Margo Price dug deep into the rich Tom Petty catalog for a cover of “Ways to Be Wicked” featuring her frequent collaborator Mike Campbell from Petty’s backing band The Heartbreakers. The song is the latest single from the upcoming twangy tribute to the late singer-songwriter Petty Country, due out June 21st via Big Machine Records.
Tom Petty and Mike Campbell originally wrote “Ways to Be Wicked” for short-lived L.A. country rock band Lone Justice, appearing on its self-titled debut album in 1985. Unfortunately, Lone Justice didn’t connect with audiences and the band split up two years and one more largely ignored album later. Petty and the Heartbreakers, though, held onto it and a version of the song by its original authors showed up on the 1995 compilation, Playback. The song has found new hands yet again, and another female vocalist (Price in for Lone Justice’s Maria McKee), on Price’s reading of the deep cut.
“Ways to Be Wicked” comes swinging in with the same breezy honky tonk feel from Petty’s version, remaining authentic through the way Price spits out the scornful lyrics. Margo’s version is the third bowl of this “Goldilocks” of a borrowed song, bringing the tune from the ’80s to the ’90s to the ’20s by way of soft, clean audio production and the kind of strong female presence the current country establishment has finally realized is the future. The song’s co-author voices his approval for this latest cover with a screeching, chicken-pickin’ guitar solo as the song rides off into the distance.
Petty Country features 20 tracks combining fan favorites and hidden gems, interpreted by country greats including Willie Nelson, Dolly Parton, George Strait, bluegrass luminary Marty Stuart, and more. Petty’s unparalleled impact on the contemporary scene is observed in the interpretations by modern stars Chris Stapleton, Luke Combs, Margo Price, Dierks Bentley, Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real, Rhiannon Giddens, and more.
Check out the new Margo Price cover of “Ways to Be Wicked” by Tom Petty featuring Heartbreakers guitarist Mike Campbell. Petty Country is available here for pre-order.
Margo Price, Mike Campbell — “Ways To Be Wicked” (Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers)
The post Margo Price Covers Tom Petty’s “Ways To Be Wicked” With Heartbreaker Mike Campbell [Listen] appeared first on L4LM.
