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Into the Great Wide Open

by Tom Petty

Released: July 02, 1991

Rock

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Why This Album Matters

This album matters because its strongest editorial story is: Chart Success.

The Album

"Into the Great Wide Open" is the eighth studio album by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, released in July 1991. The album's title track inspired a music video starring Johnny Depp as "Eddie", a teenager who moves to Los Angeles in pursuit of rock stardom. The video features appearances by Gabrielle Anwar, Faye Dunaway, Matt LeBlanc, Terence Trent D'Arby, and Chynna Phillips.

Inside the Recording

Produced by Tom Petty and Jeff Lynne, it marked the band's last album with MCA Records.

Stories and details

Interesting Facts

"Into the Great Wide Open" is noted for…

"Into the Great Wide Open" is noted for its blend of Petty's trademark rock sound with Jeff Lynne's production style, offering a mix of introspective lyrics and melodic hooks.

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Essential Tracks

Out In The Cold

The second single, "Out in the Cold", also topped the Mainstream Rock chart for two weeks.

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Explore the Album

Tom Petty - Into the Great Wide Open

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Then

Reception

The album's lead single, "Learning to Fly", spent six weeks at No. 1 on Billboard's Mainstream Rock Tracks chart, matching the band's record set by "The Waiting" in 1981. The second single, "Out in the Cold", also topped the Mainstream Rock chart for two weeks. It was well-received by critics and fans alike, contributing to the band's continued success in the early 1990s.

Full background

The Complete Album Story

"Into the Great Wide Open" is the eighth studio album by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, released in July 1991. Produced by Tom Petty and Jeff Lynne, it marked the band's last album with MCA Records. The album's lead single, "Learning to Fly", spent six weeks at No. 1 on Billboard's Mainstream Rock Tracks chart, matching the band's record set by "The Waiting" in 1981. The second single, "Out in the Cold", also topped the Mainstream Rock chart for two weeks.

The album's title track inspired a music video starring Johnny Depp as "Eddie", a teenager who moves to Los Angeles in pursuit of rock stardom. The video features appearances by Gabrielle Anwar, Faye Dunaway, Matt LeBlanc, Terence Trent D'Arby, and Chynna Phillips.

"Into the Great Wide Open" is noted for its blend of Petty's trademark rock sound with Jeff Lynne's production style, offering a mix of introspective lyrics and melodic hooks. It was well-received by critics and fans alike, contributing to the band's continued success in the early 1990s.