Tom Petty estate has debuted a brand-new music video for Petty and the Heartbreakers’ inspired 1982 live-in-the-studio cover of The Troggs’ 1966 hit “Wild Thing.” Tom and his band recorded the song at the famous Los Angeles studio The Record Plant while being filmed for the French TV show Houba Houba.
Videos by American Songwriter
The audio of the “Wild Thing” cover was released in 2024 as part of the deluxe reissue of Petty and the Heartbreakers’ 1982 album Long After Dark. The video was directed by Justin Kreutzmann, and features newly restored footage of Tom and the band performing the song at The Record Plant, as well as previously unseen footage shot by director Cameron Crowe while making the 1983 documentary, Tom Petty: Heartbreakers Beach Party. The clip, which you can watch now at Petty’s YouTube channel, also boasts newly remastered sound.
The bonus footage includes scenes of the band in concert, traveling on a tour bus, taking part in a radio interview, and goofing around during the “You Got Lucky” video shoot.
Kreutzmann, whose credits include a variety of rock documentaries and concert films, is founding Grateful Dead drummer Bill Kreutzmann’s son.
“Wild Thing” was written by Chip Taylor and first recorded in 1965 by the New York City rock band The Wild Ones. British band The Troggs released their version of “Wild Thing” in 1966. It went on to top the Billboard Hot 100 for two weeks during that summer.
Heartbreakers Beach Party Soundtrack
The recently rediscovered and revamped documentary Tom Petty: Heartbreakers Beach Party got its exclusive TV streaming premiere on Paramount+ in the U.S. and Canada on March 11.
The movie, which marked the directorial debut of Oscar-winning filmmaker Crowe, captured Petty and his band in 1982 and ’83 as they finished recording, promoted, and toured in support of Long After Dark.
Coinciding with the film’s Paramount+ premiere, a companion digital soundtrack album has been released. The 35-track collection features a variety of classic Petty and the Heartbreakers songs mixed with tracks from the deluxe Long After Dark reissue.
More About Heartbreakers Beach Party
The original version of Heartbreakers Beach Party aired on television only once, on MTV in February 1983. In 2024, long-lost 16-millimter reels of the documentary were found, and the film was restored and remastered. The updated movie includes 19 minutes of previously unseen archival bonus footage, plus new commentary from Crowe.
The restored version Heartbreakers Beach Party initially was screened in select theaters in October 2024. The screenings coincided with the release of a deluxe reissue of Long After Dark.
More About the Deluxe Long After Dark Reissue
The Deluxe Edition of Long After Dark features a newly remastered version of the original album, plus 12 newly mixed bonus tracks. The extra tracks include several songs recorded for Petty and the Heartbreakers’ appearance on Houba Houba.
The package also features liner notes by lauded rock journalist David Fricke, and commentary from Crowe and producer Jimmy Iovine. In addition, the release boasts a booklet featuring lyrics and a variety of archival photos.
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