Traveling Wilburys albums to be reissued soon.

[Buried Alien]

The Wilburys are back (http://www.cnn.com/2007/SHOWBIZ/Music/06/11/music.wilburys.reut/index.html).

Buried Alien (The Fastest Post Alive!)

[Ilash]

Just pre-ordered a copy from a local online store. I've always dug the Wilburys and it'll be nice to finally own their albums. The DVD looks like a nice extra too.

[JoeK32880]

Good. I've wanted these for the last decade.

[redlantern2051]

They just got released in Oz, too. I am picking up a copy for my birthday-looks pretty sweet.

[rick]

I have had both albums since they first came out and all I can say is that for those of you who havn't had the chance to hear these truly classic recordings, that you really should do yourselves a favor and just order them, especially the first CD as quickly as possible.

Truly great records.

[Buried Alien]

With a lineup like George Harrison, Roy Orbison, Bob Dylan, Tom Petty, and Jeff Lynne, it was hard to see how this band could possibly lose. They practically couldn't fail.

Buried Alien (The Fastest Post Alive!)

[leonaozaki]

The Traveling Wilburys were great. Of course the first album (Vol 1) is better than the second (Vol 3); Vol 1 has some of Dylan's best songs from the 80's on it (including the best Springsteen parody ever, "Tweeter and the Monkey Man") plus a lot of other great stuff. But Vol 3 is worth picking up as well, even if it's not quite up to the standard of the first album.

I won't be getting this new package, since I own both albums, but anybody that's a fan of the component parts of the Wilburys should get it.

rob

[Valmore]

With a lineup like George Harrison, Roy Orbison, Bob Dylan, Tom Petty, and Jeff Lynne, it was hard to see how this band could possibly lose. They practically couldn't fail.

Can anyone even name a better Supergroup from the 1980's?

But why aren't the re-issuing Tom Petty's "Full Moon Fever" - which all 5 appear on as well? ;) (There's always been a rumor that FMF was considered Volume 2, hence why Volume 3 was the second under the band's name. There's no truth to it, however.)

[Ilash]

With a lineup like George Harrison, Roy Orbison, Bob Dylan, Tom Petty, and Jeff Lynne, it was hard to see how this band could possibly lose. They practically couldn't fail.

Buried Alien (The Fastest Post Alive!)

Actually, to be fair, it was the late eighties, a time that isn't known for being kind to many, if not most, 60s legends.

[Ilash]

Can anyone even name a better Supergroup from the 1980's?

But why aren't the re-issuing Tom Petty's "Full Moon Fever" - which all 5 appear on as well? ;) (There's always been a rumor that FMF was considered Volume 2, hence why Volume 3 was the second under the band's name. There's no truth to it, however.)

Maybe it's just the case over here but Full Moon Fever is easily and widely available so there's not really much point in re-releasing it.

[leonaozaki]

But why aren't the re-issuing Tom Petty's "Full Moon Fever" - which all 5 appear on as well? ;) (There's always been a rumor that FMF was considered Volume 2, hence why Volume 3 was the second under the band's name. There's no truth to it, however.)

Actually, Bob Dylan isn't on Full Moon Fever.

rob

[Buried Alien]

Actually, to be fair, it was the late eighties, a time that isn't known for being kind to many, if not most, 60s legends.

Actually, the very end of the 1980s was something of a renaissance period for the big 60s rock stars. The first part of the decade was the fallow period...what with the immediate aftermath of punk, disco, and New Wave during the late 1970s and early 1980s. It was in 1987 that George Harrison re-emerged with CLOUD NINE, his first big hit in years. Then, the Wilburys emerged about a year later. At around the same time, Roy Orbison released MYSTERY GIRL (with the big hit "You've Got It") just months before he died. In 1989, Paul McCartney released FLOWERS IN THE DIRT (his most critically acclaimed record of the 1980s) and conducted his first extensive concert tour since the death of John Lennon. Finally, the Rolling Stones started touring again after spending most of the 1980s locked in a Jagger/Richards feud and not doing much of note as a band.

Buried Alien (The Fastest Post Alive!)

[Ilash]

Actually, the very end of the 1980s was something of a renaissance period for the big 60s rock stars. The first part of the decade was the fallow period...what with the immediate aftermath of punk, disco, and New Wave during the late 1970s and early 1980s. It was in 1987 that George Harrison re-emerged with CLOUD NINE, his first big hit in years. Then, the Wilburys emerged about a year later. At around the same time, Roy Orbison released MYSTERY GIRL (with the big hit "You've Got It") just months before he died. In 1989, Paul McCartney released FLOWERS IN THE DIRT (his most critically acclaimed record of the 1980s) and conducted his first extensive concert tour since the death of John Lennon. Finally, the Rolling Stones started touring again after spending most of the 1980s locked in a Jagger/Richards feud and not doing much of note as a band.

