travelling wilburys doco

‘A True History of The Traveling Wilburys’ Documentary Streaming Now & ‘Vol. 3’ Turns 30!

29 October 2020

Released on October 29 th  1990, ‘Traveling Wilburys Vol. 3’ turns 30 today! In celebration, we are sharing the documentary, ‘A True History of The Traveling Wilburys’, on the band’s official YouTube channel. The Traveling Wilburys was not a carefully planned band, not formed from deep premeditation. Rather, the band was created in a casual blending of genuine friends one ordinary afternoon, which turned out to be anything but ordinary.

Watch the documentary here  on the Traveling Wilburys’ Official YouTube channel.

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Lucky, Lefty, Nelson, Otis and Charlie T, Jr – together, they were known as The Traveling Wilburys, but who was really behind the curly hair and shades?

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Lucky, Lefty, Nelson, Otis and Charlie T, Jr – together, they were known as The Traveling Wilburys, but who was really behind the curly hair and shades? One obfuscating legend claimed they were “the only known surviving members of this once great tribe of wandering musicians,” with an ancestry that “goes back so far that their exact origins have become extremely difficult to… separate from the legends and myths that have grown around them.”

The irony was that this was just one of many myths that surrounded the musicians who, individually, had been the subject of many a rock’n’roll rumor before they joined forces as The Traveling Wilburys. By the time Bob Dylan, George Harrison , Roy Orbison , Tom Petty , and Jeff Lynne convened in 1988, they’d individually been the subject of many an article – and, in some cases, book – that invariably raised more questions than they answered. That said, the fact that the group existed at all seems to have been augured by the fates. Turns out the Wilburys had been crisscrossing each other’s paths for decades.

Listen to The Traveling Wilburys Collection on Apple Music and Spotify .

Roy Orbison, for instance, had toured with The Beatles at the height of Beatlemania, establishing himself as a massive star in the UK. Shortly after, Dylan and Harrison became life-long friends – and professional rivals – as he and The Beatles pushed rock music to ever greater heights during the 60s. As the 70s dawned, Dylan was guest of honor at the Concert For Bangladesh – a rare appearance during that period in his career, and something only Harrison could have conjured.

A magnet for creative talent, Harrison enlisted Jeff Lynne to produce his 1987 solo album, Cloud Nine . That same year, Dylan was touring with Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers as his backing band, and it wouldn’t be long before Lynne was manning the boards for solo albums by Tom Petty ( Full Moon Fever ) and Roy Orbison ( Mystery Girl ).

Despite the self-created myth that surrounded “Lucky,” “Lefty,” “Nelson,” “Otis” and “Charlie T, Jr,” the Wilburys’ creation story is actually pretty well known: Harrison needed a B-side for his Cloud Nine single “This Is Love,” fortuitously had three of the others on hand to pitch in, and brought Petty into the fold when he swung by the erstwhile Heartbreaker’s house to retrieve his guitar. The result, “Handle With Care,” was too good to hide away on a single flip… so while these multi-millionaire rock stars were enjoying making music with no egos or no pressure – playing and recording just for the fun of it – they thought they’d knock out a whole album.

They chose their Traveling Wilburys moniker after the nickname that Lynne and Harrison had for spooky goings on with studio equipment – and, as Petty put it, because they “didn’t want it to sound like Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, like a bunch of lawyers.” In the studio they captured magic: a whole history of rock’n’roll, country, and pop, making the Wilburys a perfectly formed supergroup that embodied the very essence of Americana.

With a nod to Orbison’s Sun labelmates, the famed Million Dollar Quartet – Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash , Jerry Lee Lewis, and Carl Perkins – the individual Wilburys can comfortably claim to be the Billion Dollar Quintet. Come with us behind the shades as we pin these traveling troubadours down…

Bob Dylan (aka Lucky Wilbury)

In the early 60s, Bob Dylan emerged as an astonishingly prolific folk singer who doffed his flat cap to Woody Guthrie; with songs such as “Blowin’ In The Wind” he quickly established himself as a pioneering protest singer. Fast outstripping that scene, however, Dylan altered the face of rock music with his “thin, wild mercury sound,” as captured on Blonde On Blonde , and elevated lyric-writing to the level of poetry with epochal songs the likes of “Mr Tambourine Man” and “Like A Rolling Stone.” “Tangled Up In Blue” remains a masterpiece from his mid-70s “break-up album,” Blood On The Tracks , while “Hurricane” saw him return to the protest themes that he initially made his name with.

Traveling Wilburys highlights: “Tweeter And The Monkey Man,” “Dirty World,” and “7 Deadly Sins”

Listen to the Lucky Wilbury playlist on Spotify .

George Harrison (aka Nelson Wilbury)

As one of The Beatles, George Harrison blazed a trail through pop music like no other guitarist of his generation. He is almost single-handedly responsible for introducing Eastern music into mainstream Western rock and pop, while, as the 60s progressed, he became that rarest of beasts: a lead guitarist with impeccable songwriting skills. “Here Comes The Sun,” “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” and “Something” remain some of The Beatles’ most-loved songs; after the group split, Harrison burst forth with an almost unstoppable creative flow, penning classics such as “My Sweet Lord” and “Give Me Love (Give Me Peace On Earth),” while also recording the definitive version of the Rudy Clark-penned “Got My Mind Set On You.” Though he succumbed to cancer in 2001, his posthumous album, Brainwashed , released in 2002, contained “Stuck Inside A Cloud,” which proved that Harrison’s creativity remained undimmed right until the very end.

Traveling Wilburys highlights: “Handle With Care,” “Heading For The Light,” and “Maxine”

Listen to the Nelson Wilbury playlist on Spotify .

Roy Orbison (aka Lefty Wilbury)

The one Wilbury with roots to Sun Records and the birth of rock’n’roll in the 50s, Roy Orbison brought a special gravitas to the group. With songs such as “In Dreams” and “Only The Lonely,” Orbison patented a strain of emotive songwriting that continues to send chills down the spine, while “Oh, Pretty Woman” showed that he could knock out a transatlantic pop No.1 with ease. A late-period resurgence led to him working with Jeff Lynne on sessions that produced the classic “You Got It,” while “I Drove All Night” (posthumously issued as a single in 1992, but recorded in 1987) took Orbison back into the US Top 10 for the first time in 25 years, and proved that his expressive vocals had lost none of their power over their time. Orbison died of a heart attack in 1988, between Wilburys albums, but his spirit very much pervades the group’s second – and final – album.

Traveling Wilburys highlights: “Not Alone Any More,” “Last Night,” and “Handle With Care”

Listen to the Lefty Wilbury playlist on Spotify .

