Don't Do Me Like That

"Don't Do Me Like That" is a song by American rock band Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, released on November 5, 1979 as the lead single from their third studio album, Damn the Torpedoes. Written by the band's eponymous frontman, the song was first recorded as a demo with his band, Mudcrutch, in 1974. Tom Petty considered giving the song to The J. Geils Band, but producer Jimmy Iovine convinced him to include it on Damn the Torpedoes.^[4]

"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	Heartland rock[1] boogie rock[2] R&B[3]
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)

The single is one of the band's most popular in North America, and is their only song to reach the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100.^[5] It was even more popular in Canada, peaking at No. 3, but in the UK, despite airplay by Capital Radio in the summer of 1980, the track failed to make the Top 75 chart.

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.^[6]

Reception

Billboard praised the song for its "strong lyrical hook backed up by some solid mid to fast rock instrumentation" and its "urgent" vocal.^[7] Cash Box said that it "bounces along to a rock steady, engaging beat, bopping hook, staccato guitar chords with lively production".^[8] Record World called the hook "irresistible".^[9]

The Fort Worth Star Telegram rated it to be the 4th best single of 1979.^[10]

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

Weekly charts Chart (1979–80) Peak position Canadian RPM Top Singles 3 New Zealand 17 U.S. Billboard Hot 100 10 U.S. Cash Box Top 100[11] 7

Year-end charts Chart (1980) Rank Canada 37 U.S. Billboard Hot 100[12] 64 U.S. Cash Box 56