Full Moon Fever

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This article is about the album. For other uses, see Full Moon Fever (disambiguation).
Full Moon Fever
File:Tom Petty Full Moon Fever.jpg
Studio album by Tom Petty
Released April 24, 1989
Recorded 1988–89 at M.C. Studios, Rumbo Studios, Sunset Sound, Devonshire Studios, Conway Studios and Sound City Studios
Genre
Length 39:58
Label
Producer
Tom Petty chronology
Let Me Up (I've Had Enough)
(1987)Let Me Up (I've Had Enough)1987		 Full Moon Fever
(1989)		 Into the Great Wide Open
(1991)Into the Great Wide Open1991
Singles from Full Moon Fever
  1. "I Won't Back Down"
    Released: April 1989
  2. "Runnin' Down a Dream"
    Released: July 29, 1989
  3. "Free Fallin'"
    Released: October 27, 1989
  4. "A Face in the Crowd"
    Released: March 3, 1990
  5. "Yer So Bad"
    Released: 1990

Full Moon Fever is the first solo album by Tom Petty, though it features contributions from members of his backing band the Heartbreakers, notably Mike Campbell, along with Jeff Lynne, Roy Orbison, and George Harrison of the Traveling Wilburys.[1][2] The record shows Petty exploring his musical roots with nods to his influences.[3] The songwriting is mainly collaborations between Petty and Lynne, who was also a producer on the album. The album became a commercial and critical success peaking at number three on the US Billboard 200 and being certified 5× platinum in the United States and 6× platinum in Canada.[4][5][6]

Background and recording

Petty had just finished a Heartbreakers tour behind the album Let Me Up (I've Had Enough) when he decided to record a solo album without the Heartbreakers (similar to the arrangement between Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band at the time).[1] This stirred some controversy among members of the Heartbreakers, although all but drummer Stan Lynch contributed to the album.[1] Benmont Tench and Howie Epstein initially weren't happy about playing the Full Moon Fever songs live during Heartbreakers concerts. Stan Lynch hated playing them right up until his departure from the band, saying it made him feel like he was in a cover band.

The recording process was a low-key affair, with many of Petty's friends contributing, including the members of the Traveling Wilburys, minus Bob Dylan.[1] Recorded mainly in the relaxed atmosphere of Mike Campbell's garage studio, Petty would later say it was the most enjoyable record of his career.[7] Recording of Full Moon Fever was actually interrupted to allow time for recording of the first Wilburys' album. A few songs recorded during the sessions did not make the Full Moon Fever album. "Down the Line" and "Don't Treat Me Like A Stranger" were released as B-sides. "Waiting for Tonight" features the Bangles and was released on the box set Playback. During the sessions, Petty wrote "Indiana Girl", an early draft of what would eventually become "Mary Jane's Last Dance".

Musical style and themes

The album is noted for being heavily influenced by Jeff Lynne, resulting in a cleaner and glossier version of the Heartbreakers roots rock from previous albums.[1][2] Lynne incorporated layers of keyboards and backing vocals, giving it a Beatlesque feel.[1][2] The songs show Petty paying dues to his influences with a Byrds cover ("I'll Feel a Whole Lot Better") and a nod to Del Shannon in "Runnin' Down a Dream". Other songs, such as "Free Fallin'", show Petty addressing nostalgia on his rise to fame. "A Mind With a Heart of Its Own" uses a Bo Diddley-style rhythm.[3]

Release and reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
AllMusic 4.5/5 stars[2]
Blender 4/5 stars[8]
Chicago Tribune 3.5/4 stars[9]
Encyclopedia of Popular Music 4/5 stars[10]
The Essential Rock Discography 7/10[11]
Los Angeles Times 3/4 stars[12]
MusicHound 4.5/5[13]
Rolling Stone 3.5/5 stars[1]
The Village Voice B+[14]

The album, which became Petty's commercial peak as an artist, was helped by favorable critical reviews and three hit singles.[15] The album was released on April 24, 1989 and rose to eventually peak at number three on the US Billboard 200 and number eight in the UK.[4][16] Five singles were released from the album; two hit the top 20 of the US Billboard Hot 100 and three topped the US Mainstream Rock chart.[4] The RIAA certified Full Moon Fever 5x platinum on October 5, 2000 in the US and the CRIA certified it 6x platinum on September 18, 1991 in Canada.[5][6]