Tom Petty (aka Charlie T, Jr, Wilbury)

As both a solo artist and leader of The Heartbreakers, Tom Petty has embodied heartland rock like no other artist. The Heartbreakers might have emerged at the height of punk, yet songs such as “American Girl” established the group as a raw roots-rock outfit that could more than hold their own among the political firebrands. As a solo artist, Petty raced to the upper echelons of the charts with the likes of “Free Fallin’” and “I Won’t Back Down.” He has since settled into the role of roots-rock custodian, issuing acclaimed albums at his own pace, while presenting his own radio show, Buried Treasure , on Sirius Satellite Radio.

Traveling Wilburys highlights: “Last Night,” “Cool Dry Place,” and “You Took My Breath Away”

Listen to the Charlie, T, Jr, Wilbury playlist on Spotify .

Jeff Lynne (aka Otis Wilbury)

A leader of Electric Light Orchestra, Jeff Lynne established his group as the 70s’ answer to The Beatles, working up increasingly ambitious pop-rock masterpieces such as “Livin’ Thing” and “Mr. Blue Sky,” which have gone on to define the decade. It’s fitting, then, that in the wake of ELO’s split, Lynne would go on to co-produce George Harrison’s latter-day solo material, and eventually worked with The Beatles themselves when he helped them complete “Free As A Bird” and “Real Love” from unfinished John Lennon demos for the Anthology project in the mid-90s. Though Lynne’s own solo albums have been few and far between, “Every Little Thing” and “She” remain highlights in a hugely varied back catalogue.

Traveling Wilburys Highlights: “Rattled,” “Poor House,” and “Runaway”

Listen to the Otis Wilbury playlist on Spotify .

17 Comments

June 10, 2016 at 9:08 pm

Very informative piece. However, it lists the “Million Dollar Quartet” as Elvis, Jerry Lee, Cash and “The Big O himself”, meaning Roy Orbison. Roy was with Sun Records but was not the fourth member of the “Quartet. That was Carl Perkins.

June 11, 2016 at 1:23 am

Absolutely right, it was Carl (Blue Suede Shoes) Perkins in the famous photo of the million dollar quartet, not Roy. The picture can be seen on the Sun Studios website.

Mick DeLeon

June 15, 2016 at 5:48 pm

And, had he been alive, I’ve no doubt that Carl Perkins would’ve been a Wilbury. He and George were good friends, and Carl was arguably George’s biggest influence.

Wesley Scott

June 11, 2016 at 12:11 am

I Hate to be that guy but, Harrison didn’t pen “Got my mind set on you” it was a cover.

MojoSpindles

October 5, 2017 at 8:12 am

It does read, ‘ while also recording the definitive version of the Rudy Clark-penned ‘Got My Mind Set On You’.

June 11, 2016 at 12:40 am

So, you tease with some mystery about the I.D. of Otis Wilbury. Where’s the intrigue? I see no surprising information, etc.

eljingoslin

June 11, 2016 at 12:56 am

You left out Buster Sidebury, AKA Jim Keltner

Jeffrey Ellis

October 27, 2019 at 6:36 am

Glad you made that point. Jim K was (and still us) a superstar in his own right.

June 11, 2016 at 1:20 am

So sad this world lost such a bright light as Roy Orbison so soon. Not only was he a walking Rock n’ Roll Hall of Fame singer, author, performer, he was a source of musical imagination that comes along once in a lifetime. Tom Petty, George Harrison, and Bob Dylan were, and are, stellar musical luminaries in their own right, and together they made a special impact on the world of recording that ended far too soon. Rest well, Lefty and Nelson. Your Stars still shine brightly.

June 11, 2016 at 2:35 am

I’m 59 years old, and I’ve been a Roy Orbison fan as far back as I can remember; listening to my mother’s Mercury LPs. I got to see him in a touring Grand Ole Opry show, probably in the late 60s. On my 32nd birthday, I lost my job because of an accident at work. So I’m unemployed, stitches in my face with a diabetic wife, AND ROY ORBISON HAD DIED! I tell you, it was tough to go on. Earlier this year, I drove to nearby Vernon, Texas, his birthplace, wearing a Roy Orbison t-shirt. There’s a park there named after him. I had gone to a birthday party for him, but I was a day early and missed it. Maybe next year.

June 11, 2016 at 3:30 am

Well, Harrison had cancer that derived from smoking,but it was a brain tumor that finally took him.

June 11, 2016 at 4:46 am

the last of the supergroups – no one else will ever come close

June 11, 2016 at 7:22 pm

Kevin Wlbury

June 11, 2016 at 8:20 pm

George Harrison didn’t write Got My Mind Set On You. Rudy Clark wrote it and it was first released in 1962. George wanted it to be recorded by the Beatles in ’63/’64.

October 5, 2017 at 8:13 am

‘while also recording the definitive version of the Rudy Clark-penned ‘Got My Mind Set On You’.

jasondraper

June 13, 2016 at 12:23 pm

Thanks to everyone who commented – particularly those who spotted some mistakes. The man who wrote this shall hereafter be known as “Chancer Wilbury” and is being forced to travel from here to John O’Groats with no shoes on!

Bill Royaloak

December 13, 2021 at 2:08 am

…And then there were 3; RIP Charlie Jr.

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The Traveling Wilburys Collection contains Vol. 1, Vol. 3 with bonus tracks, and a DVD with a True History of The Traveling Wilburys mini-documentary and the 5 music videos. Packaged in a digipack and includes a 16 page booklet.

Product details

• Is Discontinued By Manufacturer ‏ : ‎ No
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Product Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.55 x 5 x 0.71 inches; 5.86 ounces
• Manufacturer ‏ : ‎ Hightone
• Item model number ‏ : ‎ 7239515
• Date First Available ‏ : ‎ April 13, 2016
• Label ‏ : ‎ Hightone
• ASIN ‏ : ‎ B01E7FLJ44
• Number of discs ‏ : ‎ 3
• #203 in Pop (CDs & Vinyl)
• #230 in Rock (CDs & Vinyl)

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Traveling Wilburys Vol. 1

By David Wild

T his is the best record of its kind ever made. Then again, it’s also the only record of its kind ever made. A low-key masterpiece, Volume One marks the auspicious debut of the Traveling Wilburys – Lucky Wilbury (a.k.a. Bob Dylan ), Nelson Wilbury ( George Harrison ), Lefty Wilbury ( Roy Orbison ), Otis Wilbury ( Jeff Lynne ) and Charlie T. Jr. ( Tom Petty ) – one of the few rock supergroups actually deserving to be called either super or a group.

