"Don't Do Me Like That" is a song written by Tom Petty and recorded by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. It was released in November 1979 as the first single from the album Damn the Torpedoes (1979). It reached number 10 on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming the band's only Top 10 hit.[2] The single also peaked at number 3 in Canada. In the UK, despite airplay by Capital Radio in the summer of 1980, the track failed to make the Top 75 chart.

"Don't Do Me Like That"
U.S. 7" vinyl
Single by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
from the album Damn the Torpedoes
B-side	"Casa Dega" (US) "Century City" (UK)
Released	November 5, 1979 (1979-11-05)
Genre	Rock R&B[1]
Length	2:44
Label	Backstreet
Songwriter(s)	Tom Petty
Producer(s)	Jimmy Iovine
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers singles chronology
"Listen to Her Heart" (1978) "Don't Do Me Like That" (1979) "Refugee" (1980)

Background

Petty wrote the song and recorded a demo version with his previous band Mudcrutch in 1974. At one point he strongly considered giving the song to The J. Geils Band because he thought it had their sound. During the Damn the Torpedoes sessions he was convinced by producer Jimmy Iovine to include it on the album because he sensed it would be a hit.[3]

Reception

Billboard praised the song for its "strong lyrical hook backed up by some solid mid to fast rock instrumentation" and its "urgent" vocal.[4] Cash Box said that it "bounces along to a rock steady, engaging beat, bopping hook, staccato guitar chords with lively production."[5]

Single track listings

• "Don't Do Me Like That" b/w "Casa Dega"
  Backstreet 41138 (US)
• "Don't Do Me Like That" b/w "Century City"
  "Something Else" (Live) b/w "Stories We Could Tell" (Live)
  Backstreet MCA 596 (UK 2x7" single)

Chart performance

References