Tom Petty | photo by Noah Silvestry for WXPN | silvestography.com
Get a taste of the treasures in Tom Petty’s archives with the unreleased “Keep A Little Soul”
The late great Tom Petty was nothing if not prolific, and his 50+ year career will be celebrated this fall with a 60-song box set called An American Treasure. Curated by his family and bandmates, it will be a set for hardcore fans that goes deep into Petty’s archives for unreleased songs, alternate versions familiar favorites, live performances and deep cuts.
One of those unreleased gems surfaced today; it’s called “Keep A Little Soul,” it dates to 1982 and Petty’s sessions for Long After Dark. With an upbeat bounce and a bit of twang, it’s an anthem about the power of positivity in trying times: “When you keep a little soul, nothing really matters anymore,” he sings in a voice that’s full of warmth and familiar comfort.
Below, watch a music video compressed of vintage footage of Petty in the studio, on the road and out on the town.