Disc One of this three disc collection covers the band's first album, The Traveling Wilburys Vol 1. Before I talk about it, I should explain why this Folk Rock band are worth giving a toss about. The Traveling Wilburys were a supergroup of five established solo artists that released two albums, one in 1988 and one in 1990. The band consisted of George Harrison, Jeff Lynne, Roy Orbison, Bob Dylan and Tom Petty and probably would've recorded more material if not for the fact that the group's unofficial leader (Harrison) died in 2001. Plus, with Roy Orbison already being dead, a third album wouldn't feel like it came from the same band that gave us this collection.
Anyway, their first album was less Folk oriented and featured easily accessible Rock penned by George Harrison and Jeff Lynne. You'd be forgiven for assuming this was more of a Jeff Lynne side project than a brand new collaboration, as several tracks contain the typical ELO sound without the elaborate orchestra/synth effects ("Heading For The Light"). However, there are tracks containing clear influences from the rest of the group too, such as one of the few Folk tunes "Congratulations" sung and presumably mostly written by Bob Dylan and "Margarita" containing synth elements you'd expect from 80's Tom Petty, when it's not borrowing ideas from "You Better You Bet" - The Who.
There are two tracks that stand out though. Album opener "Handle With Care" and album closer/signature song "End Of The Line" (ignoring the two bonus tracks on the 2007 collection), as both songs successfully blend each member of the band's talents into creating the closest thing we have to The Traveling Wilburys' iconic sound, particularly in "End Of The Line" where each band member has a go at lead vocals. Overall, this album doesn't have much in the way of iconic Rock songs in the same way that each band member has in their own discography but considering the first and last tracks are well known enough to extract an "OHHHHHHH it's THEM!" from anyone who listens to them, it's an impressive debut.
1. Handle With Care
2. Dirty World
3. Rattled
4. Last Night
5. Not Alone Any More
6. Congratulations
7. Heading For The Light
8. Margarita
9. Tweeter And The Monkey Man
10. End Of The Line
11. Maxine (bonus track)
12. Like A Ship (bonus track)
ALBUM RATING - 7/10
Next up is the band's second album, Traveling Wilburys Vol 3...yes, you read that right, they deliberately named their second album Traveling Wilburys Vol 3 just to fuck with people, which is kind of brilliant if you ask me. The album itself is also a worthy follow up, despite losing Roy Orbison to a serious case of death, and what it lacks in easily accessible Rock it makes up for in easily accessible Folk. There's a certain quality to the album that makes it sound like something you'd listen to outdoors in your garden as the summer sun sets; it's very upbeat and pleasant, something the first album arguably lacked in comparison.
What's also notable is how the album seems to have shifted from sounding like it came from Jeff Lynne's fingers to George Harrison's. Indian influences have crept in ("The Devil's Been Busy") and whilst these guys were never a guitar band, it feels like the instrument has essentially replaced Roy Orbison as the fifth member. Album opener "She's My Baby" brings in Gary Moore on lead guitar to help confuse listeners into thinking they're about to enjoy a Rock album and even Folk tracks like "New Blue Moon" feature clearer guitar melodies than you'd expect from songs of the same genre.
I would personally rate the second album slightly higher than the first for delivering a strong follow up to a decent debut. The fact that Roy Orbison's crooning isn't present is one of the album's strengths and it's a shame they couldn't get their affairs in order to record a third album before George Harrison died eleven years later. Fortunately, the band ended their short lived career on a high note and whilst there are supergroups who were more successful and more likely to earn a place in the annals of Rock, this band deserve recognition a hell of a lot more than outfits like Chickenfoot.
Also, as a sidenote, the 2007 reissue features an ace cover of Del Shannon's "Runaway" with an introduction that sounds as note-perfectly close to the original as quite possibly any other cover version I've ever heard. This doesn't affect my verdict of the album as a whole but I thought I'd bring it up, just in case any of you are after a great cover version to tuck into.
1. She's My Baby
2. Inside Out
3. If You Belonged To Me
4. The Devil's Been Busy
5. 7 Deadly Sins
6. Poor House
7. Where Were You Last Night?
8. Cool Dry House
9. New Blue Moon
10. You Took My Breath Away
11. Wilbury Twist
12. Nobody's Child (bonus track)
13. Runaway (bonus track)
ALBUM RATING - 8/10
In the same way I'd recommend Rainbow to any fans Mk II/III Deep Purple, I'd definitely recommend The Traveling Wilburys to any fans of George Harrison, Jeff Lynne and, to an extent, Bob Dylan. The band manage to cobble together their own sound by blending the musical talents of each band member but none of their unique voices or skills get lost in the mix, providing a well-rounded musical experience.
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