Tom Petty’s “Runnin’ Down a Dream” was anchored by a descending guitar riff created by Mike Campbell.
Petty and Jeff Lynne filled in the missing pieces of the song, and Campbell delivered an incredible solo in one take during the recording.
The song reached No. 23 on the Billboard Hot 100 upon its release in 1989 and was accompanied by an animated music video directed by Jim Lenahan.
The length of “Runnin’ Down a Dream” was due to Campbell’s extended solo at the end, which Petty decided not to edit out.
Lynne found the making of the album “Full Moon Fever” to be smooth, and Campbell’s 1962 Gibson Les Paul “SG” Junior happened to be in the right place at the right time for the recording.
