3 Iconic Tom Petty Duets with Stevie Nicks that Will Leave You Smiling

Tom Petty is one of the pillars of classic rock music. While the Florida-born artist was incredible solo or with his band the Heartbreakers, he was truly one who could fit in with so many. Perhaps he would be in the background playing rhythm guitar or front and center singing into the mic. But either way, he was always additive.

Here below, though, we wanted to explore three times Petty teamed up with the great Stevie Nicks (of Fleetwood Mac fame) for iconic performances. A trio of occasions where the two fit together like hand in glove. Indeed, these are three iconic Tom Petty duets with Stevie Nicks that will leave you smiling forever.

[RELATED: Behind the Band Name: Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers]

“Stop Dragging My Heart Around” by Stevie Nicks (ft. Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers) from Bella Donna (1981)

This song was originally released on Stevie Nicks’ debut solo album Bella Donna, which dropped in 1981. Written by Tom Petty and his longtime collaborator Mike Campbell, the love song asks for a change in behavior. The singer is fed up with being pushed and pulled around by his lover and he needs closure or a new direction. Mostly, the singer just wants to be taken seriously. The track marks the only one on Nicks’ debut LP she did not write or co-write, but that doesn’t take away from its power or place on her album. On it, she sings,

Baby, you’ll come knocking on my front door
Same old line you used to use before
I said, “Hey well, what am I supposed to do?”
I didn’t know what I was getting into

Say you’ve had a little trouble in town
Say you’re keeping some demons down
Stop draggin’ my
Stop draggin’ my (stop)
Stop draggin’ my heart around, yeah

“I Need to Know” by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers from From Gainesville – The 30th Anniversary Concert (2009)

This performance comes from the Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers’ From Gainesville – The 30th Anniversary Concert, released in 2009. But the song originally comes from Petty’s 1978 LP You’re Gonna Get It! Either way, during this live show Nicks as on top of her game, bringing energy and pizzazz to the performance. It’s yet another example of her stage presence and talent and just how well she meshes with Petty. The two are as American as apple pie and vanilla ice cream. They sing,

Well the talk on the street
Says you might go solo
A good friend of mine
Saw you leavin’ by the back door

I need to know (I need to know)
I need to know (I need to know)
If you think you’re gonna leave
Then you better say so

“Insider” by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers from Hard Promises (1981)

This song from Petty’s band on the 1981 LP Hard Promises features Nicks. It was recorded around the same time as Nicks’ Bella Donna, almost like the two artists were sports figures trading home games. Either way, on the acoustic-driven breakup song the two lead vocalists offer,

You’ve got a dangerous background
And everything you’ve dreamed of
Yeah you’re the Dark Angel
It don’t show when you break up
And I’m the one who oughta know
I’m the one left in the dust
Yeah I’m the broken hear ted fool
Who was never quite enough

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Photo by Michael Kovac/WireImage