Tom Petty Takes You Inside His Songwriting Craft

Briefly noted: Give this wide-ranging interview with Tom Petty some time. Recorded in 2014, Petty talks with interviewer Jian Ghomeshi about his songwriting craft. The writing of songs, the rehearsal and recording process, the work in the studio, it all gets covered here. As he talks, one thing comes across: Whatever talents he had, Petty put in the hard work. He and the Heartbreakers mastered their instruments, kept getting better, and didn't take short cuts, to the point where they could do magical things together in the recording studio.

Watch Part 1 above, and Part 2 below, where, at one point he says, "I'm doing the best I can. You can't say I didn't try really hard because I'm really trying hard to be good." The value of trying--trying consistently--can never be understated.

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Related Content:

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