Thursday Throwback is a weekly colour scheme inspired by an iconic album cover of yesteryear. This week’s throwback is the 1991 album “Into the Great Wide Open” by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. The colours are as follows:
| Colours | HEX | RGB | HSB | CMYK | LAB |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colour 1 | #499EBF | 73, 158, 191 | 197, 62, 75 | 61, 17, 0, 25 | 61, -15, -24 |
| Colour 2 | #F2CB05 | 242, 203, 5 | 50, 98, 95 | 0, 16, 97, 5 | 82, -1, 83 |
| Colour 3 | #D9B777 | 217, 183, 119 | 39, 45, 85 | 0, 15, 45, 14 | 76, 3, 37 |
| Colour 4 | #BF5630 | 191, 86, 48 | 16, 75, 75 | 0, 54, 74, 25 | 49, 39, 41 |
| Colour 5 | #8C2A2A | 140, 42, 42 | 0, 70, 55 | 0, 70, 70, 45 | 32, 41, 23 |
“Into the Great Wide Open,” released on 2 July 1991, is the eighth studio album by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. It marked their final release with MCA Records and continued the successful partnership between Petty and producer Jeff Lynne, following their acclaimed “Full Moon Fever” collaboration.
The album was recorded between 1990 and 1991 at Rumbo Studio C in Canoga Park, California, and M.C. Studios. Jeff Lynne, Mike Campbell, and Tom Petty co-produced the record, maintaining the polished, radio-friendly sound established on “Full Moon Fever” whilst incorporating elements of heartland rock.
“Into the Great Wide Open” received critical acclaim and commercial success in several countries. The lead single, “Learning to Fly,” topped Billboard’s Mainstream Rock Tracks chart for six weeks, equalling the band’s previous record. The title track also performed well, accompanied by a notable music video featuring Johnny Depp, Faye Dunaway and a young, pre-Friends Matt LeBlanc.
The album’s success further cemented Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers’ status as a leading American rock band. Whilst it may not have produced as many hit singles as its predecessor, “Into the Great Wide Open” is regarded as a classic, praised for its storytelling and lyrical depth.
The album cover features a cropped version of “Autumn Landscape,” a 1921 painting by Czech artist Jan Matulka, owned by the Los Angeles County Museum of Art.
“Into the Great Wide Open” remains a significant entry in Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers’ catalogue, with its blend of heartland rock, thoughtful lyrics, and polished production ensuring its enduring influence and appeal to listeners.
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