Buried Alien (The Fastest Post Alive!)

True. It's actually kind of interesting though that George basically spearheaded this renaissance with Cloud 9. 1989 WAS the big comeback year for the "rock dinosaurs" but we're looking at 1988 and some of the most recent releases by the 60s giants included masterworks like McCartney's Press to Play, Dylan's Down in the Groove (I haven't heard it but it's generally pretty despised), the Stones' Dirty Work and Clapton's Phil Collins-produced abominations. And what were Jeff Lynne and Roy Orbison doing just before the Wilburys formed? Not much, from what I understand. So yeah, Petty was a good bet at that time and, assuming that Cloud 9 wasn't just a fluke (and lets not kid, without the Wilburys there would still plenty of reason to believe that that was the case), George was the only other one who's then current work would seem to indicate that the whole ordeal wouldn't be one giant mess. We know differently now but in the late eighties, I would hardly call these guys a sure thing.

[J. Robb]

Volume 1 is one of my all-time favourite albums. Volume 3 is just okay, losing Roy Orbison left a huge hole in the group. His amazing voice is one of the first album's highlights.

[Valmore]

Actually, Bob Dylan isn't on Full Moon Fever.

rob

Well Roy Orbison wasn't on volume 3, of course he was dead...

[leonaozaki]

Actually, the very end of the 1980s was something of a renaissance period for the big 60s rock stars. The first part of the decade was the fallow period...what with the immediate aftermath of punk, disco, and New Wave during the late 1970s and early 1980s. It was in 1987 that George Harrison re-emerged with CLOUD NINE, his first big hit in years. Then, the Wilburys emerged about a year later. At around the same time, Roy Orbison released MYSTERY GIRL (with the big hit "You've Got It") just months before he died. In 1989, Paul McCartney released FLOWERS IN THE DIRT (his most critically acclaimed record of the 1980s) and conducted his first extensive concert tour since the death of John Lennon. Finally, the Rolling Stones started touring again after spending most of the 1980s locked in a Jagger/Richards feud and not doing much of note as a band.

Buried Alien (The Fastest Post Alive!)

Let's not forget Oh Mercy (1989), Bob's best album of the 80's and (arguably) one of his best albums. It's certainly the record that kicked off his current "comeback."

rob

[leonaozaki]

Well Roy Orbison wasn't on volume 3, of course he was dead...

Well, George Harrison played guitar and sang backup on "I Won't Back Down," and Roy Orbison sang backup on "Zombie Zoo," so I'm not sure how Full Moon Fever, great record though it is, can be identified as a Wilburys record in an any meaningful sense.

rob

[leonaozaki]

True. It's actually kind of interesting though that George basically spearheaded this renaissance with Cloud 9....And what were Jeff Lynne and Roy Orbison doing just before the Wilburys formed? Not much, from what I understand. So yeah, Petty was a good bet at that time and, assuming that Cloud 9 wasn't just a fluke (and lets not kid, without the Wilburys there would still plenty of reason to believe that that was the case), George was the only other one who's then current work would seem to indicate that the whole ordeal wouldn't be one giant mess. We know differently now but in the late eighties, I would hardly call these guys a sure thing.

Well, Jeff Lynne produced Cloud 9 so I would hardly call that "not much."

Plus, Dylan's 80's, as I have said many times, is hardly the write-off that you portray it as. Yes, Down in the Groove is one of his lesser records but it also has "Silvio" and "Ugliest Girl in the World," which you should really give a listen to before dismissing the whole thing.

rob

[cre8]

If you're into them, check out the The Wilburys Minisite (http://www.travelingwilburys.com/uk/) for more info and lots of music/videos etc - the new material is also now available on iTunes!

[Valmore]

Well, George Harrison played guitar and sang backup on "I Won't Back Down," and Roy Orbison sang backup on "Zombie Zoo," so I'm not sure how Full Moon Fever, great record though it is, can be identified as a Wilburys record in an any meaningful sense.

rob

It was just a silly rumor that once circulated for those trying to explain why the Wilburys' jumped from Vol. 1 to Vol. 3 - Petty's "Full Moon Fever" was released in between the two and had most of the Wilburys on it in one way or another. As I said before, there was no truth to it.

[Buried Alien]

Another popular rumor about the Wilburys is that after Roy Orbison died, the band considered recruiting Del Shannon (of "Runaway" fame) to replace Orbison. Shannon himself also died (of suicide) before it could happen, however.

Buried Alien (The Fastest Post Alive!)

[leonaozaki]

Another popular rumor about the Wilburys is that after Roy Orbison died, the band considered recruiting Del Shannon (of "Runaway" fame) to replace Orbison. Shannon himself also died (of suicide) before it could happen, however.

