Isobel Campbell Covers Tom Petty

Photo by Ashley Osbourn

We may have had to wait seemingly forever for new music from Isobel Campbell, but along with a new album comes a Tom Petty cover. We're always suckers for cover songs, and personally I'll always check out a Tom Petty cover. Campbell chose to take on Petty's beyond iconic "Runnin' Down a Dream." As you would imagine, Campbell's cover is quite different from the original. There is some of the same iconic guitar riff, but it's a very, very minimal use of guitar, instead focusing mostly on what sounds like a drum machine and Campbell's vocals. It's like a quiet electroclash take on Tom Petty.

Campbell says of the song: “I grew up listening to Full Moon Fever in my Dad's car. On repeat. I had no idea what it was back then, just knew that I loved hearing it. The lilting laidback voice floating from the speakers made absolute sense to me. It painted a picture of America and the West long before I’d ever go. I’d visualise and dream of wide open spaces, nature, freedom and this alternate kind of life. All from my Dad’s car. When I recorded ‘Runnin' Down A Dream’ the poetry and mystery of the lyrics were really speaking to me. I wanted to give this version a hypnotic dream like feel.”

You can listen to Isobel Campbell's version of "Runnin' Down a Dream" below. There is No Other, the long awaited new album from Isobel Campbell, will be out January 31 on Cooking Vinyl. You can pre-order a copy here. For more on Isobel Campbell, check out her website.