10 Incredible Classic Rock Albums We Never Got To Hear
4. Double Album Southern Accents - Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers
After making some of the greatest heartland rock of the early 80's, Tom Petty had an even bigger plan for the band's next record. Once the band regrouped after a well-earned break, they would start production on a concept album revolving around life in the American South. While Southern Accents eventually was made, it remains a shadow of what could have been.
The band initially started to self-produce the album, but the break had left them strung out on drugs, bringing the sessions to a halt. The stalling was so bad that Petty let his anger out by punching a hole in the studio wall, which left his hand completely pulverized. After recuperation, the band thought they had enough material for a double record, but producer Jimmy Iovine was brought in and saw an absolute mess.
Though the Heartbreakers were still set on making a conceptual work, Iovine convinced them to make a really good single release. Hooking up with Eurythmics songwriter Dave Stewart, Petty started coming back and ended up writing one of his biggest hits with "Don't Come Around Here No More." Southern Accents still remains a phenomenal record, but the unpleasant sessions held it back from being something even better.