In 1991, Tom Petty released a song he never liked. Radio stations couldn’t stop playing it
Tom Petty was unhappy when “Out in the Cold” was chosen as a single from the Heartbreakers’ 1991 album *Into the Great Wide Open*. The label favoured its driving groove and faster pace, but Petty felt other songs on the record better represented his work.
The article says the song, alongside “Making Some Noise”, received frequent radio play in Los Angeles, despite Petty regarding both as lesser tracks. “Out in the Cold” has since passed 2.5 million Spotify streams; its insistent riff and punk-influenced energy helped it find an audience beyond its original radio run.
In short
- Petty disliked “Out in the Cold” as a single.
- Radio stations in Los Angeles played it often.
- The track has more than 2.5 million Spotify streams.
Explained simply
Tom Petty was an American singer and songwriter best known as the frontman of the Heartbreakers, a rock band formed in the 1970s. By 1991, the group had released several successful albums, and its record company had a say in which songs were promoted to radio.
A single is a song released separately from an album to attract listeners and encourage sales. Record companies may choose tracks they think will work well on radio, though artists can disagree about which songs best represent their work. Radio exposure can help a song reach a wider audience, and streaming services allow listeners to find it long after its original release.