Published on Jan 29, 2000
Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers’ 1991 release
Into The Great Wide Open most definitely has the group
performing in a more pop-oriented fashion. Songs like “Learning To
Fly” and “King’s Highway” definitely have the pop-rock sound that
easily could get played on either AM or FM radio stations.
The title track’s guitars has an 80s-George Harrison sound, (
Cloud Nine) and it’s a wonder that it wasn’t Harrison
himself who performed the guitar work on this song (actually it was
Heartbreakers’ Mike Campbell, I believe). Petty teamed up with
Harrison, along with Jeff Lynne, Bob Dylan and Roy Orbison to form
The Traveling Wilburys in the 1980s, shortly before Orbison’s death
in 1988. And, of this supergroup lineup, only Jeff Lynne is a
participant on
Into The Great Wide Open, as he plays guitars, keyboards,
vocals and bass.
“Two Gunslingers” is also pop-oriented, and features another
rock giant, Roger McGuinn of The Byrds on chorus vocals. “The Dark
Of The Sun” not only is pop, but it also has a sound that would be
heard in Alternative rock acts throughout the end of the 1990s.
“All Or Nothin'” has a more rock edge, and could be compared to a
harder-edge tune by Neil Young.
“All The Wrong Reasons”‘ main lyrics are awfully close to
Petty’s “Free Fallin’,” heard on his solo release from 1989,
Full Moon Fever. “Too Good To Be True” has your head boppin’
as this song is rockin’, likewise “Out In The Cold,” another good
rocker.
“You And I Will Meet Again” is a bit mellow, as it returns to
the pop-rock style. “Makin’ Some Noise” is an absolutely great
rocker, with a great rock guitar sound, as heard in John (Cougar)
Mellencamp’s “Authority Song”. “Built To Last” has a 1950s-early
1960s beat (like Sam Cooke’s “Chain Gang”), yet it still has the
late Eighties/Nineties sound. The wah-wah guitar licks are cool,
and this song is great to end the album.
Into The Great Wide Open is truly an excellent album. It
combines pop and rock, and quite frankly, this album is never
tiring. Each song is great, and is a must for those who are
interested in Petty’s music.