Mudcrutch “Lover of the Bayou”

This song is the new single from Tom Petty’s side-project Mudcrutch – the band he was in before finally hitting it big as leader of the Heartbreakers. Mudcrutch was a big deal in its native Gainesville, Florida, but after the band relocated to Los Angeles in the early 70’s to strike it rich they struggled and finally broke up. Heartbreakers’ members Mike Campbell and Benmont Tench were also Mudcrutch alumni and last year they contacted their old buddies in the band and flew them out to L.A. for some fun in the recording studio. The result is an early-Eagles-sounding, country-tinged effort with some amazing new Petty songs and gems from Mudcrutch’s previously-unrecorded songbook. Included is this favorite – a version of Roger McGuinn and the Byrds’ “Lover of the Bayou.” Petty has always been a Byrds freak (remember “Feel a Whole Lot Better When You’re Gone”?), so this one is a natural. A loving and unexpectedly brilliant album, “Mudcrutch” is worth the price of the CD or the download!