Tom Petty

Wildflowers

Music

Sound

Label: Warner Records/Because Sound Matters

Produced By: Rick Rubin, Tom Petty, Mike Campbell

Engineered By: David Bianco, Jim Scott

Mixed By: Richard Dodd

Mastered By: Chris Bellman

Lacquers Cut By: Chris Bellman at Bernie Grundman Mastering

By: Michael Fremer

September 22nd, 2025

Genre:

Rock Classic Rock Folk Rock

Format:

Vinyl

Tom Petty "Wildflowers" One-Step Is it That Much Better?

double 33 1/3, pressed on Neotech VR900-D2 vinyl

To be brief: compared to the version included in the deluxe box set of a few years ago, this re-mastered One-Step version cut by Chris Bellman at Bernie Grundman Mastering sounds soooo much better, it's kind of ridiculous.

I took it to my friend Anthony Chiarella's (he's CEO of Specialty Sound & Vision, which distributes Gryphon among other products) and played it on his system during a meeting of the New York/N.J. Audio club and the reaction in the room was unanimous. It sounds much better.

Greater vocal clarity, cymbals and overall drum clarity way better as is transparency. In every audiophile check list category you can think of the One Step was better. I chose just "It's Good to Be King" for its combination of great drum sound, dynamics and other telling qualities. Steve Ferrone's drums and especially the Michael Kamen arranged strings pop in ways the previous one only suggests.

Limited to 6000 numbered copies (probably more unnumbered if it sells out, which I'm thinking it will). Is it worth the $124.98, housed in a beautiful slip case and a jacket that faithfully reproduces the original paper, depends on how much you love the record but if you do, you won't regret buying it.

It's available for pre-order at the Tom Petty Store

Music Specifications

Pressing Plant: RTI

SPARS Code: AAA

Speed/RPM: 33 1/3

Weight: 180 grams

Size: 12"

Channels: Stereo

Source: original analog master tapes

Presentation: Multi LP

Comments

2025-09-23 01:21:29 PM

Kevin wrote:

This is getting crazy. How does one know if it’s worth it to buy even a “definitive audiophile version” at high dollars if another better definitive audiophile version will be out a couple of years later? (For even higher dollars😂) . I love the choices but it’s making me poor!
- 2025-09-23 03:47:54 PM
  
  Spin The Black Circle wrote:
  
  I completely agree! It is ridiculous how many “audiophile” reissues there are of any given album. In most cases the differences between one to the other is like splitting hairs. Unless you have unlimited income, and can afford to buy a system for $100k or more, the level of sonic improvement is barely noticeable.
  - 2025-09-23 04:48:51 PM
    
    Michael Fremer wrote:
    
    This one is not "splitting hairs".
- 2025-09-23 05:30:21 PM
  
  Malachi Lui wrote:
  
  i agree that there's generally an exhausting redundancy in audiophile reissue selection, but this album hasn't been reissued into the ground nearly as much as, say, 'kind of blue' or the doors catalog.
  
  michael and i compared this new one step to the the existing AAA bellman cut from the 2020 'wildflowers and all the rest' box. now, the 2020 cut is very, very good, and given that the smaller 3LP package is widely available for $45, it's truly a bargain. but on a high end system, the one step is absolutely better. i too was a little skeptical about HOW much of a difference the one step plating and the neotech vr900-d2 formulation would make. but it's truly a big difference. you can argue that the one step is softer than the normal three step pressing, and that seems to be a characteristic of the vr900-d2 compound, but there's much more striking presence and inner detail resolution. every layer is fully clarified in three-dimensional space. it's outstanding.
  
  whether or not you like this album enough to spend $125 on the ultimate pressing, that's up to you. a lot of people will be totally fine with the existing $45 copy from five years ago. but those who've invested insane amounts of money into their system, who deeply love this album? the one step is worth it and it IS a major improvement on top of what's already available and very good to start with.
  - 2025-09-23 07:08:45 PM
    
    Todd wrote:
    
    Well I dont have an existing copy to upgrade so will take the plunge since it’s a great album. Bought Purple Rain at the same time.
  - 2025-09-24 12:02:43 PM
    
    Rolando wrote:
    
    Thank you for your thoroughness, cheers bud.
  - 2025-09-24 12:33:50 PM
    
    Jeff 'Glotz' Glotzer wrote:
    
    THIS is the language I was looking for. Put simply, I am getting that this is the best sounding version- by a lot. Having both MF and Malachi respond from his reference system is definitive to me. $125 is a reasonable entry fee here.
2025-09-23 08:02:55 PM

Michael Zlotnicki wrote:

