The Birth and Legacy of “Full Moon Fever”
Initially rejected, the album has become a classic — and spawned a supergroup
Thirty-four years ago this week, Tom Petty’s Full Moon Fever was released.
Ostensibly a solo album, it features many of the Heartbreakers — Mike Campbell, Howie Epstein, and Benmont Tench.
Produced by Jeff Lynne, the album was initially rejected by his label, MCA, when its head, Irving Azoff, didn’t “hear a hit” and refused to put it out.
Stunned, Petty got support from friends Lynne and George Harrison. At a dinner party, the two assured him there was nothing wrong with the album and broke out guitars to play one of the tracks, “Free Fallin’.”
Shortly thereafter, the three decided to start their own group. Ultimately, this became the Traveling Wilburys, with the addition of Bob Dylan and Roy Orbison.
With Full Moon Fever still on ice, the Wilburys released their first album, Traveling Wilburys Vol. 1, in October 1988. A few months later, Azoff left MCA, and the new management team rediscovered Full Moon Fever, gave it a listen, and realized it was a great record.
Finally released on April 24, 1989, the album would sell more than 5 million copies, and spawn four charting singles — “I Won’t Back Down,” “Runnin’ Down a Dream,” “Free Fallin’,” and “A Face in the Crowd.”
Petty also used the time in limbo with MCA to sign a new deal with Warner Bros., keeping it secret until his MCA commitment was completed two years later.
Full Moon Fever was nominated for Album of the Year at the 1990 Grammy Awards, but lost to Nick of Time by Bonnie Raitt. Despite that loss, Full Moon Fever was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2019.
Interesting trivia — Del Shannon, who is referenced in “Runnin’ Down A Dream,” contributed barnyard noises in the “Hello, CD listeners . . .” interlude, while Mike Campbell’s daughter Kelsey contributed the scream heard in “Zombie Zoo.”
So, what album are you going to put on today?
WooHoo!!