Photos by Tom Wargacki and Tony Fornaro.
“Cheer Down” (Harrison-Petty) was released as single in the U.S. on August 22, 1989 (B-side: “That’s What It Takes”), and in the U.K. on November 27, 1989 (B-side “Poor Little Girl”); it also features on the “Lethal Weapon 2” soundtrack (the album was released in August 1989). “Olivia would say that to George when he got a little too happy. He would get a burst of enthusiasm, and she’d say, ‘OK, cheer down, big fellow.’” - Tom Petty, Rolling Stone, January 17, 2002 “[Director] Dick Donner asked me if I’d give him a song, because I’m friendly with the guy who does the music, Michael Kamen. And I’d met Dick Donner a number of times. I think Eric was supposed to do it. I’d written that song to give to Eric for his Journeyman album: I wrote the tune and then Tom Petty helped me write the lyrics. […] Dick Donner heard ‘Cheer Down’ and asked if he could have it for the film. It’s one the end credits of Lethal Weapon 2. [...] I like ‘Cheer Down’ a lot. I just like the way it chugs. It’s very simple. In fact, that’s one of the more difficult ones to get some bands to play, because they always want to fill it up, playing little lead bits all the time. For Eric [during the Japan tour, 1991], it’s kinda hard getting him to play stuff where you just don’t actually do anything except chug along. ‘Cause there’s a tendency to always want to fill every little space. But I like the feel of that song.” - George Harrison, Goldmine, November 27, 1992 (x)
