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Tom Petty — Feel A Whole Lot Better
Album: Full Moon Fever
Avg rating:
7.5

Your rating:
Total ratings: 718









Released: 1989
Length: 2:43
Plays (last 30 days): 0
The reason why, oh, I can't say
I have to let you go, babe, and right away
After what you did I can't stay on
And I'll probably feel a whole lot better
When you're gone

Baby, for a long time you had me believe
That your love was all mine
And that's the way it would be
But I didn't know that you were puttin' me on
And I'll probably feel a whole lot better
When you're gone
Oh, when you're gone

Now I gotta say that it's not like before
And I'm not gonna play your games anymore
After what you did I can't stay on
And I'll probably feel a whole lot better
When you're gone
Yeah, I'll probably feel a whole lot better
When you're gone
Oh, when you're gone
Oh, when you're gone
Oh, when you're gone
Comments (149)add comment
Bumping up to an 8 cuz I'm  in a good mood today and this tune is making me feel a whole lot better.
 JoostHeggers wrote:

Does Needles and Pins ring a bell?


Nice catch! That hook does have a resemblance. 
 Ok_Sobriquet wrote:

The Byrds resurrected Bob Dylan's career with their cover of "Mr. Tambourine Man."
The Byrds had outstanding music though out their careers.

 treatment_bound wrote:

This is a pretty faithful cover, and pretty much sparked my interest in the Byrds.

Thanks, T.P. 

This is a pretty faithful cover, and pretty much sparked my interest in Tom Petty.
Thanks, The Byrds!

 treatment_bound wrote:

This is a pretty faithful cover, and pretty much sparked my interest in the Byrds.

Thanks, T.P. 


The Byrds resurrected Bob Dylan's career with their cover of "Mr. Tambourine Man."
Does Needles and Pins ring a bell?
Love this version but as The Byrds are without doubt my favourite band, would love to hear their version sometime - please - or maybe Thoughts and Words, or Time Between or maybe Renaissance Fair ... list is endless  :)

Met Roger over here in UK back in early 70's.  Got a signed single.  Sure made my day/year/life :)

Thanks to RP for making life worthwhile, especially right now.
Is that a 12 string Ric, like McGuinn?
 treatment_bound wrote:
This is a pretty faithful cover, and pretty much sparked my interest in the Byrds.

Thanks, T.P. 
 

TP and the Heartbreakers were in some respects The Byrds 2.0.   
This is a pretty faithful cover, and pretty much sparked my interest in the Byrds.

Thanks, T.P. 
 ziakut wrote:
The pop simplicity of this tune is both plainly brilliant and superbly dull at the same time. I like it one day and then...the next time I hear it I think..."Oh no."

Why such a conflict?

I think there are very few tunes that can have such an adverse effect like this. Which, in this case, makes this song special.

How's that for a runaround, bunch of bull?

 
Obviously there was a glitch in the matrix somewhere.

Anything that causes cognitive dissonance - I'm all for it!
My favorite song off this effort!  Thanks for playing it!
The pop simplicity of this tune is both plainly brilliant and superbly dull at the same time. I like it one day and then...the next time I hear it I think..."Oh no."

Why such a conflict?

I think there are very few tunes that can have such an adverse effect like this. Which, in this case, makes this song special.

How's that for a runaround, bunch of bull?
 scraig wrote:
Add this album to my list of all time favs.

 
sure. no bad or weak song in this album. Thank you mister Jeff Lynne.
 jbunniii wrote:
Petty has spent most of his career imitating The Byrds. I suppose that's only reasonable as The Byrds built their career doing Dylan covers. Still, it doesn't make this halfhearted cover any more fun to listen to.

 
Minority opinion.
Great cover of a great song by the heirs of one of the great bands of the '60s.  
Petty has spent most of his career imitating The Byrds. I suppose that's only reasonable as The Byrds built their career doing Dylan covers. Still, it doesn't make this halfhearted cover any more fun to listen to.

This is a great cover...  this album is fantastic...
 
 scraig wrote:
Add this album to my list of all time favs.

  Yep, a tremendous effort.


 John_Mac wrote:
Reminds me of "Needles and Pins" by The Searchers. Lovely.
 
Written by the late great Sonny Bono.
It's amazing how many songs he wrote.
 leafmold wrote:
Love it. Love the original too.
 
Who sang the original? 
 leafmold wrote:
Love it. Love the original too.
 
In this case when it's so close to the original, I agree.

