Full Moon Fever is the first solo album by Tom Petty, though it features contributions from his band, The Heartbreakers, along with members of the Traveling Wilburys. The record shows Petty's musical roots and influences with a Byrds cover ("I'll Feel a Whole Lot Better") and a nod to Del Shannon ("Runnin' Down a Dream"'s lyric of me and Del were singin' little "Runaway"). The album features one of Petty's most popular and recognizable songs, "Free Fallin'".
A few songs were recorded for this album that did not make it: "Down the Line" and "Don't Treat Me Like A Stranger" were among them, and were released as b-sides. During the sessions, Petty wrote "Indiana Girl", an early draft of what would eventually become "Mary Jane's Last Dance"