With tongue placed firmly in cheek, the author of the album’s liner notes (which are credited to Hugh Jampton, E.F. Norti-Bitz Reader in Applied Jacket, Faculty of Sleeve Notes, University of Krakatoa, East of Java, but sound suspiciously like Michael Palin, who is thanked elsewhere in the notes) explains the band’s origins thusly: “The original Wilburys were a stationary people who, realizing that their civilization could not stand still for ever, began to go for short walks – not the ‘traveling’ as we now know it, but certainly as far as the corner and back.”

In reality, this record came out of a dinner conversation in Los Angeles this spring between Petty, Orbison, Lynne and Harrison. (Former ELO leader Lynne, who was behind the boards for Harrison’s comeback album, Cloud Nine, was producing tracks for upcoming albums by both Orbison and Petty.) Harrison mentioned that he needed to record a new song for the B side of a European single and suggested they all pitch in and cut a number together. Harrison also suggested having Bob Dylan join in, and the next day they all wrote and recorded “Handle with Care” (now the album’s first single). When Harrison played the track for Warner Bros., both the company and the group realized it was too good for a throwaway track and decided the Wilburys should keep recording.

And it’s a good thing they did, because for all its off-the-cuff sense of fun, Volume One is an unexpected treat that leaves one hungry for Volume Two. Produced by Harrison and Lynne, the album has a wonderfully warm sound that is both high-tech and rootsy. Recorded at the home studios of Harrison, Dylan and Wilbury family friend Dave Stewart, Volume One has little in common with most recorded “supersessions,” which tend to be less than the sum of their parts; rather, it recalls the inspired mix-and-match musical fellowship found in the best moments of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame jam sessions.

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Coming on the heels of Cloud Nine, Volume One is further proof of Harrison’s complete return to form. Throughout, Harrison not only sounds great, he also sounds happy, thrilled to be playing once again with a witty, wonderful band – albeit one with a rather unorthodox lineup: five lead-singing rhythm guitarists. (The Wilburys’ fellow travelers on Volume One include Jim Keltner on drums, Jim Horn on saxophone, Ray Cooper on percussion and Ian Wallace on tom-toms.)

But Harrison isn’t the only rock great who seems revived on Volume One. Never one for overdoing things in the studio, Bob Dylan is well matched to the Wilburys’ informal, fast-paced schedule – they wrote and recorded a song a day. And as on his recent stripped-down tour, Dylan sounds extraordinary, singing with the expert phrasing and wit of his best work. (Unsurprisingly, his tracks sound less collaborative than the others.) On “Dirty World” and “Congratulations,” his voice is loose and relaxed, free of the mannered whining that has marred some of his recent recorded work. Best of all is “Tweeter and the Monkey Man,” a convincing little rocker that playfully parodies Bruce Springsteen’s lyrics. Littered with references to stolen cars, mansions on the hill, Jersey lines and a certain Thunder Road, the song comes off as Dylan’s wonderfully bitchy way of asserting who’s really the Boss.

Totally boss is the best way to describe two other Wilbury gems, “Not Alone Any More” and the closing “End of the Line.” The former is a gorgeous pop ballad on which Roy Orbison – assisted by some wonderful backing vocals from Harrison and Lynne – hurts as good as he ever has. It proves that Orbison has lost none of his tremendous vocal prowess, and makes one eager to hear Orbison’s upcoming solo album. “End of the Line” – which features vocal turns by all the Wilburys save Dylan – is a movingly upbeat ride-off-into-the-sunset song for these middle-aged rock & roll cowboys: “Maybe somewhere down the road a ways/You’ll think of me and wonder where I am these days/Maybe down the road when somebody plays/’Purple Haze.'”

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Petty acquits himself well on “End of the Line” and “Last Night”; he and Orbison share lead on the latter song, a shuffling tale of good love gone bad. Jeff Lynne shines a little of his own electric light on “Rattled,” a romantic, retro-sounding rockabilly number reminiscent of some of the tracks he produced for Dave Edmunds a few years back.

According to Wilbury legend, all the Traveling Wilburys have different mothers but the same father. Yet none of the Wilburys knows the current whereabouts of Charlie T. Wilbury Sr. Chances are, though, that wherever the big guy is, he’s proud.

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The official releases...

The traveling wilburys music.

George Harrison first mentioned the Traveling Wilburys during a radio interview with Bob Coburn on the Rockline radio station in February 1988. When asked what he planned to do as a follow-up for his Cloud Nine album, Harrison replied: “What I’d really like to do next is… to do an album with me and some of my mates… a few tunes, you know. Maybe the Traveling Wilburys… it’s this new group I got: it’s called the Traveling Wilburys, I’d like to do an album with them and later we can all do our own albums again.

“Wilbury” was a slang term first used by Harrison during the recording of Cloud Nine with Jeff Lynne. Referring to recording errors created by some faulty equipment, Harrison jokingly remarked to Lynne, “ We’ll bury ’em in the mix”.   Thereafter, they used the term for any small error in performance and the term was used again when the group were together…

Limited Edition

Picture disc.

The Traveling Wilburys Vol.1 gets a 30th-anniversary limited edition 12-inch picture disc, celebrating this blue moon moment in rock ’n’ roll history. With an A-side featuring the band’s bold logo, a B-side displaying an Alberto Tolot photo of the Wilburys, and a die-cut sleeve revealing the picture disc in all its glory, this vinyl version is an aesthetically stunning salute to the world’s ultimate supergroup.

2CD/DVD Box Set

Nearly twenty years after the creation of the band, and over a decade since the music was last available to fans, the music of The Traveling Wilburys is reissued in this collection. The previously released albums Traveling Wilburys Volume 1 and Traveling Wilburys Volume 3 feature inarguably some of music’s greatest singer-songwriters, as the iconic band The Traveling Wilburys.

Deluxe Limited Edition

By overwhelming popular demand, The Traveling Wilburys Collection (Deluxe Limited Edition) is back. Linen-bound with the Wilburys logo on a linen-bound box, theDeluxe Limited Edition follows the original cream-colored Traveling Wilburys Collection, which sold out on the first day of its worldwide release in June 2007.

Deluxe linen-bound box

The Traveling Wilburys’ all-star configuration had such a rockin’ good time cutting the track ‘Handle With Care’ that they decided to release it under the Wilburys moniker. The band’s camaraderie can be heard in every groove of their albums Traveling Wilburys Vol. 1 and Traveling Wilburys Vol. 3, reissued here on vinyl with a bonus 12′ of remixed and previously unreleased tracks.

This edition of the Wilburys’ GRAMMY-winning 1988 debut album, Traveling Wilburys Volume 1, is now available after being out-of-print for over a decade. The album won the GRAMMY for Best Rock Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals, and introduced the Wilburys’ classics ‘Handle With Care’, ‘End Of The Line’ and ‘Heading For The Light,’ among others.