It doesn’t matter how much better it sounds. I bought the 9 LP box last time and vowed that would be the last time I bought Wildflowers. Happy for others.
2025-09-24 12:49:44 AM

Sam Casanzio wrote:

How does it compare to the original 1990s vinyl pressing? I have an original, and it’s jaw dropping good. Valuable too, as this was a time when vinyl was being fazed out. This was the vinyl pressing that got me back into vinyl full bore. I also owned the original CD, and it was a joke compared to the vinyl.
2025-10-08 02:43:43 PM

Mtglass wrote:

I got my copy today and I’m currently listening for the first time. The packaging is quite nice but I’ve already experienced some quality control issues with the vinyl itself. Sliding the first record out of the sleeve I noticed two light scratches running across the 2nd and third songs, during play there was an audible pop on the second track. I have not cleaned the record but I hope a cycle in the Degritter helps out. Upon closer inspection there also appears to be some slight amount of trash in the vinyl and some “smears” on sides one and two and it’s not completely flat. The second disc sides three and four look flawless and nice and shiny and flat. I consider this the be the best album by a great artist and have the Albums Boxset copy and the stand alone and 9 disc copy, this edges them out sound wise with more detail and nice bass but the vinyl is little noisier. As a long time vinyl collector I’ve come to expect the occasional pop and crackle on new vinyl and rarely return a record, I’ll wait and see if the RCM helps. I guess for the price and hype I expected better QC.
- 2025-10-08 03:27:55 PM
  
  Mtglass wrote:
  
  A cleaning help, still a little noise.
2025-10-12 10:04:19 AM

cam08529 wrote:

My copy is clean quiet and flat. It sounds great to me, but my only reference is the original CD I picked up in an estate sale for $1. From here on, I'll keep crawling back to the One Step.
2025-10-14 12:47:47 PM

bluezimmy wrote:

This is one of my favorite albums and so I am willing to treat myself. I have a Pro-Ject Debut Carbon EVO. Would it be worth it to me to splurge on the One-Step? Be honest. You won’t hurt my feelings.
2025-10-15 02:04:09 PM

cjp123 wrote:

So I don't have a high end system at all, and I was SHOCKED at how much better this sounds. I purchased because Tom Petty is among my favorite artists and this is my favorite album of his. I have had many pressings and own the 9lp box set, but I thought at worst I would invest in this, not notice much of a difference, and resell it probably for close to what I paid for it. I couldn't believe my ears. The acoustic guitar sound especially--you can hear the strings vibrate. I too am skeptical of so many "audiophile" reissues but this one, like Mr. Fremer and Mr. Lui wrote, really is a cut above. It seems like Because Sound Matters is really knocking it out lately--Prince, KD Lang, now this. Some of the others I've heard didn't show as much of a difference to me (I'm looking at you, Dookie) but holy moly, this one actually matches the hype.
2025-10-19 02:30:23 PM

WesHeadley wrote:

Just received my One Step copy of Wildflowers on Thursday. I also have the TP Vol 2 box set copy from 2016, the 7 disc set from 2020 and the 2020 standalone reissue. They all sound excellent to me, but the One Step is obviously superior and there is just no getting around than fact. I don't know why -- probably the extra micro-detail from one-step stampers along with the superior vinyl compound chosen. However, my disc one is quite warped and presented stained and lightly scuffed upon initial inspection. I clean everything at least once in a Degritter MK2 before playing. The SQ on this release is so good it's hard to ask for anything more in that regard, but I will be asking for a replacement disc one due to the warping. It makes me wonder about the quality control procedures being used by Because Sound Matters as I've only received one other dud out of the many other One Steps I've bought over the years. I have a second backup copy on this one, I was going to keep it sealed, but the warping issue has me concerned enough to maybe open it and check the condition.
2025-10-20 06:57:36 PM

Todd Fredericks wrote:

I had a different experience with this release. It came in the mail today. I felt it was on the bright side and the bass was lacking. I'm very familiar with this album and felt something was different the moment I put the first side on. I ended up playing the previous reissue and it was a better listen for me. I don't think it's my ears or.my set up (which is pretty good gear). It definitely felt like there were some extreme eq moves and not an increase in clarity because of thw one step process. Anyway, that was my experience tonight. I'll give it a few days and listen again.
- 2025-10-20 07:20:38 PM
  
  Todd Fredericks wrote:
  
  I know my feedback about my experience must sound strange compared to all the.positive reviews but that was my experience tonight. As I mentioned, I'll give it another listen in a few days. I also have the 24/96 version plus the first vinyl pressing and the original CD. Those might be helpful as well. Best, Todd