Jammin' Me
Encyclopedia
"Jammin' Me" is the first single off Let Me Up (I've Had Enough)
, an 1987 album by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
. It is co-written by Bob Dylan
, Tom Petty
, and Mike Campbell.
(who both later became members of the Traveling Wilburys
), they collaborated on this track which became the opening track on the album. The song is about a man "overwhelmed by the volume of disconnected "news" generated in the disinformation age" containing a "laundry list" of 1980s celebrities such as Eddie Murphy
, Joe Piscopo
, and Vanessa Redgrave
among others. It follows in line with an ongoing theme throughout the album of people "who are reeling from media assaults and shattered relationships", but have a strong desire to survive in order to make sense of the world. Some of the lyrics came from Dylan and Petty picking words out of a newspaper and off the television.
Album Rock Tracks chart as well as number #18 on the Billboard Hot 100
. It became Petty's third single to hit number one on the Album Rock (later known as Mainstream Rock) chart and stayed there for four weeks; previous songs to top this chart were "The Waiting
" in 1981 and "You Got Lucky
" in 1982. Critics were generally favorable towards the single with Allmusic comparing it to the Rolling Stones song "Start Me Up
", saying "the fabulous groove is positively infectious". Rolling Stone
complimented Petty and Campbell's "raw guitar chords" and Benmont Tench's "honky-tonk piano fills". The song has become a standard in Petty's live sets with "astounding results". When "Jammin' Me" was performed during the Heartbreakers impressive multi performances at the Fillmore in 1997 and 1999, Petty played lead guitar, rather than Campbell. Despite the high chart position, the song failed to appear on the 1993 Greatest Hits
package, but did appear on the Playback and Anthology: Through the Years
compilations.
Let Me Up (I've Had Enough)
Let Me Up is an album by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, released in 1987. This album features more songwriting collaborations between Petty and Mike Campbell than any other Petty album...
, an 1987 album by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers are an American rock band from Gainesville, Florida. They were formed in 1976 by Tom Petty , Mike Campbell , Benmont Tench , , Ron Blair and Stan Lynch...
. It is co-written by Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan is an American singer-songwriter, musician, poet, film director and painter. He has been a major and profoundly influential figure in popular music and culture for five decades. Much of his most celebrated work dates from the 1960s when he was an informal chronicler and a seemingly...
, Tom Petty
Tom Petty
Thomas Earl "Tom" Petty is an American singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. He is the frontman of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers and was a founding member of the late 1980s supergroup Traveling Wilburys and Mudcrutch. He has also performed under the pseudonyms of Charlie T...
, and Mike Campbell.
Background and lyrics
On the True Confessions tour between Tom Petty and Bob DylanBob Dylan
Bob Dylan is an American singer-songwriter, musician, poet, film director and painter. He has been a major and profoundly influential figure in popular music and culture for five decades. Much of his most celebrated work dates from the 1960s when he was an informal chronicler and a seemingly...
(who both later became members of the Traveling Wilburys
Traveling Wilburys
The Traveling Wilburys were an English–American supergroup consisting of Bob Dylan, George Harrison, Jeff Lynne, Roy Orbison and Tom Petty, accompanied by drummer Jim Keltner...
), they collaborated on this track which became the opening track on the album. The song is about a man "overwhelmed by the volume of disconnected "news" generated in the disinformation age" containing a "laundry list" of 1980s celebrities such as Eddie Murphy
Eddie Murphy
Edward Regan "Eddie" Murphy is an American stand-up comedian, actor, writer, singer, director, and musician....
, Joe Piscopo
Joe Piscopo
Joseph Charles John "Joe" Piscopo is an American comedian and actor best known for his work on Saturday Night Live.-Early life:...
, and Vanessa Redgrave
Vanessa Redgrave
Vanessa Redgrave, CBE is an English actress of stage, screen and television, as well as a political activist.She rose to prominence in 1961 playing Rosalind in As You Like It with the Royal Shakespeare Company and has since made more than 35 appearances on London's West End and Broadway, winning...
among others. It follows in line with an ongoing theme throughout the album of people "who are reeling from media assaults and shattered relationships", but have a strong desire to survive in order to make sense of the world. Some of the lyrics came from Dylan and Petty picking words out of a newspaper and off the television.
Release and reception
"Jammin' Me" was released as the first single from Let Me Up (I've Had Enough) in 1987. It hit number one on the BillboardBillboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
Album Rock Tracks chart as well as number #18 on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
. It became Petty's third single to hit number one on the Album Rock (later known as Mainstream Rock) chart and stayed there for four weeks; previous songs to top this chart were "The Waiting
The Waiting (song)
"The Waiting" is the lead single from Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers' album Hard Promises released in 1981. The song peaked at #19 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart and #1 on the magazine's new Rock Tracks chart, where it remained for six consecutive weeks.- Covers :*Linda Ronstadt covered...
" in 1981 and "You Got Lucky
You Got Lucky
"You Got Lucky" is the first single from Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers' album Long After Dark. The song peaked at #20 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #1 on the Billboard Top Tracks chart, where it stayed for three weeks at the end of 1982.-Music video:...
" in 1982. Critics were generally favorable towards the single with Allmusic comparing it to the Rolling Stones song "Start Me Up
Start Me Up
"Start Me Up" is a song by The Rolling Stones featured on the 1981 album Tattoo You. Released as the album's lead single, it reached #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #7 on the UK Singles Chart.-Writing and recording:...
", saying "the fabulous groove is positively infectious". Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
complimented Petty and Campbell's "raw guitar chords" and Benmont Tench's "honky-tonk piano fills". The song has become a standard in Petty's live sets with "astounding results". When "Jammin' Me" was performed during the Heartbreakers impressive multi performances at the Fillmore in 1997 and 1999, Petty played lead guitar, rather than Campbell. Despite the high chart position, the song failed to appear on the 1993 Greatest Hits
Greatest Hits (Tom Petty album)
Greatest Hits is a compilation album by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, released in 1993. It is Petty's best selling album to date and was certified 10x Platinum by the RIAA on November 13, 2003. The single "Mary Jane's Last Dance" became one of Petty's most popular songs reaching #14 on the...
package, but did appear on the Playback and Anthology: Through the Years
Anthology: Through The Years
Anthology: Through the Years is a double compilation album featuring the best of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. It contains a new song, "Surrender", written by Petty during the You're Gonna Get It! sessions, but recorded in 2000 especially for this release...
compilations.
Personnel
- Tom PettyTom PettyThomas Earl "Tom" Petty is an American singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. He is the frontman of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers and was a founding member of the late 1980s supergroup Traveling Wilburys and Mudcrutch. He has also performed under the pseudonyms of Charlie T...
- vocals - Mike Campbell - guitars, bass guitar, percussion
- Benmont TenchBenmont TenchBenjamin Montmorency Tench, III is an American keyboardist best known as a founding member of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers.-Early years:...
- piano, organ - Stan LynchStan LynchStanley Joseph "Stan" Lynch is an American songwriter and record producer. He was the original drummer for Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers for 18 years until his departure in 1994.- Early years :...
- drums, percussion
Charts
| Chart (1987) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Album Rock Tracks | 1 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 18 |
| Canadian RPM Top Singles | 41 |
| New Zealand Singles Chart | 38 |