Learning to Fly (Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers song)
| "Learning to Fly" | |
|---|---|
| Song |
"Learning To Fly" is a popular track by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. It was written in 1991 by Tom Petty and his writing partner Jeff Lynne for the album Into the Great Wide Open. Though the entire song is based on only four simple chords, (F, C, A minor, and G), it has a unique structure and sound[how?], making it a top hit for Petty.
7" vinyl track listing
- Side A: "Learning to Fly"
- Side B: "Too Good To Be True"
Musicians
- Tom Petty - acoustic guitar, vocals
- Mike Campbell - acoustic guitar, lead guitar, slide guitar
- Howie Epstein - backing vocals
- Stan Lynch - drums, percussion
- Jeff Lynne - guitar, synthesizer, electric piano, bass, backing vocals
Chart history
"Learning to Fly" was released as the first single from Into the Great Wide Open and reached #28 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. It also became his most successful single on the Billboard Album Rock Tracks chart, reaching the top of the chart and remaining at the summit for six weeks.[1] "Learning to Fly" earliest charting was in the United Kingdom, debuting at #65 on June 29. The next week it rose to #46, and stayed on the UK chart for two more weeks before slipping off entirely.
| Chart (1991) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australian Singles Chart[2] | 44 |
| Canadian RPM Top Singles | 5 |
| New Zealand Singles Chart[3] | 28 |
| Swedish Singles Chart[4] | 35 |
| UK Singles Chart[5] | 46 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100[6] | 28 |
| U.S. Billboard Album Rock Tracks | 1 |
Cover versions
Bonnie Tyler released Learning To Fly as a single from her 2003 album Heart Strings. The single gained no chart success.
Lady Antebellum covered Learning to Fly on their 2010 digital iTunes Sessions EP.
The Weepies covered the song on their 2015 record Sirens.
In popular culture
- "Learning to Fly" was used on the Chicago Bulls' 1991 NBA championship video and featured on the soundtrack of the 2005 film Elizabethtown.[7]
- It is also the official song of the United States Air Force Academy skydiving team, Wings of Blue.
References
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits, 8th Edition (Billboard Publications), page 490.
- ^ australian-charts.com - Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers - Learning To Fly
- ^ charts.org.nz - Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers - Learning To Fly
- ^ swedishcharts.com - Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers - Learning To Fly
- ^ http://www.chartstats.com/songinfo.php?id=18985
- ^ https://www.billboard.com/artist/tom-petty/chart-history/
- ^ Elizabethtown (2005) - Soundtracks