Tom Petty music is, well, running wild on the latest Billboard charts (dated May 1), thanks to debuts for the late legend’s own Finding Wildflowers (Alternate Versions) and Lucinda Williams’ covers set Runnin’ Down a Dream: A Tribute to Tom Petty.
The former begins at No. 19 on Top Rock Albums with over 9,000 equivalent album units earned in the week ending April 22, according to MRC Data. With the bulk from album sales, the set also starts at No. 8 on Top Album Sales.
All but one of the tracks on Finding Wildflowers (Alternate Versions) were originally released as bonus material on the 2020 super deluxe CD and vinyl LP reissue of Petty’s 1994 album Wildflowers. They’re joined by the previously-unreleased “You Saw Me Comin’,” recorded in 1992.
Meanwhile, Williams’ Runnin’ Down a Dream: A Tribute to Tom Petty enters Americana/Folk Albums at No. 12 with nearly 4,000 units. With essentially all from album sales, the LP also bows at No. 21 on Top Album Sales. It arrives on both lists following its CD and vinyl release after it was first released digitally in October as part of Williams’ livestreamed “Lu’s Jukebox: In Studio Concert Series,” in which she pays tribute to other artists and styles. Next up, Southern Soul is due for physical release July 9.
Mirroring the classic cascading pink, yellow and blue cover art of Petty’s 1989 album Full Moon Fever, Williams’ LP includes interpretations of Full Moon Fever’s “Runnin’ Down a Dream,” “I Won’t Back Down” and “A Face in the Crowd.” It also features her takes on Wildflowers’ title track, “You Wreck Me” and “You Don’t Know How It Feels.”
Williams opened for Petty and the Heartbreakers’ final concert, a week before the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer died, in 2017.
Additional reporting by Alex Vitoulis.
