1979 · Behind the Songs
The pop-rock gem that put them in the Top 10.
Every great album needs a song that sounds effortless, and on Damn the Torpedoes that song is “Don’t Do Me Like That.” Released in 1979, it became Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers’ first Top 10 single, peaking at No. 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 — the hit that proved they could do pure pop-rock without losing their edge.
Written by Petty, the song is all bounce and jangle: Mike Campbell’s bright guitar, Benmont Tench’s sparkling keyboards, and a chorus built for singing along. Co-producer Jimmy Iovine keeps the production crisp and punchy, letting the band’s chemistry shine through.
The single’s success was a turning point. After years of critical respect and commercial struggle, the band finally had a bona fide hit — one that opened the door for “Refugee” and cemented Damn the Torpedoes as their breakthrough.
What to listen for: the interplay between Campbell’s guitar and Tench’s keys, the hand-clap energy of the rhythm, and Petty’s playful vocal — the sound of a band realizing it is about to be huge.