10 Best Rock Albums That Everyone Forgets About
6. Into the Great Wide Open - Tom Petty
Tom Petty is one of the few '70s artists who somehow managed to stay relevant after almost 20 years in the world of rock and roll. Hell, almost a decade after Don't Do Me Like That became a staple on classic rock radio, Petty hit the jackpot on Full Moon Fever, hooking up with ELO's Jeff Lynne and working magic on songs like Free Fallin and Runnin Down a Dream. Though the pattern was to just bring the Heartbreakers back into the mix, Into the Great Wide Open still stands as a solid entry.
Much like Bowie, this album tends to not get too many mentions outside of just the major single Learning to Fly to kick everything off. While that song itself is one of the greatest musical pieces Tom ever wrote, the rest of the album is just as good, with Lynne's crystal clean production working wonders on songs like Two Gunslingers and King's Highway. Even the blatant retread of Free Fallin on All the Wrong Reasons still has a commanding melody that gives the original a run for its money.
There's even some moments where the Heartbreakers work outside of their comfort zone, like the minor key dirge rhythm of All or Nothin or the whacked out rock and roll of Makin Some Noise. Even though Full Moon Fever was a bit of a departure, Into the Great Wide Open is proof that Tom didn't forget where his roots were.