Tom Petty, ‘Runnin Down a Dream’ – Butch’s Way Back Wednesday

As a music fan there is always something new and great, but there really is something special about the songs you grew up listening to. For me, that was 70′s and 80′s classic rock. If I am in a shi**y mood, I throw in a little Zeppelin or Rush and take a trip back to rolling in my mom’s T-Bird. Now every Wednesday you get to take that trip with me. It’s Way Back Wednesday with Butch, and today’s feature is a song from a dude who put out a very influential piece of rock history on this day 20 years ago… Tom Petty's, "Runnin Down a Dream."

It was on this day 20 years ago in 1993 that Tom Petty released his best selling album ever... Greatest Hits. The album was certified 10x Platinum (Diamond Award) by the RIAA on November 13, 2003.

The single "Mary Jane's Last Dance" became one of Petty's most popular songs, reaching #14 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #1 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks chart. The other new song on the album is a cover of the Thunderclap Newman hit "Something in the Air". The album contains no songs from 1987's Let Me Up (I've Had Enough). However, three songs from 1989's Full Moon Fever were included; despite the album's technical status as a Tom Petty solo album, it contained contributions from several members from the Heartbreakers, thus legitimizing its inclusion on this compilation.

Why "Runnin' Down a Dream" with so many other hits on the album you ask? Well, a real technical answer I have for you... Because it is my personal favorite!

Now take a trip back with us to either 1989 or 1993, you choose, here...