Song · Lone Justice
“Ways to Be Wicked” by Lone Justice
From the album Lone Justice (1985)
“Ways to Be Wicked” by Lone Justice appears on 3 radio countdowns from 3 stations between 1985 and 2022. It was first released in 1985 on the album Lone Justice. Its best result is #88 on the 91X Top 91 Songs of 1985. In the combined RockLists rankings it is the #204 alternative song of 1985 and #6,985 alternative song of all time.
"Ways to Be Wicked" arrived on Lone Justice's self-titled debut in April 1985, and it came with serious pedigree: Tom Petty wrote it with Mike Campbell, who plays guitar on it too. Jimmy Iovine produced, Joe Chiccarelli recorded, and Shelly Yakus and Don Smith mixed. Benmont Tench sits in on organ and piano, Bob Glaub on bass and Bobbye Hall on tambourine, with Don Heffington drumming and Ryan Hedgecock on guitar.
Out front is Maria McKee, the young singer Trouser Press heard as a throaty powerhouse with a Southern twang. The roots-rock record drew real acclaim, landing at No. 24 in the Village Voice's Pazz & Jop poll for 1985, yet it flopped commercially, and Trouser Press put that down to all the hype that came before it.
Written with AI assistance from RockLists chart data, MusicBrainz.
RockLists rankings
Alternative & Modern Rock
Indie & Adult Alternative
All Rock Formats
Year-end countdowns
| Year | # | Station | Countdown | of |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 88 | 91X San Diego, CA / Tijuana | 91X Top 91 Songs of 1985 | 91 |
All-time and decade countdowns
| Year | # | Station | Countdown | of |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | 442 | WOXY 97X | WOXY Modern Rock 500 (1989) | 500 |
| 2022 | 435 | The Colorado Sound | The Colorado Sound Top 1055 Colorado Sound Songs of All Time | 1055 |
Also listed as: Ways to be Wicked; Ways To Be Wicked.
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