Love the Byrds.
Nice segue from pretenders back on the chain, DJ, thanks, keep 'em coming.
 Hannio wrote:
So good to hear this.
 
I agree.
So good to hear this.
Love it. Love the original too.
It's a pretty good cover.  I disagree with the previous comment that it's almost exactly like the original.  It's inferior.  Of course the original is terrific.
i love this one.
Thanks!

Coming off seeing TPATH in Atlanta last night. Great show! 
Not sure the point of this cover. It sounds almost exactly like the original.
God, I love this song, and this cover is to die for.
 George_Tirebiter wrote:
It's a 10 for me!  Where's the 11 button?  The original introduced me to the fine sounds of a Rickenbacker 360-12. (Harrision's work with the Beatles is noted, but McGuinn took it to a much higher level).  This is a fine tribute.  {#Bananajam}

 
The Rickenbacker rules !!

Bittersweet.  At first I thought this was Gene Clark and the Byrds.  This is a fine version, but I was psyched for the original.
Add this album to my list of all time favs.
 capandjudy wrote:

I agree. I really don't see that Tom Petty's version offers anything new from the Byrds version. Just about anything else from Full Moon Fever would be a better choice. 
 
Yeah, I prefer the Byrds' version. This one is a little too bland and polished, and the hand-claps don't add a thing. 

More Byrds please!  
 kingart wrote:
One of the Byrds' great numbers, well treated by Tom P and his boys, but he's always been a fan of McGuinn and that sound. 
 
Couldn't agree more.

One of the Byrds' great numbers, well treated by Tom P and his boys, but he's always been a fan of McGuinn and that sound. 
Homeboy.  and I'm just a fool for Byrds'-style chiming guitars.
                      {#Guitarist}...one really good TP song !

Love this one.
Tom's tribute to the Byrds - so much of his work was obviously infuenced by them.  Very nice cover - note-for-note.  Sounds great in concert too.  And it is indeed a Ric 360-12.  {#Bananajam}
 John_Mac wrote:
Reminds me of "Needles and Pins" by The Searchers. Lovely.
 
John_Mac...you got it right!!!

Outstanding, great !!
Reminds me of "Needles and Pins" by The Searchers. Lovely.
Even back then he was working on his mojo.
Byrds version is better to my ear, but both are incredibly Beatlesque.
I believe this version is pretty much an exact copy of the Byrds version.  With modern recording tech.  I love it!
It's a 10 for me!  Where's the 11 button?  The original introduced me to the fine sounds of a Rickenbacker 360-12. (Harrision's work with the Beatles is noted, but McGuinn took it to a much higher level).  This is a fine tribute.  {#Bananajam}

Lets play it again soon{#Bananajam}
 kurtster wrote:
Love this and the Byrds version as well.

Let's dust off the Byrds and give it a spin now and then, too.
 
{#Yes}

Love this and the Byrds version as well.

Let's dust off the Byrds and give it a spin now and then, too.
utter joy!
 ICHawk wrote:
I'd love to hear the original on RP sometime. While I like this version....it's just a half a tick too slow, IMHO.
 
I agree. I really don't see that Tom Petty's version offers anything new from the Byrds version. Just about anything else from Full Moon Fever would be a better choice. 

The Byrds was last played in 2001? What's up with that?
This song sure comes in handy when you're dating! Play loud.  Feel better. Thanks, Tom, for putting it so well.


{#Dancingbanana}
 ICHawk wrote:
I'd love to hear the original on RP sometime. While I like this version....it's just a half a tick too slow, IMHO.
 
I'm with you.  I love this song, but this version is just a little too refined compared to the Byrds.

I'd love to hear the original on RP sometime. While I like this version....it's just a half a tick too slow, IMHO.
bairdc wrote:
You're kidding, right? brilliant is what it is ziggytrix wrote:
1:41 pm - Tom Petty - Feel A Whole Lot Better (when you're gone)
1:37 pm - Jakob Dylan - Evil Is Alive And Well
1:33 pm - R.E.M. - World Leader Pretend
1:29 pm - Dar Williams - Empire (of the Son)

was that a political statement or a coincidence?



i like that Midnight Oil's "Bushfire" replaced Jakob (nothing against Jakob, but i love Oil), but man i really wish Dar's track was still in this lineup.
Tom Petty - Feel a Whole Lot Better
Midnight Oil - Bushfire
R.E.M. - World Leader Pretend
Richard Thomson - I Can't Wake Up to Save My Life

still a great message either way. i just miss hearing more Dar.

