Trailer

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The Zoo Crew is spinning "Trailer" by Mudcrutch, a track from their 2016 album 2, and the Zoo Freaks are loving this nostalgic Southern rock vibe. This song has a fascinating backstory: it was originally recorded by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers in 1985 as a B-side for "Don't Come Around Here No More" and later included in their 1995 Playback box set. For Mudcrutch 2, Petty re-recorded it with an additional third verse, giving it a fresh spin. The lyrics, kicking off with "I graduated high school, I bought her a trailer / In a little park by the side of the road," paint a wistful picture of youthful choices and dreams deferred. Petty’s vocal delivery, paired with the band’s tight roots-rock groove, captures a reflective tone, with lines like “We used to dance to Lynyrd Skynyrd” nodding to Mudcrutch’s early days opening for Skynyrd in the 1970s. A limited-edition 7" vinyl of "Trailer" backed with "Beautiful World" was released for Record Store Day 2016, making it a collector’s gem for fans.

Another layer to "Trailer" comes from Petty’s own reflections on his career. In interviews, he’s spoken about how Mudcrutch’s early struggles shaped his path. The song’s themes of looking back on life’s choices resonate with Petty’s story of leaving Gainesville, Florida, for Los Angeles in the early '70s, chasing a record deal that didn’t pan out for Mudcrutch at the time. Rolling Stone highlighted the song’s nostalgic pull in 2016, noting Petty’s wistful delivery as a standout. On social media, fans on platforms like X echoed this, with posts praising how "Trailer" feels like a love letter to the band’s gritty origins. The track’s raw, heartfelt energy makes it a perfect fit for the Zoo Crew’s eclectic, free-spirited playlist.

Mudcrutch’s story begins in 1970 in Gainesville, Florida, where teenage friends Tom Petty and Tom Leadon, brother of Eagles co-founder Bernie Leadon, formed the band, initially called The Epics. According to band lore shared on Genius, the name Mudcrutch was suggested by someone in the group—Petty denied it was him, but bandmates insisted otherwise. Joined by Mike Campbell on guitar, Randall Marsh on drums, and later Benmont Tench on keyboards, Mudcrutch built a local following, playing gigs from central Florida to southern Georgia. They held court as the house band at Dub’s Lounge and hosted music festivals at “Mudcrutch Farm,” a rundown house where band members lived. In 1974, they moved to Los Angeles, signed with Shelter Records, and released a single, “Depot Street,” in 1975. It flopped, and the label dissolved the band, keeping only Petty under contract. Undeterred, Petty regrouped with Campbell and Tench to form The Heartbreakers in 1976, launching his rise to fame.

Mudcrutch lay dormant until 2007, when Petty reunited the original lineup—Petty, Campbell, Tench, Leadon, and Marsh—for a long-overdue debut album, released in 2008. Their second album, 2, followed in 2016, but Petty’s death in 2017 and Leadon’s in 2023 ended the band’s run. Fans can dive into Mudcrutch’s world through their official website, though social media presence is limited post-Petty. The band’s Facebook page shares occasional throwbacks, while Tom Petty’s Instagram sometimes nods to Mudcrutch’s legacy. On X, Petty’s official account keeps the spirit alive with archival content. Fan communities thrive too, like the Tom Petty Nation Facebook group, where Zoo Freaks might find kindred spirits swapping stories about “Trailer” and Mudcrutch’s unsung hero status in Southern rock.

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