After being out-of-print for over a decade, The Wilbury’s second album, 1990’s Traveling Wilburys Volume 3, is now celebrated with a new edition. Though it was their second release, the album was mischievously titled Vol. 3 by George Harrison. According to Jeff Lynne, “That was George’s idea. He said, ‘Let’s confuse the buggers.'”

"One of those magical instances of capturing lightning in a bottle": Vol. 1 by Traveling Wilburys - Album Of The Week Club review

The traveling wilburys originally came together to record a george harrison b-side, but ended up writing and recording a whole album.

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Handle With Care Dirty World Rattled Last Night Not Alone Any More Congratulations Heading For The Light Margarita Tweeter And The Monkey Man End Of The Line 

When people complain about overuse of the word 'Supergroup', it's not the Traveling Wilburys they're talking about. For this was a band so super that  Tom Petty  and  Jeff Lynne  were the junior partners. 

The rest?  Bob Dylan . Roy Orbison. Oh yeah, and that George Harrison from The Beatles . 

"One night, George and I had a bit of a smoke and a drink, and he said: 'You and I should have a group,' Jeff told us. "I said: 'Who should we have in it?' 'Bob Dylan,' he said. 'Oh yeah, okay... Bob Dylan... What about Roy Orbison as well, then?' And we both suggested Tom Petty. I didn’t imagine it would actually happen. But it did. 

"It was so easy it was unbelievable. Everybody said yes immediately, without even questioning it. Roy was thrilled to bits, and I then got to be pals with him. He’d moved to Malibu, just a few miles up the road from where I lived, and called me one day: 'Hi Jeff, it’s Roy. I’m ready to work!'"

They originally came together originally to record a Harrison B-side, but ended up writing and recording a whole album. And from a distance of 35 years the original session – Vol. 1 – still sounds a little underplayed and a little over-produced (Lynne’s ELO-style sheen doesn’t quite match the rootsy flavour of the songs) but it's undeniably good humoured. 

Handle With Care , in which all five members take vocal leads, is the highlight, there’s a great Springsteen parody in Tweeter And The Monkey Man , and Dylan gets loose and at his joyful best on the wonderful Dirty World .

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Other albums released in October 1988

• Talk Is Cheap - Keith Richards
• Blood Fire Death - Bathory
• Barcelona - Freddie Mercury and Montserrat Caballé
• Rattle and Hum - U2
• The Land of Rape and Honey - Ministry
• Copperhead Road - Steve Earle
• Daydream Nation - Sonic Youth
• Everything - The Bangles
• Look Sharp! - Roxette
• QR - Quiet Riot
• I Am Kurious Oranj - The Fall
• Rage - T'Pau
• The Serpent's Egg - Dead Can Dance
• In the Spirit of Things - Kansas
• Till I Loved You Barbra Streisand -
• Living Years - Mike + The Mechanics
• Bug - Dinosaur Jr.
• Choba B CCCP - Paul McCartney
• Ultramega OK - Soundgarden
• Amnesia - Richard Thompson
• Fisherman's Blues - The Waterboys

What they said...

" Handle With Care " and End of the Line are the two masterworks here, although Roy's showcase, Not Alone Anymore – more grand and moving than anything on the Lynne-produced Mystery Girl – comes close in the stature, but its stylised melodrama is a ringer here: it, along with Dylan's offhand heartbreak tune Congratulations , is the only slow thing here, and the rest of the album just overspills with good vibes." ( AllMusic )

"While the Wilburys were intended as a lark, songs like Heading for the Light , Not Alone Any More and Handle With Care offer idealistic, romantic messages from a fraternity of rock graybeards. ' Well, it's alright, riding around in the breeze/Well, it's alright, if you live the life you please , says the opening lyric to End of the Line . It is a comforting notion indeed, as the uptight, conformist Eighties draw to a close." ( Rolling Stone )

"The clumsy conceit – has-been supersession masquerading as family road band – produces more or less the mishmash you'd expect. Roy Orbison and Bob Dylan have never sung like brothers to anyone, much less each other, leaving Tom Petty's chameleon, Jeff Lynne's teddy boy, and George Harrison's dork to blend as best they can. Harrison's the only lead guitarist; Lynne plays not piano or Hammond B-3 but a marooned synthesiser; Orbison and Harrison take solo turns on songs that obviously belong on their own sorry albums." ( Robert Christgau )

What you said...

Greg Schwepe: In our household, The Traveling Wilburys' Vol. I could also be known as “The Blank Album” or “The Whiteout Album.” That’s because the cassette was played so much the white paint listing the tracks was worn off, leaving us to have to stick the cassette in the car player to determine what side was what because we couldn’t even tell by looking. Pretty sure there were long stretches where there may have been some arm wrestling to see who could keep it in their car to listen on the way to work. My wife won, more often than not.

To me this incredible album of five superstars had its genesis with George Harrison’s Cloud Nine album. Totally played the heck out of that one, and it was produced by…well, one Jeff Lynne. And when I immediately heard Handle With Care and George taking the lead on most of it, I was sold. Also didn't hurt that New World Record and Out Of The Blue were owned and played a ton growing up. Oh, and Tom Petty's Damn The Torpedoes .

While each member; George Harrison, Tom Petty, Jeff Lynne, Bob Dylan, and Roy Orbison all take the lead on various songs, the interplay lets you know this is a total group situation as you have each of them singing a line or two or adding background vocals. 

And then, well I’d heard of Roy Orbison, and by the end of this album, I really knew who was. Dang, that’s a voice! And we get Tom Petty, adding yet another great dimension to the album. And him and Jeff Lynne kept the party going on Full Moon Fever .

When this album was released I was more familiar with the spoof performances of Bob Dylan’s songs where I had seen comedians do a nasally imitation or from skits on Saturday Night Live . But now I was a total Dylan fan as Tweeter and The Monkey Man turned out to be one of my favourite tracks.

Just out and out feel-good music. You figure you get this much talent together you might mess up the end product, but not in this case. 9 out of 10 for me on this one. End of The Line brought about a fine ending to this little gem.

John Davidson : The idea behind the Travelling Wilburys reflects George Harrison's ethos of gentleness and friendship and the band of brothers Wilbury that he and Jeff Lynne assembled gel pretty well to play stripped back listenable rock'n'roll infused with an early-70s sensibility.

The curse of the supergroup may be mitigated to a degree by the fact that they are genuinely icons and genuinely doing it for the fun of it, but that's largely where my enjoyment ends. Without the hook of being a major fan of any of the participants it struck me at the time as an exercise in nostalgia for Beatles enthusiasts .

