On this episode, English alternative rock singer, songwriter, guitarist, producer and engineer Wreckless Eric talks to Al about Tom Petty’s 1989 multi-Platinum solo debut Full Moon Fever. Eric explains how he was belatedly introduced to the album, and what he loves and doesn’t love about it. He also makes the case for Full Moon Fever being the original Dad Rock album. Eric talks about his new solo album, England Screaming, which is a remaking of A Roomful of Monkeys, the lone album released by his mid-‘80s project Captains of Industry.
You can find all things Wreckless Eric-related on his website, wrecklesseric.com. You can also follow Eric on Instagram at @thewrecklesseric. For Eric’s videos, check out his YouTube channel at @wrecklessericericgoulden6001.
You can buy or stream England Screaming—and some of Eric’s other work—on Bandcamp at https://wrecklesseric.bandcamp.com/.
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1:25 Eric’s introduction
2:11 Eric explains why he chose Full Moon Fever for this episode
5:10 Eric talks about the homemade nature of the Full Moon Fever recording
9:24 Eric was not listening to Petty around the time that Full Moon Fever came out
12:47 Eric recalls what impressed him about the album when he first listened to it
15:28 Eric talks about the unique way the drums were recorded
20:40 Eric thinks Full Moon Fever could be the first Dad Rock album
28:06 Does “Free Fallin’” fit the theme of the album?
33:52 Eric explains how the bright acoustic guitar sound was created on “Free Fallin’”
36:41 Eric recalls an encounter with producer Denny Cordell
41:17 Eric has a theory for why Petty included a cover of “Feel a Whole Lot Better” on the album
45:28 Eric talks about how Full Moon Fever was initially going to have fewer tracks
47:28 Al didn’t realize Full Moon Fever preceded The Traveling Wilburys
49:16 Eric explains why the album wasn’t called Songs from the Garage
52:32 Eric discusses what makes Full Moon Fever a complicated listening experience for him
1:04:17 Eric and Al talk about features of “Runnin’ Down a Dream” they like
1:07:14 Eric recommends that the “haters” listen to the whole album
1:08:13 Eric explains why he remade A Roomful of Monkeys as England Screaming
1:14:33 Eric talks about recording England Screaming with drummer Sam Shepherd
1:21:43 Eric extols the virtues of playing slow
1:25:09 Eric explains why A Roomful of Monkeys didn’t turn out the way he envisioned
1:28:09 Eric talks about his upcoming live events
1:29:29 Eric discusses the importance of the arts
Outro music is from “Land Of The Faint At Heart” by Wreckless Eric.
