The Toy Box

Retro Spins: Tom Petty - Full Moon Fever

Today's a day for a little bit of Retro Spins cleanup. Back in May, I ran through the albums of Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers, but in doing so, I skipped right over Petty's 1989 solo debut effort, Full Moon Fever. That's pretty ironic, considering that it touts some of his greatest hits of all time, including the overplayed, very tried and true...and boring, Free Falling. Admittedly, I'm diving in today more so out of necessity to check a box than an actual desire to hear this one.

The album was spawned from a desire to do something without his backing band, a decision which didn't sit well with most of the members. However, this would be odd unto itself, as all but Stan Lynch would contribute to the album. It was more so an opportunity for Petty to work with his friends, such as members of the Travelling Wilbury's; Roy Orbison, George Harrison, and Jeff Lynne, the latter who would write most of the songs with Petty, as well as play multiple instruments, and provide backing vocals on the record.

Full Moon Fever would become his biggest selling album in his career, including among those with the Heartbreakers. As a whole, it would peak at number three in the USA, as well as rank in the top ten in four other countries, while also charting in three others. With it came the 1989 Billboard Hot 100 hit single, Free Falling (of course), which peaked at number three, and was followed by I Won't Back Down, which stalled out at number forty-one. A final single, A Face In The Crowd would chart in 1990, and finish out at number forty-six.

If you picked up the CD version of the album, you'd get a little hidden treat not provided on the original vinyl and cassette releases. That would be the hidden track, Feel A Whole Lot Better, tucked in between songs six and seven. Not a song per se, but rather a monologue from Petty, laid over animal sounds. The liner notes for the disc refer to it as, "Attention CD Listeners"., and the monologue itself states:

"Hello, CD listeners. We've come to the point in this album where those listening on cassette, or records, will have to stand up, or sit down, and turn over the record, or tape. In fairness to those listeners, we'll now take a few seconds before we begin Side Two. Thank you. Here's Side Two."

Free Falling kicks the album off, and admittedly, I had zero interest in hearing this. It's a song which made my Dirty Dozen's list of most overplayed songs of all time, and is one I really don't enjoy at this point as a result of its overexposure. This was followed by; I Won't Back Down, another hit which has relatively run its course with me at this point in my life.

Finally, with track three, I was into new territory. You can hear the sound shift with Love Is A Long Road, and this is most likely because of Lynne not being involved with it. Instead, it's penned by Petty, and longtime Heartbreakers member, Mike Campbell. It was here that things started to get into better territory for me, albeit because it was relatively all new to me.

I won't shun the hits, the two aforementioned, along with Runnin' Down A Dream are definitely solid. I just find them to have run their course at this point. Resulting from that were other standout tracks for me, such as the above noted Love Is A Long Road, A Face In The Crowd, and Yer So Bad.

As a whole, it's a decent album, but more importantly, I'm just kind of glad to be done with Tom Petty in my CD collection. Unfortunately, there's not much more to say. While I'd normally go into further history, I pretty much covered all of that ground in my post on the album, Let Me Up (I've Had Enough). So, instead, I'm off to find something "new" for tomorrow.

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Disclaimer: They Toy Box does not endorse or contribute to piracy. Retro Spins posts are intended for educational and entertainment purposes only. None of the music discussed here is available for sale, downloading or distribution.

Retro Spins: Pink Floyd - A Momentary Lapse Of Reason

By 1987, one wouldn't have expected Pink Floyd to return with another studio album. Roger Waters had departed in 1985, launching a solo career. In turn, David Gilmour returned to his own solo career, while Nick Mason joined up with Rick Fenn of 10cc to work as a duo. Everyone, except Richard Wright seemed to have moved on at this point.

Unfortunately, for David Gilmour, this was not panning out as expected. His 1985 released About Face was not making the impact needed, and the results were shows that weren't selling well, prompting several dates to be cancelled. During this time, he'd been actively writing new material, considering it for a third studio album. However, CBS representative Stephen Ralbovsky wanted a Pink Floyd record, and when he was presented with the demos in November of 1986, bluntly informed Gilmour that the music, "doesn't sound a *bleeping* thing like Pink Floyd." By the end of the year, he opted to rework the material the label found objectional.

