"Suddenly Blue" by Roger McGuinn

If Tom Petty was ever inspired by The Byrds, things came full circle in 1990 with the release of "Back From Rio," a long-awaited record from founding member Roger McGuinn. McGuinn hadn't seen any chart action since 1979 when "Don't You Write Her Off" reached #33. That song was done by remnants of The Byrds who simply called themselves McGuinn, Clark & Sullivan.

But Tom Petty's influence is all over the tunes on "Back To Rio," most notably on their duet called "King Of The Hill." Nothing from this record helped get McGuinn back on the charts, but it is a pleasant affair that reminds the listener of the classic 12-string guitars and harmonies that The Byrds made famous. 

"Suddenly Blue" is one of the best off the record. The song was co-written with Scott Cutler, who would later score a smash hit when Natalie Imbruglia covered his song "Torn" in 1997.