 frednic wrote:
Yea, I was thinking the same thing. But since I like Tom Petty I write it off as Tom giving the nod to some of his influences.

 
bronorb wrote:

I like Tom Petty but this song is so much like the Byrds that I thought it was them until I looked here.
If you are going to cover a song, do something different with it or you are just a cover band.  TP should have a little more going for him than to just repeat what the Byrds did.
IMHO

 
 
and since I love the Byrds I love this as a tribute to them.
Yea, I was thinking the same thing. But since I like Tom Petty I write it off as Tom giving the nod to some of his influences.

 
bronorb wrote:

I like Tom Petty but this song is so much like the Byrds that I thought it was them until I looked here.
If you are going to cover a song, do something different with it or you are just a cover band.  TP should have a little more going for him than to just repeat what the Byrds did.
IMHO


 


ah! i like this version of the tune. not my favorite, but it's nice! always wished i would have written this one myself.
Hmm.  So Bill will "Feel a whole lot better" when someone's gone, and the track before this was "Bushfire".

Awesome.
 parrothead wrote:

Good point, I have always said the best guitarist and musicians are the ones who play the club scene every night and no one has heard of them except the locals. I live in western NC and there's a guy named Bobby G. that's his stage name. He is a good ol boy from the mountains but this guy can play a guitar like you have never seen. This is a small example of the unknown talent out there!!!

 
Right you are - I've been pursuing tone for 30 years as a guitar player in my town.  People think I'm pretty good.
I'm by no means famous, but I love to play and appreciate that people dig it.

I like Tom Petty but this song is so much like the Byrds that I thought it was them until I looked here.
If you are going to cover a song, do something different with it or you are just a cover band.  TP should have a little more going for him than to just repeat what the Byrds did.
IMHO


 cosmiclint wrote:


Speak for yourself. Being famous has no relevance in the pursuit of tone. Anyone can be passionate about their art, even if no one has heard of them.
 
Good point, I have always said the best guitarist and musicians are the ones who play the club scene every night and no one has heard of them except the locals. I live in western NC and there's a guy named Bobby G. that's his stage name. He is a good ol boy from the mountains but this guy can play a guitar like you have never seen. This is a small example of the unknown talent out there!!!

You're kidding, right?  brilliant is what it is   ziggytrix wrote:
1:41 pm - Tom Petty - Feel A Whole Lot Better (when you're gone)
1:37 pm - Jakob Dylan - Evil Is Alive And Well
1:33 pm - R.E.M. - World Leader Pretend
1:29 pm - Dar Williams - Empire (of the Son)

was that a political statement or a coincidence?
 


