Tom Petty - Full Moon Fever (1989) 24-bit 96kHZ vinyl rip and redbook

Tom Petty - Full Moon Fever

Vinyl rip in 24-bit / 96kHZ and redbook | FLAC | no cue or log (vinyl) | artwork

870 MB (24/96) + 265 MB (RB) | FS & WU| Rock | MCA 6253

Full Moon Fever is the first solo album by Tom Petty, though it features contributions from several members of his backing band, the Heartbreakers, along with fellow members of the Traveling Wilburys. The record shows Petty exploring his musical roots with nods to his influences. The songwriting is mainly collaborations between Petty and Jeff Lynne who was also a producer on the album. The album became a commercial and critical success peaking in the top five on the Billboard 200 and being certified 5x platinum in the United States and 6x platinum in Canada.





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 new album. Since the songs that Petty and Electric Light Orchestra front man/Traveling Wilbury collaborator Jeff Lynne co-wrote sounded "nothing like Heartbreakers songs," Petty decided to record the album as a solo effort. At first, this stirred a bit of controversy amongst some of the Heartbreakers, although each one except drummer Stan Lynch, contributed to the album. Recording was a low-key affair, with many of Petty's friends contributing, including the members of the Traveling Wilburys, minus Bob Dylan. A few songs were recorded during the sessions that did not make the album; "Down the Line" and "Don't Treat Me Like A Stranger" were among them, and were released as b-sides. "Traveling" and "Waiting for Tonight" were released on Playback, with the former featuring all the Heartbreakers, including Stan Lynch, and the latter featuring The Bangles. During the sessions, Petty wrote "Indiana Girl," an early draft of what would eventually become "Mary Jane's Last Dance". When playing the songs live, initially, Benmont Tench and Howie Epstein weren't happy about it. Stan Lynch hated it right up until his departure from the band, saying he felt he was in a cover band.

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. Lynne incorporated layers of keyboards and backing vocals, giving it a Beatlesque feel. 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.

Release and reception

The album became Petty's commercial peak as an artist, helped by favorable critical reviews and three hit singles. The album was released on April 24, 1989 and rose to eventually peak at #3 on the Billboard 200 and number 8 in the UK. There were five singles released from the album, two hitting the top 20 of the Billboard Hot 100 and three topping the Mainstream Rock chart. The RIAA certified Full Moon Fever 5x platinum on October 5, 2000 and the CRIA certified it 6x platinum on September 18, 1991.

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. This review notes there are no weak tracks on the album. calling it a "minor masterpiece." The original Rolling Stone review compared the album favorably to the Traveling Wilburys first album, Volume 1, saying it has the "same restless charm," but commenting that the album, at times, seems "sprawling." The review claims the album is "another rewarding, low-key side project for Petty," giving it three and a half stars out of five. A later Rolling Stone biographer claims Full Moon Fever was a "masterful solo album."

Reviews:

BBC

Rolling Stone

Robert Christgau

Track listing

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

"Free Fallin'" – 4:14

"I Won't Back Down" – 2:56

"Love Is a Long Road" (Mike Campbell, Petty) – 4:06

"A Face in the Crowd" – 3:58

"Runnin' Down a Dream" (Campbell, Lynne, Petty) – 4:23

"I'll Feel a Whole Lot Better" (Gene Clark) – 2:47

"Yer So Bad" – 3:05

"Depending on You" (Petty) – 2:47

"The Apartment Song" (Petty) – 2:31

"Alright for Now" (Petty) – 2:00

"A Mind with a Heart of Its Own" – 3:29

"Zombie Zoo" – 2:56

Personnel

Tom Petty – acoustic guitar, electric guitar, keyboards, sound effects, tambourine, vocals, handclapping

Jeff Lynne – bass, electric guitar, keyboards, sound effects, backing vocals, handclapping

Mike Campbell – bass, guitar, mandolin, keyboards, slide guitar

Phil Jones – percussion, drums

Additional personnel

Benmont Tench – piano on "The Apartment Song"

Kelsey Campbell – sound effects, vocals

George Harrison – acoustic guitar and backing vocals on "I Won't Back Down"

Roy Orbison – backing vocals on "Zombie Zoo"

Jim Keltner – drums, maracas and tambourine on "Love Is a Long Road"

Howie Epstein – backing vocals on "I Won't Back Down" and "Love Is a Long Road"

Del Shannon – barnyard noises in the "Hello, CD listeners…" interlude

Don Smith, Bill Bottrell - Engineering

Alan Weidel - Handclapping, Engineering

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Analyzed folder: /TomPettyFullMoonFever

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DR Peak RMS Filename

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DR13 -5.05 dB -20.76 dB A1 Free Fallin'.wav

DR13 -5.68 dB -21.20 dB A2 I Won't Back Down.wav

DR11 -6.07 dB -19.67 dB A3 Love Is A Long Road.wav

DR14 -6.13 dB -21.35 dB A4 A Face In The Crowd.wav

DR13 -5.40 dB -19.19 dB A5 Runnin' Down A Dream.wav

DR12 -6.43 dB -19.83 dB B1 Fell A Whole Lot Better.wav

DR12 -7.51 dB -21.06 dB B2 Yer So Bad.wav

DR13 -5.44 dB -19.91 dB B3 Depending On You.wav

DR14 -5.82 dB -20.89 dB B4 The Apartment Song.wav

DR11 -10.89 dB -25.68 dB B5 Alright For Now.wav

DR13 -5.68 dB -20.17 dB B6 A Mind With A Heart Of It's Own.wav

DR12 -6.63 dB -20.19 dB B7 Zombie Zoo.wav

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Number of files: 12

Official DR value: DR13

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