Free Girl Now

Last updated
"Free Girl Now"
Single by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
from the album Echo
Released1999
Genre Hard rock [1]
Length3:30
Label Warner Bros. Records
Songwriter(s) Tom Petty
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers singles chronology
"Changed the Locks"
(1996)
"Free Girl Now"
(1999)
"Room at the Top"
(1999)

"Free Girl Now" is a song by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. It is the third track and the lead single from the band's album Echo . The single reached #5 on the Mainstream Rock chart and #3 on the Adult Alternative Airplay chart. [2] [3] In Canada, the song peaked at number 1 on the RPM Rock Report in April 1999. [4] The song later repeaked at number one on the RPM rock chart in May 1999. [5]

Contents

Song info and reception

AllMusic describes "Free Girl Now" as an "intoxicating hard rock" track with "a layer of sorrow and regret". [6] Return of Rock ranks the song as the 3rd best track on the album, describing it as being "reminiscent of early classic Petty". [7]

Charts

Chart (2010)Peak
position
Canada Rock ( Billboard ) [8] 6
US Adult Alternative Songs ( Billboard ) [9] 3
US Mainstream Rock ( Billboard ) [10] 5

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tom Petty</span> American musician (1950–2017)

Thomas Earl Petty was an American musician. He was the lead vocalist and guitarist of the rock band Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, formed in 1976. He previously led the band Mudcrutch, was a member of the late 1980s supergroup the Traveling Wilburys, and had success as a solo artist.

<i>Wildflowers</i> (Tom Petty album) 1994 studio album by Tom Petty

Wildflowers is the second solo studio album by American musician Tom Petty, released on November 1, 1994. The album was the first released by Petty after signing a contract with Warner Bros. Records and the first of three albums produced by Rick Rubin. The album was certified 3× platinum in the United States by the Recording Industry Association of America.

<i>Echo</i> (Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers album) 1999 studio album by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers

Echo is the tenth studio album by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. Released in April 1999, the album reached number 10 on the Billboard 200 aided by singles "Free Girl Now", "Swingin'" and "Room at the Top", which hit numbers 5, 17 and 19 respectively on Billboard's Mainstream Rock Tracks in 1999. The album was the band's last collaboration with producer Rick Rubin, and was also the last to feature contributions from longtime bassist/vocalist Howie Epstein, who died of a heroin overdose in 2003. Despite still being a member of the band, Epstein is missing from the album's cover photo because he failed to show up for the photo shoot, and Petty ordered it to commence without him. It also marks the first to feature longtime touring member Scott Thurston. Echo was certified Gold by the RIAA in July 1999, only three months after it was released. Echo is the only Heartbreakers' album to feature a lead vocal from another member of the band: lead guitarist Mike Campbell on "I Don't Wanna Fight".

<i>Greatest Hits</i> (Tom Petty album) 1993 greatest hits album by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers

Greatest Hits is a compilation album by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, released in 1993. It is Petty's best-selling album to date and was certified 12× Platinum by the RIAA on April 28, 2015. The single "Mary Jane's Last Dance" became one of Petty's most popular songs, reaching No. 14 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 1 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks chart. The other new song on the album is a cover of the Thunderclap Newman hit "Something in the Air". The album contains no songs from 1987's Let Me Up . However, three songs from Petty's 1989 solo album Full Moon Fever were included.

<i>Into the Great Wide Open</i> 1991 studio album by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers

Into the Great Wide Open is the eighth studio album by American rock band Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, released in July 1991. The album was the band's last with MCA Records. The album was the second Petty produced with Jeff Lynne after the success of Full Moon Fever.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mary Jane's Last Dance</span> 1993 single by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers

"Mary Jane's Last Dance" is a song written by Tom Petty and recorded by American rock band Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. It was recorded while Petty was recording his Wildflowers album and was produced by Rick Rubin, guitarist Mike Campbell, and Petty. The sessions would prove to be the last to include drummer Stan Lynch before his eventual departure in 1994. This song was first released as part of the Greatest Hits album in 1993. It rose to No. 14 on the US Billboard Hot 100, becoming Petty's first Billboard top-20 hit of the 1990s, and also topped the Billboard Album Rock Tracks chart for two weeks. Internationally, the song reached No. 2 in Portugal and No. 5 in Canada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Free Fallin'</span> 1989 single by Tom Petty

"Free Fallin'" is the opening track from American musician Tom Petty's debut solo album, Full Moon Fever (1989). The song was written by Petty and his writing partner for the album, Jeff Lynne, and features Lynne on backing vocals and bass guitar. The duo wrote and recorded the single in two days, making it the first song completed for Full Moon Fever.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Slide (Goo Goo Dolls song)</span> 1998 single by Goo Goo Dolls

"Slide" is a song by American alternative rock group Goo Goo Dolls. It was released as the first single from their sixth studio album, Dizzy Up the Girl, in September 1998. According to lead guitarist John Rzeznik, the song is about a Catholic girl who becomes pregnant and discusses with her boyfriend how they should react to it. Musically, the track is a jangle pop and alternative rock song.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Learning to Fly (Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers song)</span> 1991 single by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers

"Learning to Fly" is a song by American rock band Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. It was written in 1991 by Tom Petty and his writing partner Jeff Lynne for the band's eighth studio album, Into the Great Wide Open (1991). The entire song is based on four simple chords,. It became a top hit for Petty and the Heartbreakers, topping the US Album Rock Tracks chart and peaking at number 28 on the Billboard Hot 100.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">You Don't Know How It Feels</span> 1994 single by Tom Petty

"You Don't Know How It Feels" is a song and the lead single from American musician Tom Petty's 1994 album, Wildflowers. The track features candid lyrics describing the songwriter's desire for personal and professional autonomy. The single reached No. 1 on the US Billboard Album Rock Tracks chart, No. 3 on the Canadian RPM 100 Hit Tracks chart, and No. 13 on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming Petty's last top-40 hit in the US. An alternate version was posthumously released on June 26, 2020. This version peaked at No. 54 on the iTunes chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Into the Great Wide Open (song)</span> 1991 single by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers

"Into the Great Wide Open" is a song by American rock band Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, included as the third track on their eighth studio album, Into the Great Wide Open (1991). Released as a single in September 1991, the song reached number four on the US Billboard Album Rock Tracks chart but stalled at number 92 on the Billboard Hot 100. Internationally, the song peaked at number 23 on the Canadian RPM Top Singles chart and found moderate success in Belgium and Germany.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lullaby (Shawn Mullins song)</span> 1998 single by Shawn Mullins

"Lullaby" is a song by American rock singer Shawn Mullins from his fourth studio album, Soul's Core (1998). It was released in August 1998 and is Mullins' most successful song to date, reaching number one on the US Billboard Adult Top 40, number seven on the Billboard Hot 100, and number nine on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart. It also found success abroad, reaching number nine on the UK Singles Chart, number five in Australia, and number two in Canada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dizzy (Goo Goo Dolls song)</span> 1999 single by Goo Goo Dolls

"Dizzy" is a song by American band Goo Goo Dolls, written by lead vocalist and guitarist Johnny Rzeznik. It was released as a single from their sixth studio album, Dizzy Up the Girl (1998). The song peaked at number nine on the US Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart in May 1999 and also reached number 28 in Canada and number 50 in Australia. An extended play (EP) titled Dizzy EP was released the next month featuring this song as well as others from previous albums. The music video stars actress Shannyn Sossamon.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tom Petty discography</span>

This is the discography of Tom Petty, who was an American singer, songwriter and musician. Petty released 13 studio albums as the lead singer of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers in addition to three solo albums.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Meet Virginia</span> 1998 single by Train

"Meet Virginia" is the debut single of American roots rock band Train, released in 1998 from their self-titled debut album. Originally serviced to adult album alternative radio in March 1998, the song took over a year to gain popularity on mainstream radio, eventually reaching number 20 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart in January 2000, becoming the band's first top-20 hit and their first single to appear on the Hot 100. It also reached the top 20 in Canada, peaking at number 15 on the RPM 100 Hit Tracks chart.

"I Should Have Known It" is a song by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers from their 2010 album Mojo. It was included on Petty's 2019 posthumous greatest hits album The Best of Everything. The song has been described as a great rocker with a riff in Led Zeppelin's style.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Walls (Circus)</span>

"Walls (Circus)" is a song written by Tom Petty and recorded by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. It was released in July 1996 as the first single from their soundtrack album Songs and Music from "She's the One". The song features Lindsey Buckingham on background vocals. The song peaked at number 69 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart. The song was recorded at Sound City Studios by engineer Sylvia Massy. An alternate arrangement of the song, played at a faster tempo, was included on the soundtrack under the title "Walls (No. 3)". The song was later covered by Glen Campbell on his 2008 album Meet Glen Campbell and by The Lumineers on the first anniversary of Petty's death.

<i>An American Treasure</i> 2018 Tom Petty compilation album

An American Treasure is a 2018 compilation album and box set of Tom Petty, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers and Mudcrutch released by Reprise Records on September 28, 2018. The set includes several rare and unreleased songs alongside more obscure album tracks that showcase Petty's songwriting. The majority of the content is Heartbreakers material but there are also several solo songs and some recordings by Mudcrutch. Critical reception has been positive.

<i>The Best of Everything</i> (album) 2019 greatest hits album by Tom Petty

The Best of Everything is a 2019 greatest hits album with recordings made by Tom Petty, with his backing band The Heartbreakers, as a solo artist, and with Mudcrutch. It was released on March 1.

"Room at the Top" is the first track on the album Echo by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, and the second single from the album. It reached number 19 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart.

References

  1. "Echo - Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, Tom Petty | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic".
  2. https://www.billboard.com/artist/tom-petty-and-the-heartbreakers/chart-history/rtt/
  3. "Tom Petty | Awards".
  4. "RPM Rock Report" (PDF). RPM. 68 (25): 14. April 12, 1999. Retrieved 24 May 2020.
  5. "RPM Rock Report" (PDF). RPM. 69 (2): 14. May 3, 1999. Retrieved 24 May 2020.
  6. "Echo - Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, Tom Petty | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic".
  7. https://returnofrock.com/echo-songs-ranked/
  8. "Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers Chart History (Canada Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved March 14, 2022.
  9. "Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers Chart History (Adult Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved March 14, 2022.
  10. "Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved March 14, 2022.