I love this guy
dvalfre wrote:
...to finally find out it is a Bob Dylan gem.
This song was not written by Bob Dylan. The Byrd's version is the original and it was written by Gene Clark, a member of the Byrds.
fede550 wrote:
I've grown up with Charly Garcia's version, so I like it better. If you have not listened it yet, check it out: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QUQensf7Iko
So did I, to later find it sung by Tom Petty, to later find it sung by The Birds, to finally find out it is a Bob Dylan gem. By the way, Charly Garcia is an argentinian rocker of incredibly talent who, among others, for many year have set the path of rock and roll in the country.
ed wrote:
It's that quest for tone that seperates Chet Adkins, Les Paul, Brian May, Alvin Lee, Jimmy Page and players like that from the rest of us.
Speak for yourself. Being famous has no relevance in the pursuit of tone. Anyone can be passionate about their art, even if no one has heard of them.
Years ago I interviewed Chris Hillman for a rag I worked for at the time. He admired Gene Clark's writing, this song in particular because of the lyric "I'll probably feel a whole lot better..." He thought "probably" was as subtle as it was difficult to fit into the meter. Neat insight.
I would "Feel A Whole Lot Better" if ol' Tom would go ahead and retire. Since this song was released a long time ago, he has gotten pretty dull. At least he sounds less like Bob Dylan these days. The only problem now is he is sounding more like Bullwinkle! yuk-yuk "Hey Rocky, watch me pull a song out of my hat".
1:41 pm - Tom Petty - Feel A Whole Lot Better (when you're gone) 1:37 pm - Jakob Dylan - Evil Is Alive And Well 1:33 pm - R.E.M. - World Leader Pretend 1:29 pm - Dar Williams - Empire (of the Son) was that a political statement or a coincidence?
I've grown up with Charly Garcia's version, so I like it better. If you have not listened it yet, check it out: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QUQensf7Iko
TJOpootertoot wrote:
All true - but a Rickerbacher has a VERY distinctive sound and this song would sound very different without it. Petty plays through old, British Vox amps and that gives you a very classic sound like George Harrison or (more obviously) the birds. Play this wonderful pop tune on, say, a Stratocaster and it would lose a lot.
Note of interest. The Beatles only used Vox amps to tour in the USA e.g. the "Super Beatle amplfier". They were not available in England. The Super Beatle Vox amps that I have heard were so bright that they would tear your head off.
ed wrote:
It is a Rickenbacher but it is more than just having the right brand of guitar. The tone of guitars can be greatly affected by simple things like choice of strings and through other factors like which brand/model pickup is used, add to that any external electronics like pedals, amps and endless other possibilities. It's that quest for tone that seperates Chet Adkins, Les Paul, Brian May, Alvin Lee, Jimmy Page and players like that from the rest of us.
If I could play guitar like Roger, I would lay in bed all day and play the Rickenbacher.
Aud wrote:
Yeah, I prefer the Byrds-the vocals are richer!
Wanna hear some rich vocals... listen to the Byrds do "Wild Mountain Thyme". To bad it got the boot on the LRC.
ThePoose wrote:
Guitar riff resembles the one from Needles and Pins from the early 1960s.
Long live Sonny Bono!
Hard to beat the original. But it makes perfect sense that he would cover this--his stuff seems influenced by the Byrds. Aud wrote:
Yeah, I prefer the Byrds-the vocals are richer!
ed wrote:
It is a Rickenbacher but it is more than just having the right brand of guitar. The tone of guitars can be greatly affected by simple things like choice of strings and through other factors like which brand/model pickup is used, add to that any external electronics like pedals, amps and endless other possibilities. It's that quest for tone that seperates Chet Adkins, Les Paul, Brian May, Alvin Lee, Jimmy Page and players like that from the rest of us.
All true - but a Rickerbacher has a VERY distinctive sound and this song would sound very different without it. Petty plays through old, British Vox amps and that gives you a very classic sound like George Harrison or (more obviously) the birds. Play this wonderful pop tune on, say, a Stratocaster and it would lose a lot.
absolutely! BPenni wrote:
A nine. The Byrds own this song, TP just took it out on loan. Great cover, tho.
Perfect song to hear after finding out your spouse is cheating on you.....
fretman wrote:
Definitive California Jangle-rock! Captured for you to hear! That A sus2/A/A sus4/A thing does it right there.
The guitarists can help me with this, but isn't that jangle the hallmark of the Rickenbacher that Petty plays?
what a great F-off song :)
BPenni wrote:
A nine. The Byrds own this song, TP just took it out on loan. Great cover, tho.
Yeah, I prefer the Byrds-the vocals are richer!
Yup - I feel better.....!
Major fun to play/sing - call and response vocal all inclusive. On par with the Byrds original.
A nine. The Byrds own this song, TP just took it out on loan. Great cover, tho.
Groundhog day?? 6:19 am - The New Pornographers - The Bleeding Heart Show 6:15 am - REM - World Leader Pretend 6:11 am - Dar Williams - Empire 6:08 am - Richard Thompson - I Can't Wake Up To Save My Life Holy lefty political wish list set! Makes this red-stater grin. I think Bill will be a happy man after upcoming elections, however. Elephants kinda brought it on themselves.
