After releasing his solo debut, Wildflowers, Tom Petty did the requisite touring and promotion, then pondered what to do next. The answer came as an offer from filmmaker Edward Burns, who asked if Petty would contribute music for his movie Shes the One. The result was Songs and Music from Shes the One, a record that was a mishmash of songs recorded for Wildflowers that didnt make the grade, covers of Beck (Asshole) and Lucinda Williams (Change the Locks) songs, instrumental interludes, surf rock rave-ups, and a handful of strong new songs like the gritty Climb That Hill and the very poppy Walls -- which wasnt surprising considering the roll Petty was on at the time. Petty and many others dismissed the album as a throwaway, but it certainly has its selling points. Fast forward many years, and when Petty and producer Ryan Ulyate were looking at a Wildflowers reissue, they pulled the songs from Shes the One to create the double album it should have been. They also decided at some point to reissue the soundtrack as its own album. Titled Angel Dream, the 2021 reissue subtracts the Wildflowers outtakes and adds some unreleased rarities like a dissipated take of J.J. Cales Thirteen Days, the blues-rocker 105 Degrees, and Petty doing his best Fats Waller on the original One of Lifes Little Mysteries. ~ Tim Sendra
Rovi