Southern Accents

Southern Accents is the sixth album by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, released on March 26, 1985, through MCA Records. The album’s lead single, “Don’t Come Around Here No More”, co-written by Dave Stewart of Eurythmics, peaked at #13 on the Billboard Hot 100. Its music video featured Alice in Wonderland imagery. The song “Southern Accents” was later covered by Johnny Cash for his Unchained album in 1996.

Originally conceived as a concept album, the theme of “Southern Accents” became somewhat murky with the inclusion of three songs co-written by Stewart, and several others originally planned for the album left off. Songs cut from the track list include “Trailer,” “Big Boss Man,” “Crackin’ Up” (a Nick Lowe cover), “The Image of Me,” and “The Apartment Song.” The first four (and a demo version of “The Apartment Song”) were later released on Playback, a box set that included familiar songs, outtakes, b-sides and other rarities. A studio version of “The Apartment Song” appeared on Petty’s first solo album, Full Moon Fever, released in 1989. “Trailer” was later re-recorded and released in May 2016 by Petty’s other band Mudcrutch, on its second studio album, 2.

While mixing the album’s opening track, “Rebels,” Petty became frustrated and punched a wall, severely breaking his left hand. Subsequent surgery on his hand left him with several pins, wires and screws holding his hand together.

The album cover features an 1865 painting by Winslow Homer titled The Veteran in a New Field.