Sources: Armchair Theatre (album) - Wikipedia · 7 Songs You Didn't Know Tom Petty Wrote for Other Artists - American Songwriter
Co-written
Del Shannon: Walk Away
Co-wrote the song with Shannon and Jeff Lynne; played guitar and sang backing vocals on the album.
Recorded in 1989–90 with Lynne and Mike Campbell producing, and released in 1991 after Shannon's death. Petty and some of the Heartbreakers play on the record.
From Rock On!
Guest vocals
John Prine: Picture Show
Sang background vocals.
The album was produced by Heartbreakers bassist Howie Epstein, with Campbell and Tench playing too. It won the Grammy for Best Contemporary Folk Album.
From The Missing Years
Duet · with the Heartbreakers
Roger McGuinn: King of the Hill
Co-wrote the song with McGuinn and sang it as a duet with him.
The single came out in late 1990, ahead of the January 1991 album. Campbell, Tench and Lynch play on much of Back from Rio, and Petty also shares a writing credit on an interlude inside 'Your Love Is a Gold Mine'.
From Back from RioChart US Mainstream Rock #2
Sources: Back from Rio - Wikipedia · Tom Petty discography - Wikipedia
Guest vocals
Roger McGuinn: The Trees Are All Gone
Sang backing vocals.
A second Back from Rio track Petty sings on. The album page credits him with backing vocals generally; the discography ties him to this song.
From Back from Rio
Sources: Tom Petty discography - Wikipedia · Back from Rio - Wikipedia
On stage · with the Heartbreakers
Bob Dylan (various artists): Bob Dylan 30th Anniversary Concert
Played 'License to Kill' and 'Rainy Day Women #12 & 35' with the Heartbreakers, backed Roger McGuinn on 'Mr. Tambourine Man', and joined the all-star 'My Back Pages'.
Held at Madison Square Garden on October 16, 1992; the album followed in August 1993.
From The 30th Anniversary Concert Celebration (1993)
Sources: The 30th Anniversary Concert Celebration - Wikipedia
Written for them
Rod Stewart: Leave Virginia Alone
Wrote the song.
Petty cut it during the Wildflowers sessions but left it off the album, and Stewart had the hit. Petty's own take surfaced as a single in 2020.
From A Spanner in the WorksChart Canada RPM Top Singles #1; US Billboard Hot 100 #52Tom's own version Leave Virginia Alone (1993 Wildflowers session, released on Wildflowers & All the Rest, 2020)
Sources: Leave Virginia Alone - Wikipedia
Heartbreakers as the band
Carl Perkins: One More Shot / Restless
Performed both tracks with Perkins, with the Heartbreakers as the band.
Go Cat Go! paired the rockabilly pioneer with guests; Bob Johnston produced. Petty was performer only, not producer.
From Go Cat Go!
Sources: Tom Petty discography - Wikipedia · Go Cat Go! - Wikipedia
Guest vocals
Carl Perkins: Give Me Back My Job
Sang on the track with Perkins, Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson and Bono.
A multi-guest track on the same album, separate from the two songs he did with the Heartbreakers.
From Go Cat Go!
Sources: Tom Petty discography - Wikipedia
Heartbreakers as the band
Johnny Cash: Unchained
Led the Heartbreakers as Cash's band for the album; played guitars, bass and Chamberlin and sang.
Rick Rubin's second American Recordings album with Cash swapped the solo-acoustic approach for a full band. It won the Grammy for Best Country Album and includes Cash's take on Petty's 'Southern Accents'.
Chart US Top Country Albums #26
Guest vocals
Ringo Starr: Drift Away
Sang guest vocals.
A cover of the Mentor Williams song. Petty's part was recorded remotely from Los Angeles in May 1998 while the session ran at Abbey Road.
From Vertical Man
Sources: Vertical Man - Wikipedia
2000s
Guest vocals
Johnny Cash: I Won't Back Down / Solitary Man
Sang with Cash on both tracks and played organ on 'I Won't Back Down'.
The album opens with Cash's version of Petty's 'I Won't Back Down', followed by the Neil Diamond title song. Campbell and Tench also play on the record.
From American III: Solitary ManChart 'Solitary Man' won the Grammy for Best Male Country Vocal Performance
On stage · with the Heartbreakers
George Harrison (tribute concert): Concert for George
Played 'Taxman' and 'I Need You' with the Heartbreakers, then 'Handle with Care' with Jeff Lynne and Dhani Harrison.
Held at the Royal Albert Hall on November 29, 2002, a year after Harrison's death. The film and album came out in November 2003.
From Concert for George (CD/DVD, 2003)
Sources: Concert for George - Wikipedia
On stage
George Harrison (Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction): While My Guitar Gently Weeps
Sang in the all-star band marking Harrison's solo induction.
The lineup included Jeff Lynne, Steve Winwood, Dhani Harrison and Steve Ferrone, with Prince closing on an extended guitar solo.
From Live performance, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony
Covers of Tom's songs by other artists and tribute albums aren't on this page. Know a record we've missed? Tell us.