"The Waiting" is the lead single from Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers' album Hard Promises, released in 1981. The song peaked at No. 19 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart and No. 1 on the magazine's new Rock Tracks chart, where it remained for six consecutive weeks during the summer of 1981.Whitburn, Joel (2004). The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits, 8th Edition (Billboard Publications), page 490.
The song was later reissued as the B-side to the single-only release of "Mary Jane's Last Dance" in 1993.
Background Frontman Tom Petty explained that the song's title was inspired by a quote from fellow musician Janis Joplin, who once said of touring, "I love being onstage and everything else is just waiting." He recalled:
Reception Record World praised Petty's vocal performance and said that "Those guitars ring, soar & jingle-jangle with enough rock n' roll passion to warm the most jaded heart."
Personnel Tom Petty – rhythm guitar, lead vocals Mike Campbell – lead guitar, bass guitar Benmont Tench – keyboards, backing vocals Stan Lynch – drums, backing vocals Phil Jones – percussion
Charts Chart (1981) Peakposition Canadian RPM Top Singles 6 New Zealand Singles Chart 27 U.S. Billboard Top Tracks 1 U.S. Billboard Hot 100 19 U.S. Cashbox Top 100 14
See also List of Billboard Mainstream Rock number-one songs of the 1980s
References
External links Behind the Waiting - Extract from the documentary Runnin' Down a Dream