Buried Alien (The Fastest Post Alive!)

Well, they did cover "Runaway" duing the sessions for Volume 3.

rob

[leonaozaki]

And now the Wilburys box set is a global hit. (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/06/22/AR2007062201648.html)

Good stuff, eh? What was that about quality music not selling?

rob

[howyadoin]

Can anyone even name a better Supergroup from the 1980's?Damn Yankees?

Another popular rumor about the Wilburys is that after Roy Orbison died, the band considered recruiting Del Shannon (of "Runaway" fame) to replace Orbison.The rumour that I heard - in an article on Tom Petty, if I'm remembering correctly - was that Roger McGuinn was gonna replace the Orb.

[Valmore]

Damn Yankees?

I suppose they were, but in my opinion, the Wilburys were clearly better.

I suppose Bad English could almost be called a supergroup, or Journey Lite.

[Kara Zor El]

I just can't understand why these albums got deleted in the first place. You think of all the shit out there that has never gone away and hardly sells and they delete these????

Lost my copy of the first never heard the second. Going to buy them with a big grin on my face.

Just to add to the late 80's Renaissance debate. Pink Floyd came back with out Waters and had massive success in 86 and went on a huge 2 year world tour.

Pete Townsend did the overlooked but solid, Iron Man album with a great cover of Fire by the Who on it.

The Imagine movie about Lennon came out which got him lots of new fans.

[howyadoin]

I suppose they were, but in my opinion, the Wilburys were clearly better.

I suppose Bad English could almost be called a supergroup, or Journey Lite.I sure hope nobody thought I was serious there.

[Buried Alien]

The rumour that I heard - in an article on Tom Petty, if I'm remembering correctly - was that Roger McGuinn was gonna replace the Orb.

That could very well be, although I haven't read about that rumor until now. Getting Shannon to fill in Orbison's spot would have made more sense, however, because they would have needed a falsetto vocalist (although it's a pretty tall order to replace *Roy Orbison*; in short, they really couldn't) rather than a Rickenbacker riff-meister (as they already had two in George Harrison and Tom Petty).

Then again, hearing Harrison, Petty, and McGuinn all playing their Rickenbacker 12-strings in unison would have been something to hear: we're talking possibly the three best players of that style of electric guitar in rock history.

Buried Alien (The Fastest Post Alive!)

[Valmore]

I sure hope nobody thought I was serious there.

Nah, hence the Journey Lite.

[redlantern2051]

I just bought the re-release. AWESOME. It's got all the videos. wicked home movies, and both albums, with bonus tracks! What a score! I did a review on my LiveJournal, if you guys want to check it out. I talk about the albums, and remember a press interview they did for Voulme 3.

http://redlantern2051.livejournal.com/#204982

[redlantern2051]

Let's not forget Oh Mercy (1989), Bob's best album of the 80's and (arguably) one of his best albums. It's certainly the record that kicked off his current "comeback."

rob

I think the first Wilbury's album gave him a platform, but yeh "Oh Mercy" is the one that made a lot of ppl believers again. It's a great album.

[leonaozaki]

I think the first Wilbury's album gave him a platform, but yeh "Oh Mercy" is the one that made a lot of ppl believers again. It's a great album.

Oh, I agree. It also gave a boost to Tom Petty's career, which had stalled for a little while with Let Me Up I've Had Enough and was drifting into bizarre electronic shapes with Southern Accents. Working with Jeff Lynne on the Wilburys and then on Full Moon Fever and then on Into the Great Wide Open gave him his 90's "comeback."

rob

[redlantern2051]

Oh, I agree. It also gave a boost to Tom Petty's career, which had stalled for a little while with Let Me Up I've Had Enough and was drifting into bizarre electronic shapes with Southern Accents. Working with Jeff Lynne on the Wilburys and then on Full Moon Fever and then on Into the Great Wide Open gave him his 90's "comeback."

rob

Thats right, I actually became a BIG Tom Petty fan after the Wilbury's albums. I really liked "Full Moon Fever" & "Into the Great Wide Open" but my fave album of his is "Wildflowers"-that's a masterpiece.

I wonder why they didn't do another Wilbury's album before George got sick?

[Ilash]

Thats right, I actually became a BIG Tom Petty fan after the Wilbury's albums. I really liked "Full Moon Fever" & "Into the Great Wide Open" but my fave album of his is "Wildflowers"-that's a masterpiece.

I wonder why they didn't do another Wilbury's album before George got sick?

I second the Wildflowers love. It's a wonderful album.

As for why there was no follow-up to the Wilbury's my best guess would be that George simply wasn't all that interested in recording music for most of the rest of his life.

