Studio Album · No. 9
Into the Great Wide Open Songwriting Credits by Tom Petty
Produced by Jeff Lynne, Tom Petty, Mike Campbell · Engineered by Richard Dodd
MCA Records
Heartland RockRoots RockRock
100%
Authorship
Holds writing credit on 12 of 12 tracks
Authorship Breakdown 12 / 12 documented
Who wrote the songs?
Scored across the 12 tracks with documented writers, by whether Tom Petty carries a lyricist or composer credit.
12 trackswritten by Tom Petty
0 tracksoutside writers
Tom Petty's roles on this album
Share of the 12 tracks where a band member is credited, by role.
Lyricist100%
Composer100%
Producer100%
Performer100%
By the Numbers
12
Tracks
3
Lyricists
3
Producers
2
No.1 Singles
1991
Released
Data Insight
Tom Petty wrote or co-wrote every song here, mostly in partnership with Jeff Lynne, who co-produced the record with Petty and Mike Campbell as a follow-up to their work together on Full Moon Fever. Lynne's writing fingerprints sit on the singles 'Learning to Fly' and the title track, while Campbell remained Petty's closest instrumental collaborator across the Heartbreakers' material. The album leans on Lynne's polished, layered production approach rather than the looser band sound of Petty's later Rick Rubin records.
A companion album to a long-form music video, produced by Jeff Lynne. Contains 'Learning to Fly,' one of Petty's signature tracks.
Track Listing & Credits 12 tracks
Written by the artist
Written by outside writers
| # | Title | Lyricist(s) | Composer(s) | Producer(s) | Performers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Learning to Fly
#1
|
Tom PettyJeff Lynne | Thomas Earl PettyJeffrey Lynne | Jeff LynneTom PettyMike Campbell | Tom Petty (Lead Vocals) |
| 2 |
Kings Highway
|
Tom Petty | Thomas Earl Petty | Jeff LynneTom PettyMike Campbell | Tom Petty (Lead Vocals) |
| 3 |
Into the Great Wide Open
|
Tom PettyJeff Lynne | Thomas Earl PettyJeffrey Lynne | Jeff LynneTom PettyMike Campbell | Tom Petty (Lead Vocals) |
| 4 |
Two Gunslingers
|
Tom Petty | Thomas Earl Petty | Jeff LynneTom PettyMike Campbell | Tom Petty (Lead Vocals) |
| 5 |
The Dark of the Sun
|
Tom PettyJeff Lynne | Thomas Earl PettyJeffrey Lynne | Jeff LynneTom PettyMike Campbell | Tom Petty (Lead Vocals) |
| 6 |
All or Nothin'
|
Tom PettyJeff LynneMike Campbell | Thomas Earl PettyJeffrey LynneMichael Wayne Campbell | Jeff LynneTom PettyMike Campbell | Tom Petty (Lead Vocals) |
| 7 |
All the Wrong Reasons
|
Tom PettyJeff Lynne | Thomas Earl PettyJeffrey Lynne | Jeff LynneTom PettyMike Campbell | Roger McGuinn |
| 8 |
Too Good to Be True
|
Tom Petty | Thomas Earl Petty | Jeff LynneTom PettyMike Campbell | Tom Petty (Lead Vocals) |
| 9 |
Out in the Cold
#1
|
Tom PettyJeff Lynne | Thomas Earl PettyJeffrey Lynne | Jeff LynneTom PettyMike Campbell | Tom Petty (Lead Vocals) |
| 10 |
You and I Will Meet Again
|
Tom Petty | Thomas Earl Petty | Jeff LynneTom PettyMike Campbell | Tom Petty (Lead Vocals) |
| 11 |
Makin' Some Noise
|
Tom PettyJeff LynneMike Campbell | Thomas Earl PettyJeffrey LynneMichael Wayne Campbell | Jeff LynneTom PettyMike Campbell | Tom Petty (Lead Vocals) |
| 12 |
Built to Last
|
Tom PettyJeff Lynne | Thomas Earl PettyJeffrey Lynne | Jeff LynneTom PettyMike Campbell | Tom Petty (Lead Vocals) |
Songwriter & Credit Spotlight 7 contributors
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Frequently Asked Questions Into the Great Wide Open
Who produced Into the Great Wide Open?
The album was co-produced by Jeff Lynne, Tom Petty, and Mike Campbell. It continued the partnership between Petty and Lynne that began on Petty's solo album Full Moon Fever in 1989. The record was released on MCA Records in July 1991.
Did Tom Petty write the songs on Into the Great Wide Open?
Yes. Tom Petty wrote or co-wrote all of the album's songs, frequently collaborating with Jeff Lynne on the writing as well as the production. Mike Campbell, Petty's longtime guitarist, also contributed to several compositions.
How did Learning to Fly by Tom Petty perform on the charts?
'Learning to Fly' spent six weeks at number 1 on Billboard's Mainstream Rock Tracks chart. It became one of the band's signature songs and was co-written by Tom Petty and Jeff Lynne.
Is Into the Great Wide Open a Tom Petty solo album or a band album?
It is credited to Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, making it a full band album. This distinguishes it from the Petty solo records that bookend it, including Full Moon Fever before it and Wildflowers after it.
How well did Into the Great Wide Open sell?
The album was certified 2x Platinum by the RIAA, representing two million copies sold in the United States. It also reached multi-platinum and gold status in Canada, Sweden, the UK, and Germany.
What is the title track Into the Great Wide Open about?
The title track tells the story of a young musician chasing fame, and Tom Petty co-wrote it with Jeff Lynne. Its music video featured Johnny Depp and helped make the song one of the album's best-known tracks.
Which single besides Learning to Fly topped the rock chart?
'Out in the Cold' spent two weeks at number 1 on the Mainstream Rock chart. It was one of several rock-radio hits the album produced alongside 'Learning to Fly.'