Awesome. Don't hear a lot of Petty on here.
fretman wrote:
California Jangle-rock! Captured for you to hear! Someone else said TP was proto-alt and I am down with that business. definitely kix
RedGuitar wrote:
Thought this was the Byrds at first. Gee, imagine that. ;-)
From a distance I had a hard time telling. I prefer the Byrds' version.
Definitive California Jangle-rock! Captured for you to hear! That A sus2/A/A sus4/A thing does it right there.
Brings back great memories of riding around Washinton D.C. in the spring of '90 with my best friend with the top rolled down.
Thought this was the Byrds at first. Gee, imagine that. ;-)
God, I love this!
stet wrote:
It is indeed. When it started I thought it _was_ the Byrds.
Petty has said he was a huge Byrds fan as a youth. Got him into playing music?
PopKombo wrote:
It's an exact copy of the Byrds version from the bass line to the guitar solo.
It is indeed. When it started I thought it _was_ the Byrds.
Ahhh the fabulous jangly rhythms of the Rickenbacker guitar....
I actually like it ... an homage to the Byrds
dionysius wrote:
It's a Gene Clark number, actually. A great song, but barely a 4 here. I'd have felt a whole lot better if Petty had left it alone.
It's an exact copy of the Byrds version from the bass line to the guitar solo.
trekhead wrote:
Man! The Roger McGuinn(?) influence! 8.
It's a Gene Clark number, actually. A great song, but barely a 4 here. I'd have felt a whole lot better if Petty had left it alone.
The BIG Jangle!
Man! The Roger McGuinn(?) influence! 8.
sharkartist wrote:
Just a great song any way you cut it! I was weaned on the Byrds as a kid and this tune has always held a special place in my heart. Tom does it good justice here, right down to utilizing McGuinn's signature Rickenbacher sound. I suppose I find the Byrd's harmonies a bit richer but hey, this ain't the Byrds but rather TP paying tribute to one of our seminal 60's bands. Love it either way. Good day to all my fellow RP listeners out there, it's a beautiful sunny one here in Pasadena today.
Like the man said,though it's NOT a sunny day here on the west coast of Scotland brrr.
Good solid Rock 'n roll from a solid Rock 'n Roll icon.
dbenwen wrote:
6:24 am - Tom Petty - Feel A Whole Lot Better 6:19 am - The New Pornographers - The Bleeding Heart Show 6:15 am - REM - World Leader Pretend 6:11 am - Dar Williams - Empire 6:08 am - Richard Thompson - I Can't Wake Up To Save My Life Holy lefty political wish list set! Makes this red-stater grin. I think Bill will be a happy man after upcoming elections, however. Elephants kinda brought it on themselves.
And who said wishes never came true? Finally, finally my lovely Dems have won and beaten down those hypocritical Elephants.
dbenwen wrote:
6:24 am - Tom Petty - Feel A Whole Lot Better 6:19 am - The New Pornographers - The Bleeding Heart Show 6:15 am - REM - World Leader Pretend 6:11 am - Dar Williams - Empire 6:08 am - Richard Thompson - I Can't Wake Up To Save My Life
Deja vu
6:24 am - Tom Petty - Feel A Whole Lot Better 6:19 am - The New Pornographers - The Bleeding Heart Show 6:15 am - REM - World Leader Pretend 6:11 am - Dar Williams - Empire 6:08 am - Richard Thompson - I Can't Wake Up To Save My Life Holy lefty political wish list set! Makes this red-stater grin. I think Bill will be a happy man after upcoming elections, however. Elephants kinda brought it on themselves.
Jimmy86 wrote:
This is a very good cover, but damn near anything from Tom Petty is at least "good", if not "Fucking Brilliant"! Bill... Please play any of the following TP songs: Anything That's Rock & Roll Hometown Blues Restless Strangered in the Night Century City Louisiana Rain Rebels A Woman In Love NIghtwatchman Shout! (live from Pack up the Plantation) The Apartment Song Zombie Zoo Yer So Bad Makin' Some Noise Kings Highway Wildflowers Crawling Back to You A Higher Place Room at the Top And... Anything from "The Last DJ"! He wrote that for all the DJs out there not playing "The List"
Add Breakdown, One Story Town and You Got Lucky. Bill may be "The Last DJ"
white bread rock.
Cynaera wrote:
Maybe something from "Southern Accents," like "Born A Rebel"
Once again, I gotta cite Pack Up the Plantation for a great, brassy performance of Rebel that, to my ears, blows the studio version right outta the water.
ThePoose wrote:
Guitar riff resembles the one from Needles and Pins from the early 1960s.
Interesting observation. TP and band did a rippin' live version of that very song on Pack Up the Plantation.
Johray63 wrote:
Great, powerful "update", done with respect, but.......it's impossible to capture the Byrds'- and the era's magic!
I agree. It's great that Petty acknowledges his roots and influences (including the very obvious Byrds influence), and it's also great that he's tipping his hat to Gene Clark in this case rather than to McGuinn. But it's still an unremarkable, by-the-numbers cover, unfortunately. Only makes me want to hear the original.
Long live jangle-guitar rock!
Guitar riff resembles the one from Needles and Pins from the early 1960s.
RobRyan wrote:
I don't understand the point of this cover. It adds nothing to the origninal. This is what you'd expect if you went to a bar with a '60s tribute band playing. Petty hasn't, imho, done anything worth a listen in 20 years *ducks for cover*
this is my favorite tom petty/ heartbreaker album and this song is part of the reason (though "Yer so bad" is the bulk of it)
Tom understands.