For the new AppleTV+ series Bad Monkey, set in Tom Petty‘s home state of Florida, a bunch of different bands and artists were recruited to cover his songs for the soundtrack. One of the less famous bands on the list is Florida’s own flipturn, indie rockers who have been putting out music since 2017. They haven’t chosen the most obscure song on the soundtrack by any means, but it’s not one of the most obvious covers on there.
“Don’t Do Me Like That” was Tom Petty’s first single from his third album Damn the Torpedoes and, somehow, his biggest hit on the US Hot 100 until “Free Fallin'” came out 10 years later. It’s not remembered that way, of course – a number of songs from that era that were lesser hits are bigger now, and it’s barely among his Top 20 most covered songs at this point.
flipturn sort of ape The Heartbreakers’ opening, with the syncopated guitar with the piano dancing along overtop, but the sound is different, as the piano is electric, there’s a drum machine, no organ solo in the intro and the bass is essentially playing lead. The pace is also a bit quicker. Even in the chorus, they pay homage, with the lead guitar part being essentially the same. But after the first chorus, there’s a decidedly un-Heartbreakers guitar fill, and in the next verse there’s a break where all the instrumentation cuts out except the voice. And then the bridge…well, it’s kind of wild.
What starts out sounding like a modern update of a relatively forgotten Petty classic turns into a pretty interesting cover, with lots of little changes (and the big change in the bridge) that give it an uncanny valley feel. Despite the surface similarities, it’s a fun, creative spin that rewards multiple listens. Check it out:
