Play it Again, Sam #27b - "Breakdown"

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Alright, let's get down to it, boppers. We are at #27b, the "cover" portion of today's Play it Again, Sam: Grace Jones' cover of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers' "Breakdown." Elegant, sophisticated singer/model/actress Grace Jones had an eclectic taste when it has come to cover songs during her music career. Case in point, her 1980 cover of Petty's "Breakdown." Originally released in the United States as a stand alone single (which did not chart, even though she performed it live on David Letterman's old daytime television talk show!) Jones' version of "Breakdown" is from her 1980 album, Warm Leatherette (the title track itself a cover.) Petty himself wrote a third verse specifically for Grace, and producers Chris Blackwell (the Island Records founder that suggested to Bob Marley and the Wailers to incorporate rock elements into their roots sound when he signed them) and Alex Sadkin added a touch of reggae to the song to make it one of Grace Jones' best tunes. "Breakdown" has also been covered, whether on record or live, by Suzi Quatro, The Replacements, Foo Fighters, Gary Allan, and Lydia Lunch & Cypress Grove (oh, Lydia, how I love you!) And now you know! (Info verified by Wikipedia)