Critical praise was generally high, with AllMusic giving the album 4-and-a-half stars, admiring the craft of the album and rivaling it with the Heartbreakers' Damn the Torpedoes.[2] This review notes there are no weak tracks on the album, calling it a "minor masterpiece".[2] The original Rolling Stone review compared the album favorably to the Traveling Wilburys' debut, Traveling Wilburys Vol. 1, saying it has the "same restless charm", but commenting that Full Moon Fever at times seems "sprawling".[1] The review claims the album is "another rewarding, low-key side project for Petty", giving it three-and-a-half stars out of five.[1] A later Rolling Stone biographer claims Full Moon Fever was a "masterful solo album".[17] It was ranked number 92 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 100 best albums of the 1980s.[7]

Track listing

All songs written by Tom Petty and Jeff Lynne, except as indicated.[2]

  1. "Free Fallin'" – 4:14
  2. "I Won't Back Down" – 2:56
  3. "Love Is a Long Road" (Mike Campbell, Petty) – 4:06
  4. "A Face in the Crowd" – 3:58
  5. "Runnin' Down a Dream" (Campbell, Lynne, Petty) – 4:23
  6. "I'll Feel a Whole Lot Better" (Gene Clark) – 2:47
  7. "Yer So Bad" – 3:05
  8. "Depending on You" (Petty) – 2:47
  9. "The Apartment Song" (Petty) – 2:31
  10. "Alright for Now" (Petty) – 2:00
  11. "A Mind with a Heart of Its Own" – 3:29
  12. "Zombie Zoo" – 2:56

"Hello, CD listeners…"

The original US compact-disc release of the album contains a hidden track in the pregap of track 6, at the point where cassette or LP listeners would have to flip sides to continue.[18] The track consists of a brief tongue-in-cheek monologue by Petty,[lower-alpha 1] over a background of barnyard noises. The interlude is not included in other versions of the album, though it is mentioned (as "Attention CD Listeners") in the album credits in all versions.

Personnel

Additional musicians
  • George Harrison – acoustic guitar and backing vocals on "I Won't Back Down"
  • Jim Keltner – drums, maracas and tambourine on "Love Is a Long Road"
  • Benmont Tench – piano on "The Apartment Song"
  • Howie Epstein – backing vocals on "I Won't Back Down" and "Love Is a Long Road"
  • Roy Orbison – backing vocals on "Zombie Zoo"
  • Kelsey Campbell – scream on "Zombie Zoo"
  • Alan Weidel, Jeff Lynne, Tom Petty – hand claps on "I'll Feel a Whole Lot Better"
  • Del Shannon – barnyard noises in the "Hello, CD listeners …" interlude
Production personnel

Singles

Year Single US Billboard[4]
Hot 100 Mainstream
Rock Tracks		 Modern
Rock Tracks		 Adult
Contemporary
1989 "I Won't Back Down" 12 1 29
"Runnin' Down a Dream" 23 1
"Free Fallin'" 7 1 17
"Feel a Whole Lot Better" 18
"Love Is a Long Road" 7
1990 "A Face in the Crowd" 46 5
"Yer So Bad" 5

Charts

Certifications

Region Certification Sales/shipments
Canada (Music Canada)[30] 6× Platinum 600,000
Sweden (GLF)[31] Gold 50,000
United Kingdom (BPI)[32] Gold 100,000
United States (RIAA)[33] 5× Platinum 5,000,000

^shipments figures based on certification alone

Notes

  1. ↑ In the monologue, Petty says: "Hello, CD listeners. We've come to the point in this album where those listening on cassette, or record, will have to stand up, or sit down, and turn over the record, or tape. In fairness to those listeners, we'll now take a few seconds before we begin side two. [pause] Thank you. Here's side two."

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  8. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  9. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  10. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  11. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  12. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  13. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  14. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  15. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  17. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  18. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  19. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  20. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  21. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  22. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  23. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  24. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  25. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  26. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  27. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  28. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  29. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  30. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  31. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  32. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. Enter Full Moon Fever in the field Keywords. Select Title in the field Search by. Select album in the field By Format. Select Gold in the field By Award. Click Search
  33. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Album, then click SEARCH
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