Stop Draggin' My Heart Around
Encyclopedia
"Stop Draggin' My Heart Around" was the first single from Stevie Nicks
' debut solo album Bella Donna
. It was written by Tom Petty
and Mike Campbell as a Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
song, but Jimmy Iovine
, who was also working Stevie Nicks at the time, arranged for her to sing on it. Petty sang with Nicks in the chorus and bridge, whilst his entire band played on the song.
A performance of the song in the studio was used as the promotional video.
The song reached #3 on the US Billboard Hot 100
. It was not a success in Europe, however: reaching only #50 in the UK.
The two singers also duetted on the songs "Insider" (from Petty's 1981 album Hard Promises
) and "I Will Run to You" (from Nicks' 1983 album The Wild Heart
), and frequently performed impromptu live versions of these and '60s classic "Needles and Pins" in many shows throughout the '80s.
The song was parodied by "Weird Al" Yankovic
as "Stop Draggin My Car Around" on his debut album.
My Morning Jacket
and Neko Case
covered this song while touring together during My Morning Jacket's Circuital tour in 2011.
The song was also covered by the post-grunge
band Puddle of Mudd
for their 2011 cover album Re:(disc)overed
.
which is the most prominent feature of the song's rhythm. Apart from the intro before the first verse and a solo following the second verse (where there is some fairly heavy riffing), however, the guitar sound is laid-back in typical Heartbreakers style. The song was originally recorded for Petty's album Hard Promises
, but the producers felt the song came from a female point-of-view and it was left unreleased until it was agreed to be put on the Bella Donna album instead. A demo version of the song, recorded without Nicks, was eventually released on Petty's 1995 box set Playback.
A highly collectable 12" promo single in a unique glossy sleeve was released in the US. Extremely hard to find, it now commands around $250 USD on auction sites when a rare copy surfaces.
Stevie Nicks
Stephanie Lynn "Stevie" Nicks is an American singer-songwriter, best known for her work with Fleetwood Mac and an extensive solo career, which collectively have produced over forty Top 50 hits and sold over 140 million albums...
' debut solo album Bella Donna
Bella Donna (album)
-The Band:* Stevie Nicks – vocals* Lori Perry – backup vocals* Sharon Celani – backup vocals*Tom Petty – vocals, guitar *Michael Campbell – guitar *Don Felder – guitar *Benmont Tench – organ, piano...
. It was written by 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 as a 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...
song, but Jimmy Iovine
Jimmy Iovine
James "Jimmy" Iovine is an American music producer, entrepreneur and chairman of Interscope-Geffen-A&M.-Biography:...
, who was also working Stevie Nicks at the time, arranged for her to sing on it. Petty sang with Nicks in the chorus and bridge, whilst his entire band played on the song.
A performance of the song in the studio was used as the promotional video.
The song reached #3 on the US 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 was not a success in Europe, however: reaching only #50 in the UK.
The two singers also duetted on the songs "Insider" (from Petty's 1981 album Hard Promises
Hard Promises
Hard Promises is the fourth album by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers released in May, 1981. Its original working title was Benmont's Revenge...
) and "I Will Run to You" (from Nicks' 1983 album The Wild Heart
The Wild Heart (album)
The Wild Heart is the second studio album by American singer-songwriter and Fleetwood Mac vocalist Stevie Nicks. Released on June 10, 1983, a year after Fleetwood Mac's successful #1 album, Mirage, it reached #5 on the U.S. Billboard 200 charts and achieved platinum status on September 12th, 1983...
), and frequently performed impromptu live versions of these and '60s classic "Needles and Pins" in many shows throughout the '80s.
The song was parodied by "Weird Al" Yankovic
"Weird Al" Yankovic
Alfred Matthew "Weird Al" Yankovic is an American singer-songwriter, music producer, accordionist, actor, comedian, writer, satirist, and parodist. Yankovic is known for his humorous songs that make light of popular culture and that often parody specific songs by contemporary musical acts...
as "Stop Draggin My Car Around" on his debut album.
My Morning Jacket
My Morning Jacket
My Morning Jacket is an American rock band from Louisville, Kentucky.The band consists of Jim James , Tom 'Two-Tone Tommy' Blankenship , Patrick Hallahan , Carl Broemel , and Bo Koster .-History:My Morning Jacket was...
and Neko Case
Neko Case
Neko Case is an American singer-songwriter, best known for her solo career and her contributions as a member of the Canadian indie rock group The New Pornographers....
covered this song while touring together during My Morning Jacket's Circuital tour in 2011.
The song was also covered by the post-grunge
Post-grunge
Post-grunge is a subgenre of alternative rock that emerged in the mid-1990s as a derivative of grunge, using the sounds and aesthetic of grunge, but with a more commercially acceptable tone...
band Puddle of Mudd
Puddle of Mudd
Puddle Of Mudd is an American rock band from Kansas City, Missouri, USA. To date the band has sold over 7 million albums, and have had a string of #1 mainstream rock singles in the United States. Their major-label debut Come Clean has sold over 5 million copies...
for their 2011 cover album Re:(disc)overed
Re:(disc)overed
Re:overed is the fifth studio album from U.S. post-grunge band Puddle of Mudd. It was released on August 29, 2011 on Arms Division Records.-Background:The band began recording the album in March 2011 and commenced within a three week period...
.
Content
The lyrics are about a woman who feels weighed down by relationships and wants to part despite a strong sentimental attachment to her lover. The melody is described by All Music as "dark and sinister", probably because of the dense drumming of Stan LynchStan Lynch
Stanley 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 :...
which is the most prominent feature of the song's rhythm. Apart from the intro before the first verse and a solo following the second verse (where there is some fairly heavy riffing), however, the guitar sound is laid-back in typical Heartbreakers style. The song was originally recorded for Petty's album Hard Promises
Hard Promises
Hard Promises is the fourth album by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers released in May, 1981. Its original working title was Benmont's Revenge...
, but the producers felt the song came from a female point-of-view and it was left unreleased until it was agreed to be put on the Bella Donna album instead. A demo version of the song, recorded without Nicks, was eventually released on Petty's 1995 box set Playback.
Single release formats
"Stop Draggin' My Heart Around" was released as a 7" vinyl single in the picture sleeve featured above in many territories. Promo 7" singles were also released in some territories, including the US, in the same picture sleeve, but the disc featured the title track on both sides.A highly collectable 12" promo single in a unique glossy sleeve was released in the US. Extremely hard to find, it now commands around $250 USD on auction sites when a rare copy surfaces.
Charts
| Chart (1981) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Album Rock Tracks | 2 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 3 |
| Australian Singles Chart | 8 |
| Canadian RPM Top Singles | 5 |
| Dutch Singles Chart | 43 |
| New Zealand Singles Chart | 11 |
| UK Singles Chart | 50 |