Volume 1
Volume 3
Anyway, these musicians decided to cut some laid-back music, and created the Traveling Wilburys persona. Don’t ask me who was who, or what the names were. Lucky Wilbury, Happy Wilbury, Sneezy Wilbury, Dumpy Wilbury, who cares? It’s about the music. The Wilburys’ first album was a moderate success, but Orbison passed away months after its release. The remaining Wilburys stuck it out for one more album, but the joke was over and they went back to their solo careers.
I burned a full CD of both of their albums and found them lightweight, catchy, and fun abound. Hey, that’s what they wanted. If you consider yourself a fan of at least two of these artists (heck, even one!), try a few of their songs. Don’t expect another Blonde on Blonde or another All Things Must Pass, or another...��Discovery? Just listen as your favorite artists let their hair down (or in Harrison’s case, his ‘hur’).
1988
And off we go! Obviously the best Traveling Wilburys album ever! So they only had two. Let me joke around as I please! NOW!!!! Probably because the first is always the best. Probably because Orbison’s presence helped this album. Anyway, this album (and the next) are obviously Jeff Lynne productions. That means shiny and polished. Not so much overproduced, compared to the Beatles’ “Free as a Bird.” Lynne-haters won’t find too much to complain here.
And the songs! Very clever that the two singles off this album are group ones. Meaning it’s not a solo spotlight, but different Wilburys have different sections within a song. Best example would be the minor hit “Handle With Care,” their signature tune. The verses/chorus are Harrison (‘been forked off and ridiculed/in day care centers and night schools/handle me with care’), Orbison has the tender bridge #1 (‘I’m so tired of bein’ lonely’) and Dylan and Petty throw in another bridge (‘everybody/got somebody/to leeeeean on’). Like three songs in one! What fun! The followup “End of the Line” has that nagging ‘it’s alllllright’ hook and Petty’s moody bridge. Plus Harrison and Orbison trade off vocals here. What fun fun!
The rest of the songs are more or less artist spotlights. Every Wilbury has one except for Dylan, who has three. But let’s do the other four first. Harrison’s rollicking spiritual “Heading For the Light” sounds cool, and would have fit in right at home on Cloud 9. Petty contributes the funny story song “Last Night,” with Orbison adding some drama in the bridge. Speaking of Orbison, his “Not Alone Any More” is typical balladry for the boy, which is not a bad thing at all. It paved the way for his posthumous success of “You Got It.” And Lynne’s “Rattled” is OK boogie. Up until yesterday I thought that was Orbison! Lynne does sound similar, just not so much quaver in his voice.
But Dylan”s surprisingly the most productive, considering he was fresh off the flop Down in the Groove. “Congratulations” is sort of a pathetic ballad, but the guitar line at the end would be reused for Petty”s “Free Fallin’” ?Dirty World? is loads more playful, as Dylan throws double entendres around and the whole group sounds like their having a blast. And the ‘epic’ “Tweeter and the Monkey Man” is one of his storysongs, only taking several swipes at Bruce Springsteen-style storysongs. Ha ha! Only two boring songs on Vol. 1 (or three, counting the aimless instrumental “Margarita”) and a load of fun fun fun ‘til the Daddy takes your copy of Damn the Torpedos away. Check it out!
1990
Second album, same as the first. I don’t know why they called it Vol. 3 when there IS no Vol. 2. Either as a tribute to the deceased Orbison, or just to bug people. Whatever. Now this album is much like Vol. 1 with several differences: a lack of Orbison, who had a heart attack in late ‘88; fewer solo spotlights, many have two Wilburys and some have all four; and the songs sound a bit more labored, which takes a point off the album.
Three songs in here have all four Wilburys on vocals, so it’s hard to tell who wrote them for sure. They’re actually among my faves too. “She’s My Baby” was the hardest they ever rocked, as they chip in amusingly about their ladies. “The Devil’s Been Busy” is similar but more serious, as the four lament the ills of the world. Then the album closer “Wilbury Twist” is a hoot and holler. Each Wilbury instructs you on how to do their fake dance craze. Favorite part is when Harrison says ‘Lift your other foot up/and fall on your ass.’ Cuz your first foor was in the air already. Don’t try and do the Wilbury Twist, people will think you’re crazy, and that pretty girl will never go out with you.
The rest of the album is either Dylan or Petty. Except Harrison’s lone tune “New Blue Moon,” a downbeat tune inferior to “Heading For the Light.” Petty pens the hilarious blues shuffle “Cool Dry Place” about keeping ones’ instruments in tune. Elsewhere, his “Poor House” is standard rockabilly a la “Rattled,” and “You Took my Breath Away” is a forgettable ballad.
Dylan? His tunes aren’t as good as before. I kind of like the midtempo “Inside Out” despite the ‘don’t it make you wanna twist and shout’ lines. And “Where Were You Last Night” is fine, with a good bridge from Harrison. But his doo-wop “7 Deadly Sins” ain’t hot, and “If You Belonged to Me” is weak country. Later Harrison would take the latter and rewrite it into “Any Road,” his best song off the posthumous Brainwashed. Really! During a ‘97 interview on V-H1, he played “If You Belonged to Me” and then an early runthrough of “Any Road.” Now you know what I mean. Right? In short, Vol. 3 isn’t bad, but isn’t as fun as before. The joke was over, back to seriousness.
read your review on the Travelling Wilbury's. The reason they didn't make Vol. 2 is simple. As experienced artists they knew that the second album is usually the most difficult and won't meet expectations. So they decided to skip it and go for vol. 3 straight away. Smart, eh? ;-)
cheers
Arnoud