Classic Album of the Day- Tom Petty - Full Moon Fever. (1989). ***** Tom Petty was a legend. He was a Traveling Wilbury along with Bob Dylan, Roy Orbison, George Harrison, and Jeff Lynne. He even had half of the Beatles peforming on some his albums, like this one. TP had massively prolific, consistent, and incredibly talented career that included some of the most rocking, innovative, and moving stuff. From Breakdown to U Get Me High, Petty cranked out hits like a slot machine for nearly 40 years. Also, got to give props to maybe the most underated and unhearlded sidekicks in Rock history, Mike Campbell. He has at least a stake of a good 1/3 of the Petty sound with the best modern slide guitar, and shredding licks.
Losing Petty in '15 was massive loss for Rock music. Maybe the best songwriter of the past two generations, and just a guy/band that when you bought an album/8 track/cassette/CD/Download, you knew there was going to 90-100% chance you were not going to be disappointed..
But now to his greatest work ..... 1989's Full Moon Fever. And I as kind of interesting side note. This was my first CD purchase. So I guess my CD collection goes back to 1989
Full Moon Fever was TP's first work without the Heartbreakers, though he course employed Campbell. Other greats like George Harrison, Jeff Lynne, It was his greatest selling non-compliation album, at 6X. Note, I. will rank the songs in preference in blue.
Side 1-
Free Fallin' - Slow roll, rocker with great hooks. Song pushes the mundane hypocricy of life in CA., or as I heard someway was a sublimal ode to falling to he excesses to the LA scene, drugs, etc. Great song, got very much play in the MTV era, with its 50's/'80's switcharoo in video imagery.
3 I Won't Back Down- Heard many many times sinces its release, for those who give the middle finger to an opressive force. If you have listened to rock music in form or fashion in the past 40 years, I really don't have to explain this songe to you, or what it sounds like. Video was iconic, in that it had Petty, Campbell, Ringo, George Harrison, and Jeff Lynne. Yeah, I'd say that was a pretty well known group.
2Love is a Long Road- This is the real sleeper on the LP, and my favorite among then non-hits. Some of Campbell's best slide guitar work of the mid '80's. Outside Runnin Down a Dream, the most rocking song on the LP.
6Face in the Crowd- Filler in my book, though I do have friends that love this soft rocker piece. Not much here... but just wait for the next song....
12Runnin' Down a Dream- Greatest song on his greatest album- This is TP at his high energy chaotic rocking best. Get your air guitar tuned, this one rocks...... On could argue that the end of this song was Campbell's best solo with his collaboration with Petty.
1Hello CD Listeners- Hilarious, account and point in time when CD's were just now being part of mainstream music sales. Tom Petty wanted to make sure that those who had the CD know that those who had the LP would be having to flip the LP to listen to Side 2.
Side 2-
Feel a Whole Lot Better- No one can dispute that the Byrds were obviously the biggest influence on Petty than any other earlier rocker. TP used Byrdish styles a whole lot more in the earlier part of his career, say especially the 1st 3-4 albums. Here he resurrects that with meter and style, that like what I use to say....... Petty plays The Byrds than the Byrds play. Good song.
7Yer so Bad- Soft rocking Ballad-isa ditty that Petty plays in jest to give his listeners a laugh. Fun song though....
11Depending On You- Another Soft rocker that rotates with a harder spin with good hooks and guitar progessions.
9The Apartment Song- Love TP's infusion of a little rock-a-billy in this short and catchy tune. Petty really starts showing off his versatility at this point.
8Alright For Now- Slow beautiul ballad with guitar only. Very simple, but they way they intertwine the acoustically runs just works well.
10Mind with a Heart of It's Own- TP adds some more rockabilly style, and it again it works well. I think in this short one Petty take mundane and nonsensical and build a really cool song around of it. Petty may have thought he was adding filler here, but is sure worked for me.
5Zombie Zoo- Loved this tune. Just more of the nonsenensical of Side 2- Though I feel Petty had some commentary around the party scene. Song in its pure essence, is the perfect hooked Petty song.
4http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aNMA3T030B4editied to repair dead link