Dylan has had all the rough edges polished off and only Tweeter And The Monkey Man has a hint at his lyrical edge. Tom Petty is the clear winner in terms of sounds that he would go on to replicate in subsequent albums to good effect I never understood the appeal of Roy Orbison so his inclusion in the group was baffling to me and remains so today. (I read that Tom Petty was a huge fan).

Inoffensive nostalgic rock has its place, I guess, but I'd listen to the work of Petty, Dylan, ELO and The Beatles before I ever got round to putting this on again.

Uli Hassinger : I bought this record the year it was released. In the mid 90s I changed to CDs and gave all the records away. This was one of the albums I did not buy new as a CD because I wasn't very impressed of it. So this was the first listening for almost 30 years.

The album contains three really good songs which are Handle With Care , Not Alone Anymore and Tweeter And The Monkey Man . I especially like the remarkable old school singing of Roy Orbison. Tweeter belongs amongst Dylan's very best songs. Handle With Care has this Beatles vibe and the different voices match brilliantly.

Congratulations and Heading For The Light are ok too. But the other five songs are more or less a waste of time, totally inexpressive. It's like too many cooks spoiled the broth. Therefore it's a 5/10.

Alex Hayes: One of those magical instances of capturing lightning in a bottle, The Travelling Wilburys' Vol. 1 is an absolutely delightful record.

There was a period, around the time of the release of this album, where me, my Dad and his second wife Gail were in the habit of taking the car up to the Lake District most weekends to take in the scenery, and occasionally stop over. This album was a major part of the soundtrack to those days, and hearing any one of these songs immediately puts me in mind of shimmering lakes, winding lanes, beautiful sweeping valleys and great weekends staying at the Fish Inn up in Buttermere. No wonder I have such a fondness for this record!

For anyone that's been living on Mars for the last fifty years, The Travelling Wilburys were a supergroup composed of five legends of rock, all performing under the pseudonyms of the titular 'Wilbury' family. We've got Nelson (George Harrison), Otis (Jeff Lynne), Lefty (Roy Orbison), Charlie T. Jr. (Tom Petty) and Lucky (Bob Dylan). The group had been formed in a suitably off-the-cuff fashion by Harrison in April 1988. The original modest intentions for this union had been to throw together a song for the b-side to one of Harrison's singles, but, when completed, the resulting Handle With Care was far, far too good to be wasted in that fashion. Matters escalated, and we ended up with The Travelling Wilburys Vol. 1 .

There are several reasons why The Travelling Wilburys Vol. 1 works so well. Everything obviously hinges on the quality of the songs, and Vol. 1 is no slouch in that department (the aforementioned Handle With Care, End Of The Line, Heading For The Light and Tweeter And The Monkey Man being particular standouts). The album plays to each Wilbury's strengths, and there is enough room across the 10 tracks for each member to shine. There is also a surprisingly pleasing blend between the differing vocal styles. The harsher vocals from Petty and Dylan somehow sit remarkably well alongside the sweeter tones from Harrison and Orbison.

The album's single greatest strength however is just how upbeat and buoyant the music comes across as. I used the word 'modest' earlier, and it's an adjective that also sums up the intentions of this album very well. There are no highfalutin ambitions on display here. It's just the sound of five great artists having fun creating music together. That spontaneity and camaraderie really come across to the listener. The music here oozes positive. 'good time' vibes, regardless of any of the lyrical content.

That infectiousness rubbed off on the general public big style too. The Travelling Wilburys Vol. 1 was an immediate hit, helping to give the careers of all the individual Wilburys a shot in the arm. Sadly, only two months after the album's release, tragedy then struck. In December 1988, Roy Orbison passed away, just as his sterling contributions to Vol. 1 were starting to get noticed. Orbison's absence was certainly felt on the inevitable follow-up album. Two years later, the four remaining Wilburys attempted to capture that lightning again, and failed.

That sequel was rather cheekily titled The Travelling Wilburys Vol. 3 . It was a practical joke that fooled quite a few people, including my Dad ('I don't remember them making a second one, do you?'). It's not a bad record, but nowhere near as charming as Vol. 1 . It misses Orbison's falsetto, and I'm convinced Dylan was pissed up during the recording sessions. His vocals certainly come across that way in places. Vol. 3 was nothing like the commercial smash of the first album, and, taking the hint, the Wilburys retired, each remaining member returning to focus on their solo career (or, in Lynne's case, production).

Perhaps the member of the Wilburys that capitalised best on the success of Vol. 1 was Tom Petty, whose next two albums ( Full Moon Fever and Into The Great Wide Open ) had more than a little of a Wilburys feel about them, and sold millions. Fine records they both are too. It's no coincidence that Lynne produced both. Petty passed away six years ago today. I'll never forget the date, as it was also on my birthday. Talk about unwanted birthday gifts.

The Travelling Wilburys Vol. 1 will always be an album I hold dear. It's often been the case that I'll be out somewhere and the opening chords of Handle With Care will start playing on the jukebox, immediately brightening up my evening. Of all the supergroups that rock music has thrown together down the years, I doubt another will ever possess the charm and personality of The Travelling Wilburys. A complete one off.

Richard Cardenas: Excellent record. One that still brings me joy. 10.

Alejandro Bravo : Great album.

Matt Roy : Great album!

Paul De Maria Mañas: Magical. It was an instant classic for me at the time and it has just got better. 10/10

David Williams : Corker.

Diego Figueira : 10/10.

Mike Canoe: Is Traveling Wilburys Vol. 1 the most "dad rock" album ever? Quite possibly. At the time, Tom Petty was the only one whose music I was into. Everyone else seemed removed from me by at least a generation, in Roy Orbison's case, two.

When it came out, it seemed like a quirky way for a bunch of old guys to get together and goof off and have some fun. My opinion hasn't changed much but I enjoy the music much more now. Of course, I've also aged squarely into their target demographic.

Bob Dylan was in a rough patch for most of the '80s but two of his three songs resonate with me the most now. While I've read that Tweeter And The Monkey Man was a gentle parody of Bruce Springsteen, aside from the numerous "Jerseyisms," it sounds like one of Dylan's better rambling story songs. On Dirty World , he sounds like he's having more fun than he's had in a couple of decades.

Ultimately, it's a fun album by world-class musicians and songwriters riffing off each other and rocking, if gently, out of one decade into another.

Philip Qvist : I was a huge fan of ELO, liked Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers and of course you have the legends that is the Beatles - even if I preferred George Harrison as a 60s and 70s songwriter, rather than as an 80s one. That said, I preferred Bob Dylan as a songwriter rather than as a singer, while I never really got into Roy Orbison. So when you get these five legends together, what do you get? An ego fueled mess, a classic or a bit of a mixed bag?