However, when Waters started hearing about Gilmour and Mason collaborating on new material under the name of Pink Floyd, he promptly sprang into action, filing a class action lawsuit in 1986 over the band's name and music rights. This would not turn out to be financially sound for the ex-bandmate, and he'd eventually settle with the remaining members. This not only allowed them to continue on as Pink Floyd but granted Waters to retain full conceptual rights to The Wall, exclusive rights to the original inflatable pig, and he continues to own his individual songwriting and publishing rights.

Returning to the studio, the pressure was on for Gilmour and Mason. They needed a hit record. Not only to launch their comeback, but because they knew their ex-bandmate was watching. Waters felt he was the creative driving force behind the band, and there was no way that the remaining two could pull off a successful album worthy of the Pink Floyd Banner.

Upon its release, A Momentary Lapse Of Reason would outsell its predecessor and final Waters album, The Final Cut. While as a whole, it wouldn't chart as well as the previous record, it would manage to peak higher in the USA, reaching number three (versus number six of the prior).

Gilmour would tout the album as a return to Pink Floyd's earlier work, focusing on a balance between music and lyrics. This was in contrast to the concept (and more popular) era of the band, where Waters crafted poetic lyrics which often overshadowed every other aspect. Ironically, critics took notice of this, and while they gave it favorable reviews, panned the lyrics as a step backwards. Roger too took shots, calling the lyrics poor and third-rate. He labeled the album as a whole a clever forgery.

With opinions all over the place, what's one more?

For me, it was okay. It definitely lacks the conceptual structure of previous albums, and with Water's obvious absence, also the traditional voice behind it. It's not a bad album. If anything, it achieves what previous Pink Floyd albums didn't, that being standout singles. Whereas previous albums almost necessitated hearing the record from start to finish, here, you can pick out specific songs to play without worry.

For me, that included Learning To Fly, One Slip, and the amazing, On The Turning Away. The downside to this is that since the remaining tracks don't feel like required listening, they're fairly skippable and forgettable. While I won't say it with the vicious intent of Roger Waters, at the end of the day, A Momentary Lapse Of Reason doesn't feel like a Pink Floyd album. I appreciate the hits, but it's missing key elements. Specifically, the concept aspects, and structure that flows with that.

At the end of the day, it's great that Gilmour, Mason and Wright were able to pick up the pieces and keep the band afloat. It's also commendable that in 2013 Waters admitted that he was wrong in suing them. But, more so greater than all of that, it's just better when the four are working together. Such as the highly touted 2005 reunion at Live 8.

While fans soaked up this once in a lifetime event, behind the scenes, Gilmour and Waters continued to squabble, right down to what songs they would perform. That battle never really seemed to end, and the feud remains in full effect to this day. Despite this, the two have managed to work together a couple more times. Specifically, Waters appeared at a 2010 benefit concert at the request of Gilmour, and in turn, Gilmour promised to, and appeared at a 2011 concert with Waters. However, these appear to be nothing more than favors they did for each other, a mutual transaction so to speak.

The three-man lineup would release two additional albums, 1994's The Division Bell, and 2014's The Endless River. Sadly, the latter would only feature Wright posthumously, having passed away in 2008 from lung cancer.

Though Pink Floyd never officially retired, they haven't been active since their 2022 single, Hey Hey, Rise Up!, in support of Ukraine. Waters concluded his This Is Not A Drill farewell tour in 2023, and he too seems to have stepped away from the stage. With all three members in their 80's, perhaps its best to spend the rest of their years enjoying the fruits of their labors. One certainly can't say it's been for nothing. They remain legends of the music industry, with songs that will live on long past all of us.

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Christmas Catalogs - Montgomery Ward 1975

Hey! You want to spend the next two years looking at the fantastic Christmas catalogs produced by Sears, JCPenny, and Montgomery Ward? Cause I do! Yeah, I said two years, cause that's a lot of catalogs! Join me on most Monday's each month as I post up one of those fabulous books starting with 1970, and ending with 1989.

Look through every page, feeling every bit of nostalgia. Chuckle at the look and style of the wardrobes those zanny past decade people wore. Gawk at the toys you used to have, but long since parted ways with. Bring back all those memories of hours spent laying on the floor, combing every inch as your young mind pined over everything you wanted. Reminisce over the Christmas that followed as you unwrapped those lucky few that you got.

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