"Runnin' Down a Dream" by Tom Petty

Song#:  3978

Date:  07/29/1989

Debut:  93

Peak:  23

Weeks:  14

Genre:  Rock

Pop Bits:  Petty's first solo album, Full Moon Fever, got off to a solid start when its lead single "I Won't Back Down" made it to #1 at Rock while nearly cracking the Pop Top 10 (#12). Next up for release was this more driving rock tune. It would replicate the success of his previous single at Rock by topping that chart. Over at Pop it didn't do quite as well, but still made the Top 30. Although the album had already reached its peak of #3 early in July, this song kept sales going. By November, it would reach the double-platinum mark.

ReduxReview:  Here is a great highway/back country roads driving song. It charges full speed ahead with a great groove. It even has woo-hoo's in it. I also like how relaxed Petty's vocals were. He wasn't driving like a maniac, he was steering with purpose. It was a nice counterpoint to the anxious music. It was another quality track from Petty and from Full Moon Fever.

ReduxRating:  8/10

Trivia:  Double Shot!  1) This song included the line "me and Del were singing little Runaway." Petty is referring to the 1961 #1 hit "Runaway" by Del Shannon. Shannon was an inspiration for Petty and called him out in the song. The two musicians would become friends and in 1981 Petty would produce an album for Shannon titled Drop Down and Get. It would spawn one last chart hit for Shannon with his #33 remake of "Sea of Love." Shannon would pop up in an unexpected way on Full Moon Fever... which leads to  2) The first side of the LP version of Full Moon Fever ended with "Running Down a Dream." Side 2 would pick up with "Feel a While Lot Better." Of course with CDs, there is no side 1 or 2. They just contain the full track listing. Not wanting to give up the vinyl album listening experience, on the CD version of Full Moon Fever following "Running Down a Dream," Petty inserted a little break. He comes on and 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. <a minor pause> Thank you. Here's side two." While this is going on, you can faintly hear animal noises in the background. Those were provided by producer Jeff Lynne and Del Shannon. While this little interlude was only available on the CD version of the album, it would make the transfer over to the streaming world in the digital version of the LP.

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