Well actually, what you do get is a pretty good album - even if it didn't totally set my pulse racing, or make me put this record on my list of Essential Classic Albums.

There are some great songs on it - I still like Handle With Care, Last Night and End Of The Line ; and with this group of gifted songwriters you are hardly going to get a dud song on The Traveling Wilburys Vol 1 .

I don't necessarily feel that all the songs mesh together, but that is hardly a surprise - and overall it is a rather good and enjoyable album that brings out memories of the late 80s, when I was still trying to find my own place in life.

Oh - and it does seem to be an album made by guys who were just there to have fun; after leaving their egos at the front door. It was probably the main reason for Vol 1 's ultimate success.

Wade Babineau : Harrison had the success of Cloud Nine , Petty was back in form with Southern Accents and Orbison was marking a late career comeback. Dylan had completed a tour with Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers in 1987 and Lynne was working producer magic with the aforementioned Cloud Nine , Orbison's Mystery Girl album and laying down work that would result in Tom Petty's Full Moon Fever . They were all chatting amongst each other and the resulting album is a stars align moment. 

Everyone gets their moment to sing and for my money there's not a bum track in the lot. Pleasantly surprising is the vocal effort of Dylan. He seemed engaged and having a great time in the studio and I think working with artists that were similar in their age and being around a legend like Orbison really pushed him to up the vocal game. Sadly Roy Orbison would pass away a few months after this album. Handle With Care, and End Of The Line were the hit songs on the charts, but the deeper cuts are just as well crafted. Not Alone Any More still sends a shiver. Tweeter And The Monkey Man remains a classic story song and Rattled makes the feet move everytime. 10/10.

Jacob Tannehill : The forces were aligned on this one. Not a bad song in the bunch. Those whose career needed a boost, got one, and those that maintained, continued! I still sing all the lyrics today. 10/10.

Chris Elliott : Dinner party rock guaranteed not to upset. It's not awful but it doesn't even come close to any of the individuals' best work - leaving it rather pointless as a record. It is very much more misty eyed nostalgia than anything else

Gary Claydon: A bunch of rock and pop giants having a ball and who could begrudge 'em that. Pleasant, undemanding, mildly diverting. I'd gladly listen to any of the individuals involved any day of the week but The Travelling Wilburys has never left a lasting impression. Ultimately, it's comfort blanket rock. Best bits, Harrison's guitar, Petty, Lynne's production. 5/10.

Mark Herrington : An album that meanders through the neural pathways , like a favourite local footpath. It’s familiar and undemanding , but there are no views to take your breath away or, steep ascents to make the heart beat faster. What it sets out to do, it does well though.

Final score: 8.22 (158 votes cast, total score 1299)

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Top 10 Traveling Wilburys Songs

The supergroup known as the Traveling Wilburys originally came as an idea from George Harrison and Jeff Lynne while Harrison was on his 1987 Cloud Nine tour. As of April 1988, the five-man band saw the talent of George Harrison and Jeff Lynne team up with Bob Dylan , Roy Orbison, and Tom Petty. These artists had already earned their brand of fame as individual artists and as part of another big-name music group. Initially, the idea was to collaborate on the single “Handle with Care simply,” but those involved agreed it was too good to become a limited release simply. As a result, all five band members recorded a full studio album, the Traveling Wilburys Vol. 1 .

After Roy Orbison’s death in December 1988, the Traveling Wilburys released a second studio album, Traveling Wilburys Vol. 3, released in 1990. This somewhat shortened the vision George Harrison had in mind for the group, as it was intended to have a series of albums and a film about the band. The group released its final music production in February 1991. There was a 2007 DVD box set that George Harrison’s estate released that was titled The Traveling Wilburys Collection . It featured a series of music videos and a documentary about the band’s short-lived existence.

In the Beginning

The concept behind the Traveling Wilburys began to take root after George Harrison mentioned he was doing an album with some of his closest peers in the music industry. For George Harrison , he chose Bob Dylan to become a Wilbury, while Jeff Lynne chose Roy Orbison. The meaning behind “Wilbury” came from recording sessions for George Harrison’s Cloud Nine album that began in 1987. There were recording errors when George Harrison jokingly commented to Jeff Lynne , “We’ll bury ’em in the mix.” From then on, it became a term each time something went wrong while performing music. The name of Wilbury took form and soon expanded to become the Traveling Wilburys by Lynne’s naming suggestion.

George Harrison , a fan of Bob Dylan and his music, invited him as a Traveling Wilbury when Dylan’s career as a recording artist seemed to hit the skids. This project served as a revival for him and Tom Petty , who was already friends with George Harrison and Jeff Lynne  as of 1987. At the time, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers were touring in Europe as Bob Dylan’s backing band. The rapport that was built, namely between George Harrison and Petty, grew as the two shared their fondness for 1950s rock music. As for Jeff Lynne , working with his musical idol, Roy Orbison , was like a boyhood dream come true. Jeff Lynne also worked with Tom Petty and Roy Orbison for their solo albums Full Moon Fever and Mystery Girl , respectively.

Each member of the Traveling Wilburys already established music styles that made each man his star. It was classic to see the blending of such talent come together as a band that made a niche out of pseudonyms as half brothers calling themselves members of the Wilbury family. For George Harrison , the formula of this talent pool meant each member had to get along with each other, and this wasn’t a problem for any of the men involved. They shared common interests, including the Monty Python comedy troupe, who Roy Orbison was able to impersonate with remarkable perfection.

When the band officially came together in 1988, it was hard to believe the Traveling Wilburys technically was a band that featured five men each with his taste of fame. When Roy Orbison was recruited to join the group, the excitement level of Bob Dylan , George Harrison , Jeff Lynne , and Petty wasn’t much different than a group of teenagers realizing they’ve just brought a beloved icon into their midst. Also, due to the lack of professional studio availability, the recording of “Handle with Care” took place out of Bob Dylan’s  garage studio in Malibu, California.

Traveling Wilburys Vol. 1

The album Traveling Wilburys Vol. 1 came about after the song “Handle with Care” inspired each group member to work on additional music material. This also led to filming the group’s creative process, which Harrison later edited to use as a promotional film for Warner Bros. It was titled Whatever Wilbury Wilbury . The album’s recording took approximately ten days in May 1988 as Bob Dylan prepared for his upcoming Never Ending Tour .

The recording sessions for this album took place in the Los Angeles home of Dave Stewart of Eurythmics fame. In his kitchen, all five men sat in a circle to play acoustic guitar. Their vocal work was recorded in another room, usually timed at night after dinner. For each of these five men, there was mutual respect for each other as artists and as people. As they treated each other, George Harrison was respected as the band’s leader as he had the instinct to bring out the best in each person involved. Accompanying the Traveling Wilburys was also the “Sideburys” that featured Jim Keltner on drums, Jim Horn on saxophone, and percussionist Ray Cooper.

