Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic
Robert Christgau	B–
The Essential Rock Discography	6/10
MusicHound
Rolling Stone	(favorable)
The Rolling Stone Album Guide

Southern Accents is the sixth album by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, released on March 26, 1985, through MCA Records.

The album's lead single, "Don't Come Around Here No More," cowritten by Dave Stewart of Eurythmics, peaked at #13 on the Billboard Hot 100. Its music video featured Alice in Wonderland imagery. "Southern Accents" was later covered by Johnny Cash for his Unchained album in 1996, on which members of the Heartbreakers play.

The recording sessions saw some tension between the band members, as each had a different vision for the album. Originally conceived as a concept album, the theme of "Southern Accents" became somewhat murky with the inclusion of three songs co-written by Stewart, and three other songs originally planned for the album left off. Songs cut from the track list include "Trailer," "Big Boss Man," "Crackin' Up," "The Image of Me" and "The Apartment Song." These can be found on Playback, a box set released 10 years later that included familiar songs with outtakes, b-sides and other rarities. "Trailer" was released in May 2016 by another band led by Petty, Mudcrutch, on their album 2.

While mixing the opening track "Rebels" Petty became frustrated and punched a wall, severely breaking his left hand. Subsequent surgery on his hand left him with several pins, wires and screws to hold his hand together.

The album cover features an 1865 painting by Winslow Homer titled The Veteran in a New Field.

All songs written by Tom Petty, except where noted.

Side One

Side Two

with:

Singles:

...
Wikipedia