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Home , British Invasion, King of Pain, So Lonely, Walking on the Moon

Tom Petty: The Best Adam of the British Invasion Levine: n the mid-Sixties, the British had a more romantic view of rock & roll than The the States did,” says Tom Petty. “We didn’t take it as seriously. The energy that came with the British Invasion was the difference – these guys brought Police ‘I he Maroon 5 singer got the guitar to the fore. You weren’t getting guitar off .” into through This mom’s record col- 1. “” b/w “I Saw with that sax honking down low. That was a lection. “I love how they threw Her Standing There” , 1963 big step, to blow the echo out that heavy. I’d go ­together reggae and rock & roll The Beatles were superior to everything. crazy every time I heard it. and ,” he says. “Their This came on the radio, and overnight every­ records sound like no one else.” thing was different. If you weren’t there, 9. “I Can’t Explain” , 1965 it’s hard to believe. But everything changed What was great about Pete Townshend’s early 1. “The Bed’s Too Big instantly. In “I Want to Hold Your Hand,” stuff was you identified with what he was say- Without You” 1979 John and Paul are singing the lead vocal in ing. And he’s using a 12-string The lyrics are so raw and des- unison. It ­almost makes another voice – just a in a way no one else did. The guitar break is perate. That’s one thing I’ve sonic ­pleasure. ­a l m o s t not a guitar break – he’s moving the tone learned from : being un- switch back and forth. afraid of vulnerability. 2. “” , 1964 I heard that song for the first time at a dance. 10. “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction” 2. “Murder by Numbers” The DJ played it really loud, and the whole , 1965 1983 room went still. Then everyone erupted in They had so much attitude, it dripped off the It’s about pulling off a murder – ­applause – for a record. That guitar break – I’d plate. The riff and distortion grab you, and I don’t know another song so never heard anything that wild in my life. the lyric is so worldly. It’s hard to talk about offbeat and odd but also so “Satisfaction” because everyone knows it so poppy and accessible. 3. “We’ve Gotta Get Out of This Place” well. But it’s a great moment in rock history. , 1965 Just the phrase is worth a million bucks. 3. “Can’t Stand Losing You” This made me want to run away from home. 1978 That bass riff is classic. These arrangements You’re like, “This is a reggae were tidy. Each instrument had a job to do. tune but it’s a rock song but it’s a pop song but . . . I don’t know 4. “She’s Not There” , 1964 what this is!” That piano break was over our heads at the time, but so right. Colin Blunstone’s voice 4. “” 1983 was a sound I had never heard. I thought Sting’s lyrics are a cross between if a zombie sang, that’s how he would McCartney’s earnestness and sound. Zeppelin talking about kings and queens and skeletons. 5. “When You Walk in the Room” The Searchers, 1964 5. “Next to You” 1978 I restrained myself from listing Frantic, balls to the wall, totally a bunch of their records. The punk rock and just crazy. 12-string guitar fascinated me, and they had great voices. 6. “” 1978 It starts reggae, then blasts into 6. “I’m Alive” a rock & roll chorus. , 1965 Those voices were incredible. 7. “Don’t Stand So They were the best singers, other Close to Me” 1980 than the Beatles, as far as singing Sting was a teacher, but I’m harmony and knocking you dead. ­pretty sure it wasn’t autobio­ graphical. Who knows, though? 7. “I’m a Man” , 1965 8. “Man in a Suitcase” 1980 That break, when they go into double-­ Being in a , I can definitely time, is downright psychedelic. identify with this idea. And Jeff Beck is playing in uni- son with the harmonica. It’s 9. “Message in a Bottle” a short ­record – and they still 1979 have the rave-up at the end. One of the best riffs ever. They got it all in. 10. “” 8. “Anyway You Want It” 1979 Five, 1964 It’s a romantic song from a time They were badass. This song when being romantic wasn’t sounds like a runaway train, particularly cool.

December 9, 2010 rollingstone.com | | 71