On October 18, 1988, Traveling Wilburys Vol. 1 was released through Warner Bros. As a means to be regarded as a group with its own identity, Bob Dylan , George Harrison , Jeff Lynne , Roy Orbison, and Tom Petty pretended to be sons of the same father but from different mothers. The fictional Charles Truscott Wilbury Sr. was hammed up even further by Orbison as he described this father figure as a cad who also happened to be a Baptist minister. Even Monty Python’s Michael Palin got in on the act as he wrote the fictional history of the Wilbury Family as liner notes on the album’s cover.

The style of music that defined Traveling Wilburys Vol. 1 deliberately contrasted against the contemporary music styles that were trendy at the time. This formula worked in the group’s favor as it was recognized in 1990 by the Grammy Awards for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group. The critical and commercial success of Traveling Wilburys Vol. 1 inspired the five to keep this good thing going. Unfortunately, Roy Orbison died of a heart attack on December 6, 1988, bringing the five-man roster down to four.

Traveling Wilburys Vol. 3

The loss of Roy Orbison shook up Bob Dylan , George Harrison , Jeff Lynne , and Tom Petty . It also shook up the entire music industry and the fans. After Roy Orbison’s death, there was speculation Del Shannon or Roger McGuinn would join the Traveling Wilburys but it was determined by the remaining four members that Roy Orbison was not to be replaced. Now as a quartet, the men agreed to keep moving forward. Clean into 1989, George Harrison kept promoting the Traveling Wilburys, waiting for each artist to finish his solo artist schedules so the group could pick up where they left off. However, this also occurred when Bob Dylan was determined to capitalize on the revival of his solo career, which led to scheduling issues.

When the group began to record together again, it was intended to label the second album as Traveling Wilburys Vol. 3, and on October 29, 1990, it was released. As was the case during the first album’s recording, Dylan’s tight schedule dictated the duration of the main album sessions. With Roy “Lefty Wilbury” Roy Orbison no longer with the band, the lead vocals were shared more prominently among Dylan, Harrison, and Petty. Just like the first album, a member of Monty Python’s cast, this time Eric Idle, used a pseudonym to write up notes about the Wilburys. Unlike the first album, however, Traveling Wilburys Vol. 3 wasn’t quite as successful as the first.

After the album’s release, Dylan, Jeff Lynne , and Petty were eager to reunite again. As for George Harrison , he no longer shared the same enthusiasm of the Traveling Wilburys as he did in the beginning. There was talk of a potential 1991 tour but that never materialized, despite the fact the popularity was there for the men to pull it off successfully.

Traveling Wilburys Legacy

According to The New Rolling Stone Encyclopedia of Rock & Roll, the Traveling Wilburys were described as the ultimate supergroup. The fraternal alter egos involved, along with the humor, served as the key element to what made the Wilburys so appealing. The lightheartedness that went into the supergroup’s presentation as half-brothers of some fictional family instead of exploiting each artist’s musical resume served as a piece of sunshine into the world that’s become too dark and severe for its good. In the least offensive manner possible, the buck against global authority and expectations were beautifully carried out by all five band members in a manner Harrison purposely engineered.

The legacy of the Traveling Wilburys recorded and released two studio albums and a box set. In total, ten songs from the group appeared on the music charts, as well as thirty-three registered collaborations.

# 10 – Tweeter and the Monkey Man

In 1989, “Tweeter and the Monkey Man” peaked at number forty-one on the US Billboard Mainstream Rock chart, coming from the album Traveling Wilburys Vol. 1 . In this ballad, Bob Dylan served as the lead vocalist that featured George Harrison Jeff Lynne  and Tom Petty singing as backing vocalists. It is the only song that excluded Roy Orbison’s vocal talent. The lyrical tale is about two drug dealers, “Tweeter and the Monkey Man.” It brought up a situation they had with an undercover cop whose sister was the love interest of one of the dealers. The verbal content in the song raised questions about one of the drug dealer’s gender as it seemed to toy with him, starting as a man, only to become a woman at some given point in the storyline.

Read More: Top 10 Bob Dylan Songs Of The 1970s

# 9 – Wilbury Twist

The music video behind “Wilbury Twist” featured a handful of comedic celebrities, including John Candy, Whoopi Goldberg, Woody Harrelson, Eric Idle, Cheech Marin, Jimmy Nail, Ben Savage, Fred Savage, and Kala Savage. The highlight features attempts to master the song’s eponymous dance style as the band members perform the song. Fast, comedic, and dance-happy, “Wilbury Twist” seemed to serve as a friendly jab to famous 1950s and 1960s hits like “The Twist” and “Let’s Twist Again.” There’s even an offbeat reference to the folk classic, “Hokey Cokey/Pokey,” that’s had several versions of that song since the early 1800s.

# 8 – Nobody’s Child

The 1990 song “Nobody’s Child” was recorded by the Traveling Wilburys for Olivia Harrison’s charity project, Romanian Angel Appeal. It was a cover version from Hank Snow’s 1949 original that had become a standard despite failing to appear on any music charts when he released it. George Harrison, Bob Dylan, Jeff Lynne, and Tom Petty agreed to record this single at the request of George Harrison’s wife, Olivia. The purpose behind the single was to raise awareness and funds for the Romanian orphans who were abandoned in state-run orphanages after the fall of Eastern Europe’s Communism. Bob Dylan suggested “Nobody’s Child” as a song for its relevance.

The first verse of Snow’s original was used, followed by a new second verse to address the situation of the children in Romania. The recordings featured the vocals of Dylan, Harrison, Lynne, and Petty, which took them forty-eight hours to do after receiving Olivia Harrison’s pleading phone call. “Nobody’s Child” was released as a charity single on June 18, 1990, followed by a music video that used animation and news footage of the Romanian children. On the Official New Zealand Music Chart, “Nobody’s Child” peaked at number nine. In the UK, it was a number forty-four hit. “Nobody’s Child” also appeared on Australia’s ARIA chart, peaking as high as number sixty-six.

Read More: Top 10 George Harrison Songs

# 7 – Not Alone Any More

Roy Orbison was the lead vocalist of “Not Alone Any More,” a song from the 1988 album Traveling Wilburys Vol. 1. The lonely yet romantic theme served as a trip down memory lane, as Orbison’s dark ballads of the 1960s seemed to influence the performance that went into “Not Alone Anymore.” Although this song was not released as a single and did not appear on any music charts, it was highly favored by many music critics and fans.

