An unlikely superstar partnership turned 3 simple chords into the biggest solo hit of a rock icon’s career. The story of the making, and the major label snubbing of the Tom Petty smash Free Fallin that he co-wrote with Electric Light Orchestra principal Jeff Lynne and Mike Cambell from the album Full Moon Fever. We discuss why this petty classic should’ve been #1 next on Professor of Rock.

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Tom Petty met Jeff Lynne in England, when Petty was playing with The Heartbreakers as the backup band for the incomparable Bob Dylan. The two became fast friends, and collaborated with Dylan, George Harrison, and Roy Orbison in Traveling Wilburys- the SUPER of super groups- a concept & title that was conceived by Guitar George.

Tom & Jeff developed a deep relationship that went well beyond their shared passion & excellence with music. The two legends found that they had much in common, even a love for bowling- which they enjoyed whenever they had the opportunity. Rumor has it that Jeff Lynne is actually an exceptional bowler.
How great would that be…. You decide to go bowling, and you get to the bowling alley, and one of the lanes is occupied with Tom Petty & Jeff Lynne having a couple of cold ones throwing strikes…

In the late 80s, discord festered within The Heartbreakers, and the great Tom Petty began to work on his his first solo record.
Tom turned to Jeff to help him make the record. He LOVED the sound of George Harrison’s Cloud Nine album that Jeff Lynne produced, and became obsessed with it, playing it over and over again.

Since it was his first solo album, and a pivotal crossroads in his career, Tom needed someone that he could trust. Someone that would pour their heart & soul into the quality of the music, just as Tom was planning to do.

On paper, it would seem to be an odd couple to craft an album- with Tom Petty as the iconic American Rocker from Gainesville, Florida, and Jeff Lynne- the symphonic pop auteur from Birmingham, England. However, because of their friendship, and their shared vision, the pairing would prove to be a brilliantly calculated hunch.

Jeff Lynne played an invaluable role on nearly every aspect of Petty’s debut solo LP- Full Moon Fever. Besides co-producing, he also co-wrote most of the songs for Tom’s solo record, including the first cut on the album- a track called “Free Fallin.”
The two superstars were getting into the zone to work on fresh material.

Lynne started playing elaborate keyboard parts, and Petty was jamming on a heavy guitar riff, then he playfully transitioned his style- strumming three simple chords. Lynne suggested that Tom stop playing the hard stuff, and just sing words to the pacing of those three chords.