George Harrison is generally given credit for masterminding this musical supergroup, eventually adding the Electric Light Orchestra’s Jeff Lynne, Tom Petty of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, along with the immortals Roy Orbison and Bob Dylan. Together, they did some fun stuff, worth listening to even if it only lasted for two albums.
Note: Because of the Roy Orbison connection, these are all songs from the 1988 album, The Traveling Wilburys, Vol. 1.
The sleeve notes for this album are a treat:
The original Wilburys were a stationary people who, realizing that their civilization could not stand still forever, began to go for short walks – not the “traveling”, as we now know it, but certainly as far as the corner and back. They must have taken to motion, in much the same way as penguins were at that time taking to ledges, for the next we hear of them they were going out for the day (often taking lunch or a picnic). Later, we don’t as yet know how much later, some intrepid Wilburys began to go away for the weekend, leaving late Friday and coming back Sunday. It was they who evolved simple rhythmic forms to describe their adventures.
A remarkable sophisticated musical culture developed, considering there were no managers or agents, and the further the Wilburys traveled the more adventurous their music became, and the more it was revered by the elders of the tribe who believed it had the power to stave off madness, turn brunettes into blondes and increase the size of their ears.
It was an amazing effort, a great assemblage of talent, and worth a listen. Here are my personal favorites from their debut album.
Dirty World: Bet you’ve never heard so many questionable innuendos based on cars, trucks, and mechanical work. Bob Dylan lends his not-inconsiderable talent to this one, referring to himself in the first person and third person, curiously, at different points in this one song. For the closing stanza, George Harrison reportedly gave each band member a car magazine, and had them sing out whatever popped up on each page: “five-speed gearbox,” “loan insurance,” and “big refrigerator” being among the results.
Read More: Start Your Weekend Right With Some Great Roy Orbison Tunes
Tweeter And The Monkey Man: Dylan again captures the vocals on this one. Again, there’s some oddity in the personal references, with Dylan referring to Tweeter as a he and a she at different points. I guess it’s not supposed to make any sense. The Vietnam references might make one wonder if Dylan was indulging in some “protest song” game here, but if you listen to it, the Vietnam reference is as nonsensical as the rest of the tune.
Handle With Care: This fun tune showcases all of the group’s vocals at one time or another, although if you ask me, Roy Orbison steals the show. This song implies that the protagonist is a package with fragile contents and must be handled with care – like the warnings you see on shipping packages.
Rattled: You guys out there, tell me some gal or another hasn’t had you rattled, twisted or otherwise discomfited at some point or another – or you gals out there, the same applies about guys. I’ve been married to my wife for 34 years, and she still gets me rattled and twisted at times, and that’s for sure and for certain.
Read More: Start Your Weekend Right With Six Great Songs From 'The Last Waltz,' Featuring The Band
Last Night: This one’s a ballad for nights spent that turn fuzzy later. Songfacts.com says this about the song:
The song tells the story of a very memorable night when our hero meets a lithesome lady at a bar and earns an invitation to her room. It all goes according to plan until he asks her to marry him, perhaps in jest. She pulls out a knife and robs him.
The story ends with the singer back in the bar, telling his tale. At least he got a song out of it.
Well, we’ve all had some of those odd weekends.
Margarita: This fun song brings in the whole band at once, which is a trip. The lyrics are all over the place, including this gem:
I asked her what we're gonna do tonight
She said, "Cahuenga Langa-Langa Shoe Box Soup"
We better keep tryin' 'til we get it right
Tala Mala Sheela Jaipur dhoop
End Of The Line: This seems like a good one to close on. Although it evokes sad memories of Roy Orbison, who again kind of steals the show, this album was released the year Roy died. In fact, Roy had died before this song was released as a video, which is sad.Supergroups like The Traveling Wilburys never seem to last very long, and honestly, without Roy Orbison, the second album, jokingly called The Traveling Wilburys Vol. 3, never really took off. But if you were around in 1988, you might remember that first album. Share any memories or favorites with the rest of us – the comments, again, are all yours.