Read More: Top 10 Roy Orbison Songs

# 6 – Inside Out

Released as the second single from the Traveling Wilburys Vol. 3 album, “Inside Out” became a number sixteen hit on the US Billboard Mainstream Rock chart and a number fifty hit on the Canadian Singles Chart in 1990. The focus of “Inside Out” revolved around a world that has turned yellow due to the environmental issues that have plagued it. It was issued as a promotional single in the U.S. and as a commercial single among some other nations. According to George Harrison , he and the remaining bandmate roster of Bob Dylan, Jeff Lynne , and Tom Petty had the musical part of “Inside Out” completed within an hour, which served as encouragement that the Traveling Wilburys could still carry on despite the tragic loss of bandmate Roy Orbison .

Read More: Complete List Of Tom Petty An The Heartbreakers Albums

# 5 – Heading for the Light

“Heading for the Light” was a number seven hit on the US Billboard Mainstream Rock chart and a number eighty-eight hit in Australia after it was released in 1989. It was the third and final single from the Traveling Wilburys’ first album, Traveling Wilburys Vol. 1 . Although George Harrison wrote the song, the entire supergroup received the credit. George Harrison and Jeff Lynne were the lead vocalists in this song, and it was issued as a promotional single in the U.S.

“Heading for the Light” was a song that illustrated the singer’s decision to trek on a sure path after dealing with personal issues as he reconnected with his spiritual side. The saxophone solos are credited to Jim Horn, acting like a transitional bridge from self-doubt to self-confidence. The backing vocals provided by Roy Orbison carried forth an ethereal presence while the guitar riffs by George Harrison seemed to set the overall tempo of a spiritual song.

Read More: Top 10 Electric Light Orchestra Songs

#4 – She’s My Baby

On the US Billboard Mainstream Rock chart, “She’s My Baby” peaked as high as number two after its release in 1990. It was a number thirty hit on the Canadian Singles Chart, a number fifty-eight hit in Australia, and a number seventy-nine hit in the UK. It was released as the first single from the Traveling Wilburys’ second album, Traveling Wilburys Vol. 3 . Now with a roster of four stars instead of five due to the untimely death of Roy Orbison , the vocal performance was shared between George Harrison , Jeff Lynne , Bob Dylan, and Tom Petty as each sang a portion of the track. In the U.S., “She’s My Baby” was only issued as a promotional single.

Read More: Top 10 Tom Petty Songs

# 3 – You Got It

Technically speaking, “You Got It” is credited to Roy Orbison as it came from his final album before his death, Mystery Girl . At the time of recording, he was still a Traveling Wilbury member, but working with the supergroup inspired him to record his first all-new material album since 1979. Some fans thought “You Got It” was a hit single by the Traveling Wilburys, but this was not the case. However, the bandmates from that group, Tom Petty and Jeff Lynne , co-wrote this song, sang as backup, and played the instruments for it and the rest of the music on the Mystery Girl album. Jeff Lynne was also the record’s producer.

Even George Harrison , the brainchild behind Traveling Wilburys, was involved. Bob Dylan was the only name missing from the lineup, but he was very busy with his solo career. Mystery Girl was Roy Orbison’s twenty-second studio album. It was released posthumously on January 3, 1989, nearly a month after he died of a heart attack at fifty-two years old. “You Got It” peaked at number nine on the US Billboard Hot 100 and was a number one hit on the US Billboard Adult Contemporary chart. It would be the first time Roy Orbison had a top ten hit in twenty-five years. This single peaked as high as number three on the UK Singles Chart. The music video for “You Got It” came from the performance Roy Orbison did at the Diamond Awards Festival in Belgium on November 19, 1988.

Orbison died seventeen days later, on December 6, 1988. This single earned a gold certification from the Australian Recording Industry Association, Music Canada, and the Swedish Recording Industry Association. It also became certified silver by the British Phonographic Industry. Despite the credit of “You Got It” going to Roy Orbison as a solo artist, it still has the solid influence of the Traveling Wilburys that is heard in it from start to finish.

# 2 – End of the Line

“End of the Line” was a tribute song the remaining members of the Traveling Wilburys performed in memory of Roy Orbison . The music video showed Roy Orbison’s guitar and photo rocking in a chair whenever his vocals were heard. It was the final track on Traveling Wilburys Vol. 1 , released in October 1988. Shortly after Orbison died in December of that year, “End of the Line” was released in January 1989. This was released during the same time as Roy Orbison’s twenty-second and final studio album, Mystery Girl .

That recording also involved most of the Traveling Wilburys and had been mistaken as the supergroup’s second studio album. This is partly why the supergroup’s second studio album was titled Traveling Wilburys Vol. 3 . “End of the Line” featured George Harrison , Jeff Lynne , and Roy Orbison singing the choruses in turn while Tom Petty sang the verses.

When it was released as a single, it peaked as high as number two on the US Billboard Mainstream Rock chart, a number twenty-eight hit on the US Billboard Adult Contemporary chart, and a number sixty-three hit on the US Billboard Hot 100. On the Canadian Singles Chart, “End of the Line” peaked at number eight. It was also an international hit, peaking as high as number eleven in New Zealand, twelve in Australia, and at number fifty-two in the UK.

#1 – Handle with Care

“Handle with Care” earned its name after seeing this label on a box inside Bob Dylan’s garage studio. After it was recorded and presented to the executives of Warner Bros., the appeal of the song was so great that it prompted the full studio album recording of Traveling Wilburys Vol. 1 . On the US Billboard Mainstream Rock Chart and the Canadian Singles Chart, “Handle with Care” peaked at number two. On the US Billboard Hot 100, it charted as high as number forty-five, and it was a number thirty hit on the US Billboard Adult Contemporary chart.

“Handle with Care” also made a top five chart impression on the music charts belonging to Australia and New Zealand. On the official UK Singles Chart, it peaked at number twenty-one. Of all the singles the Traveling Wilburys released as a supergroup, “Handle with Care” was the most successful. The survival-themed storyline behind the song reflected on a generation that came out of the shadows of the 1960s, heading into the 1970s with the ability to handle each obstacle with care.

After the song was written and recorded, the issue of coming up with a title came up. After looking around Dylan’s garage, George Harrison spotted the label “Handle with Care.” Given the song’s content and mixed music styles that meshed country, folk, and rock together, it was perfect.

Updated May 14, 2024

Feature Photo: Takahiro Kyono from Tokyo, Japan, CC BY 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Top 10 Traveling Wilburys Songs article published on Classic RockHistory.com© 2024

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About the author.

Millie Zeiler

Millie Zeiler is a long time music journalist from Canada who covers all styles of music.

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