Song of the Day: 'Here Comes My Girl' by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers

Still hard to believe we lost two of our generation's most talented and prolific songwriters -- Prince and Tom Petty -- to the opioid crisis. Tom wrote so many good songs -- "American Girl," "The Waiting," "Even the Losers," "Refugee," "You Got Lucky," "I Won't Back Down," "Change of Heart," "Don't Come Around Here No More," "Free Fallin'," "Walls (Circus)," "Stop Draggin' My Heart Around," "Never Be You" -- that it's hard to pick a favorite. If pressed, though, today's SOTD might be the one. How about you? 

Song of the Day: 'The Waiting' by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers

 If the Ramones' "I Wanna Be Sedated" was the theme of the past two weeks, this Tom Petty classic sums up the nation's current mood. My boss asked me to work late tonight -- and since I will be working an election from home for the first time in my career, it's going to be a weird one ...

Song of the Day: 'Even the Losers' by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers

We lost an American classic.

Song of the Day: 'Hometown Blues' by Rosanne Cash

When I asked Rosanne Cash about her memories of recording Tom Petty's "Never Be You," it totally slipped my mind that she'd also recorded his "Hometown Blues" for her seminal "Seven Year Ache" LP -- which she discussed on Instagram HERE.

Song of the Day: 'Never Be You' by Rosanne Cash

Wonderful song written by Tom Petty and Benmont Tench. Maria McKee performed it on the "Streets of Fire" soundtrack. I asked Rosanne about her memories of singing it and here's what she had to say:

I recorded "Never Be You" first WITH Tom and Benmont, with Jimmy Iovine producing and the great Hal Blaine on drums. This was in the early 80’s. It didn’t really work, but Tom was a gentleman and and kind to me. I loved the song, so I just re-recorded it with Rodney [Crowell, her producer and then-husband] for "Rhythm and Romance." It was a number one record. I just thought it was a brilliant ‘country’ song. Not sure if Tom thought of it that way.

Tom Petty Is Dead at 66

Heartbroken to hear about the death of Tom Petty at just 66.

CBS News has confirmed. that the legendary musician suffered a full cardiac arrest and was found unconscious and not breathing in his Malibu home Sunday night. He was taken to UCLA Santa Monica Hospital and put on life support, reports TMZ.

Petty rose to fame in the 1970s with his band, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. The group put out several hits, including "American Girl," "Free Fallin'," "Stop Draggin' My Heart Around," "Breakdown," "Listen to Her Heart" and more. The band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2002.

Though Petty and his band debuted their first self-titled record in 1976, they continued to perform over the past four decades. Petty played his last show last Monday, performing three sold-out shows at the Hollywood Bowl to conclude their 40th anniversary tour. The band wrote on their website that the tour included 53 shows in 24 states.

He will be missed but his music will live on forever.

Always had a thing for this song, which isn't one of his classics.

UPDATE: CBS has walked back its confirmation, citing bad info from the LAPD. But apparently Tom has no brain activity and has been taken off life support, so the inevitable is near.

UPDATE II: Love this comment. RIP.

Song of the Day: 'I Won't Back Down' by Dawn Landes

Fun gender-flip cover of the Tom Petty favorite.

Song of the Day: 'Walls (Circus)' by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers

Michael dusted off my Tom Petty greatest hits CD over the weekend. The only way the album could be more perfect would be if it came out three years later and included "Walls (Circus)," a song Tom wrote as part of the "She's the One" soundtrack. Download HERE.

Song of the Day: 'American Girl' by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers

If you'd asked me what my favorite Tom Petty song was, I'd have said "Refugee," "Here Comes My Girl" or even "Walls (Circus)" from the "She's the One" soundtrack. But according to iTunes, I listen to "American Girl" WAAAAAAY more often than all of those put together, so here you go!