Runnin' Down a Dream: A Tribute to Tom Petty

Fantastic from beginning to end.

Confession time, I am not a big Tom Petty fan, that's not to say that I don't like Tom Petty's music, but that other than a couple of albums I have very little of his output in my collection, an omission rather than a deliberate act of avoidance [and perhaps it's time I bought some more Tom Petty].I am though a bit of a Lucinda Williams fan, and loved the edginess of her previous album the raunchy, earthy, explicit "Good Souls Better Angels" but have to admit that it was with a little trepidation that I ordered her covers album "Runnin' Down A Dream". You see I normally have an aversion to covers albums, too close to the original with nothing added then why bother; too far from the original, interesting but why ruin a good song; in short somewhere between you can't have your cake and eat it and there's no pleasing some people. So where does "Runnin' Down A Dream" fall?I don't know because I don't know that many of the Petty originals here so I can't really compare and contrast, and can only judge on what I'm hearing; but what I'm hearing is Lucinda Williams singing someone else's songs because this is more polish than passion.But "Runnin' Down a Dream" isn't a bad album, it's not one of those that's going to fester on the shelf. But then Williams couldn't go far wrong with Petty's songs and they're all well presented here, after all Petty was a master songsmith and Williams is a journeyman troubadour [and Stuart Mathis, Williams go-to guitarist, shines]. OK I could quibble with a couple of the selections [Petty left us thirteen studio albums for Williams to pick from] but everyone will have their own views on which ones Williams should have chosen. But disappointingly too often the edgy raw emotional side of Williams that she showed us on "Good Souls Better Angels" is missing, it's as though Williams is afraid to stamp her own personality on these songs, and that's why it's only four stars and not five.So that leaves the question will I buy all six of these "Lu's Jukebox" releases (assuming they are released)? At a tenner a throw that's a big ask. So I don't know, I may be selective [Stones covers certainly, Dylan covers probably, Christmas songs possibly and the others maybe] but I do know I'd prefer a new album of Lucinda Williams originals.

This was only delivered on Monday and has been on the player constantly. I'd like to compare it to her other recent releases but of course i can't as this was just one of a series of on-line concerts in aid of cash-strapped venues across the USA. I hope it does well, it certainly deserves to. a fine addition to anyone's collection of Lucinda williams albums. Looking forward to the Dylan collection whenever it's released. Fantastic!

Having been an avid listener of both Lucinda Williams’ and Tom Petty’s music for several decades now ,I was looking forward to hearing her interpretations of his music and was not at all disappointed .What a good jo she does of it .Highly recommended for lovers of good music classily presented .

This CD is a gentle, countrified version of Tom Petty's hits, but it does not "cut the mustard"!

Two of my favourite artists; Lucinda's laid back take on some of Tom's songs, with a real southern accent, are a joy.

Despite her recent health problem and voice changes as time go on - its a good listen... I'll wait in anticipation for the rest of the proposed set of "Tribute" releases.

Lucinda never disappoints in whatever she does. To cover Tom Petty is a big ask and she does it perfectly. Southern Accents as a sing is reborn! A must addition to any Lu collection.