Over the course of his career, singer/songwriter Tom Freund has released more than a dozen records, collaborated with legends such as Elvis Costello and Jackson Browne, and his long-time collaborator Ben Harper with whom he’s made numerous albums and toured the world. Tom has also recorded and toured with rock legend Graham Parker as well as appearing with him in Judd Apatow’s “This Is 40”. Tom has spent much of his career traversing genres, melding whatever sounds that have happened to catch his whimsy. His songs have been featured on tv shows including Better Things, Parenthood and One Tree Hill. For his latest television project, the Amazon show Pete The Cat, Freund has co-written, sung and played songs with Elvis Costello, KT Tunstall, Dave Matthews and Diana Krall. Tom is also well known as a multi-instrumentalist, performing on guitar, upright bass, mandolin, ukulele, piano or whatever else is in the room!
Today Glide is excited to offer a premiere of Tom Freund’s take on Tom Petty’s Wildflowers era tune “California” (PRE-SAVE), which comes just in time for what would have been the legendary rocker’s 73rd birthday. Compared to Petty’s version, which carries a slower, groovy Laurel Canyon sound, Freund leans into a version that amplifies the jangly guitar as well as the intimacy of the vocals. Beyond that, Freund gives us a faithful take on this ode to the Golden State that marks a proper celebration of both the place he calls home and the birthday of one of its most famous residents.
Freund offers his own reflection on the tune and its meaning:
I’m a New Yorker moved to California and now officially a resident, I feel Tom Petty was the voice of California. So many great songs and so many albums I would spin, probably “Wildflowers” the most. And I even got to see him live at the Orpheum once. I feel very grateful. It was very hard to hear of his passing on. It felt like our best friend in the passenger seat was no longer there. I did play at a Tom Petty tribute at Hotel Cafe and it was very moving and very sweet. I performed “Time To Move On.” A lot of people felt the same as I do. 7 years ago I got asked to do this song for California Tourism campaign. The drummer Phil Jones (who played on Free Fallin’) played on it.
It says on Soundcloud: A Tribute to dear Tom Petty, covering his song “California” – we all felt like we lost our best friend in the passenger seat of our car when he left us. And certainly for this New Yorker who lives in LA! Phil Jones (Free Fallin’) on drums Tom Freund on everything else. Recorded by Robi Banerji.
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