10 Classic Songs That Were Recorded Incredibly Fast

6. Free Fallin - Tom Petty

Some of the greatest songs come from just being at the right place at the right time. Even if you aren't looking to write an all time classic, there's always those rare occasions where the stars align and a tune seems to fall out of the air. Or if you're Tom Petty, it just comes as a result of good friends and 20 minutes to spare.

During the recording of most of Full Moon Fever, Petty was working in collaboration with ELO frontman Jeff Lynne, who was just about to return to England in the next 2 weeks. Looking to work with him on the record, Petty spent the next two weeks with Jeff writing a song a day, going so far as to get his other hit I Won't Back Down written in just a few hours. For Free Fallin though, the recording was almost coincidental, with Petty and Lynne ducking into Mike Campbell's to record almost on the fly.

Up until his death in 2017, Petty was still amazed at how much the song has been able to touch people, since it took almost no effort on his part to actually get to the finished product. When you have that spirit of rock and roll in your veins though, the magic sometimes flows through you without you even noticing.