Tom Petty finishing new solo album

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LOS ANGELES, Nov. 23 (UPI) -- Tom Petty's next album, "Highway Companion," is beginning to come into view and is likely to be released as a solo effort.

Heartbreakers guitarist Mike Campbell plays on the album, as does former Electric Light Orchestra leader Jeff Lynne, who was Petty's bandmate in the Traveling Wilburys and produced his first solo album, "Full Moon Fever," in 1989.

"I pretty much had it finished before we left on tour in June," says Petty. "I would imagine it's gonna be out by the spring of next year, if not sooner. But I'm still fooling around a little bit with one more song, and then I probably have more songs."

Petty recently published a book, "Conversations With Tom Petty," with journalist Paul Zollo. He'll receive Billboard magazine's prestigious Century Award on December 6 at the Billboard Music Awards in Las Vegas.