Tom Petty (1950-2017), born in Gainesville, Florida, was one of American rock's most beloved songwriters — this entry covers his solo records, apart from the Heartbreakers catalog. Full Moon Fever (1989) and Wildflowers (1994) are among the best things he ever made, and he moonlighted in the Traveling Wilburys too. Browse Tom Petty vinyl, CDs, and reissues at Wax Trax Records.
Tom Petty was born in Gainesville, Florida in 1950 and died in 2017. While he is most famous as the frontman of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers (catalogued separately), he also released a series of albums credited to him as a solo artist, beginning with Full Moon Fever in 1989. He was additionally a member of the supergroup the Traveling Wilburys alongside Bob Dylan, George Harrison, Roy Orbison, and Jeff Lynne. This page focuses on his solo releases.
Tom Petty's solo work shares the heartland rock, classic rock, and roots-rock sensibility of his band recordings, with melodic, plainspoken songwriting and jangling guitars. His solo albums, often featuring Heartbreakers members and collaborators like Jeff Lynne, are among the most acclaimed and best-selling of his career.
Full Moon Fever and Wildflowers have been reissued in expanded and deluxe editions, including the Wildflowers & All the Rest set, and original pressings are widely collected. These solo titles are frequently sought alongside the Heartbreakers catalog.
Listeners new to Tom Petty's solo work usually start with Full Moon Fever (1989) or Wildflowers (1994). For the band catalog, see . For related listening, see .
