Traveling Wilburys
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The Traveling Wilburys were a supergroup created by George Harrison and Jeff Lynne. Initially an informal grouping with Roy Orbison and Tom Petty, they got together at Bob Dylan's Santa Monica, California, studio to record an additional track as a B-side for the single release of Harrison's "This is Love". The song they came up with was "Handle With Care". However, the record company immediately realised it was too good to be released as a single "filler".
They enjoyed working together so much that they decided to create an album together. Written by all its members, writing and recording was accomplished by this group over a ten-day period because Dylan was due to go on tour. Released in October 1988 (under various pseudonyms as half-brothers, supposed sons of Charles Truscott Wilbury, Sr.), the album was immediately dubbed as one of the top 100 albums of all time by Rolling Stone. The death of band member Roy Orbison (on December 6, 1988) prevented further full collaborations; however, the band continued without him.
"Wilburys" was a slang term coined by Harrison and Lynne during the recording of Cloud Nine as a reference to "gremlins" in the recording equipment and process. The term was used again when the entire group was together. Harrison suggested "The Trembling Wilburys" as the group's name, but they decided to use "Traveling" instead.
A charity single entitled "Nobody's Child", aimed at drawing attention to the orphaned children of Romania, followed in early 1990. A second album (titled Volume 3 as a nod of recognition to bootleggers who had issued 'Volume 2' containing early studio mixes/alternate takes) was released in October 1990. However, the album met with less success.
As of January 2006, rumours continue that there may be a third album in the works, jokingly titled "Vol. 5" because of George Harrison's death in late 2001.
The two Traveling Wilburys albums have limited availability. However, Tom Petty announced on his XM radio show that both albums would be re-released sometime in the near future, with bonus tracks.
The Traveling Wilburys of Volume 1 were:
- Nelson Wilbury - George Harrison
- Otis Wilbury - Jeff Lynne
- Lefty Wilbury - Roy Orbison
- Charlie T. Jnr. - Tom Petty
- Lucky Wilbury - Bob Dylan
- Spike Wilbury - George Harrison
- Clayton Wilbury - Jeff Lynne
- Muddy Wilbury - Tom Petty
- Boo Wilbury - Bob Dylan
Discography
Albums
- Traveling Wilburys Vol. 1 (1988)
- Traveling Wilburys Vol. 3 (1990)
Singles
- "Handle With Care" (1988)
- "End Of The Line" (1989)
- "Nobody's Child" (1990)
- "She's My Baby" (1990)
- "Wilbury Twist" (1991)
Bootlegs
- Traveling Wilburys Vol. 2 (1989 demos and extended songs from Vol. 1)
- Traveling Wilburys Vol. 4 (1990 out-takes from Vol. 3)
External links
- [Fan site with photos, news, samples, and lyrics]
- Two blogs from the same author on the Traveling Wilburys: [Wilbury Twist] and [Traveling Wilburys]
- [Entry at VH1.com]
- [Bootleg releases]
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