[howyadoin]

Oh, I agree. It also gave a boost to Tom Petty's career, which... was drifting into bizarre electronic shapes with Southern Accents.That really applies to only two songs on the album, and even then only to the first half of "Don't Come Around Here No More".

Never understood the criticism of that album; I think it's easily as good as Full Moon Fever.

[leonaozaki]

That really applies to only two songs on the album, and even then only to the first half of "Don't Come Around Here No More".

Never understood the criticism of that album; I think it's easily as good as Full Moon Fever.

Well, fair enough (about the electronic bit). I guess when I think about the album-- which I own and like but haven't listened to in years-- I think about "It Ain't Nothin' to Me" and "Don't Come Around Here No More."

I really like about half of the album, which isn't really a surprise considering it was supposed to be a double album at one point; I think if the outtakes from Playback had been on the album I would have liked it more.

In general I agree with in as much as the songs on Southern Accents (with the exception of "It Ain't Nothin to Me" and "Spike") are the equal of most of Full Moon Fever but I like Jeff Lynne's production a whole lot more than that of Dave Stewart. That's probably why it's the Tom Petty record I listen to the least.

Rob

[howyadoin]

In general I agree with in as much as the songs on Southern Accents (with the exception of "It Ain't Nothin to Me" and "Spike") are the equal of most of Full Moon Fever but I like Jeff Lynne's production a whole lot more than that of Dave Stewart.Well again, Stewart only co-produced three songs.

And Robbie Robertson co-produced "The Best of Everything", which by rights oughta be considered a Tom Petty classic.

[leonaozaki]

Well again, Stewart only co-produced three songs.

And Robbie Robertson co-produced "The Best of Everything", which by rights oughta be considered a Tom Petty classic.

That's true, isn't it? (About the Dave Stewart production.) Hmm. Well, I honestly don't know if I can explain my ambivalent feelings about the album then. The songs I like, I really like, but the ones that bug me really drag the album down for me in a way that's not true for me on any other Petty album (except for Damn the Torpedoes).

But yes, "The Best of Everything" is one amazing song.

rob

[Valmore]

Southern Accents is an album of some excellent songs that don't really mix well together. You have some rich ballad songs like "The Best of Everything" and "Southern Accents" mixed in with spare-versed rock like "Mary's Brand New Car" and "Spike" along with more traditional Petty rockers like "Rebels" and "Dog's On The Run" with a couple songs that probably fit better on Let Me Up (I've Had Enough) like "Don't Come Around Here No More."

If you take the songs individually, you have some great Petty tunes. But mixed together, you just don't get the feeling of a cohesive album.

[leonaozaki]

Southern Accents is an album of some excellent songs that don't really mix well together. You have some rich ballad songs like "The Best of Everything" and "Southern Accents" mixed in with spare-versed rock like "Mary's Brand New Car" and "Spike" along with more traditional Petty rockers like "Rebels" and "Dog's On The Run" with a couple songs that probably fit better on Let Me Up (I've Had Enough) like "Don't Come Around Here No More."

If you take the songs individually, you have some great Petty tunes. But mixed together, you just don't get the feeling of a cohesive album.

Exactly. That's what I was trying to say. Thanks!

rob

[Brian Cronin]

I think Jeff Lynne's production style is a bit annoying, in that he seems to go for a bit of a homogenized sound throughout his recordings, but that being said, I think his production is largely underappreciated when discussing the Wilburys.

Lynne first produced Cloud Nine, including the biggest hit Harrison had in, what, 15 years?

Then he did the Wilburys album.

He then produced Roy Orbison's comeback and co-wrote "You Got It," which was Orbison's first hit in a gazillion years.

Then Lynne co-wrote and produced two Petty albums, including four of Petty's biggest late-80s/early 90s songs, "Learning to Fly," "Free-Falling," "Running Down a Dream" and "Into the Great Wide Open."

As for why the albums were deleted, it was because the rights to the music were held mostly by Harrison, and his record deals were not very good in the 90s. He kept meaning to re-issue the records, but it never happened. Note that the other guys are all part of huge recording corporations who are very good at keeping stuff in print. Not so for Wilburys.

As for Wilburys being part of Dylan's renaissance, I don't buy it. I think Wilburys was a mere blip on the screen in Dylan's career. A nice blip, but nothing significant.

Heck, I think "Oh Mercy" was a blip, too (notice he followed "Oh Mercy" directly with the pretty dreadful "Under the Red Sky"?).

1993/1994 was when the real change took place.

1987-1993/94 is definitely a "floundering" period in Dylan's career, with the two blips of "Oh Mercy" and "Wilburys" (and yes, ONE song off of "Down in the Groove").

-Brian

[redlantern2051]

Heck, I think "Oh Mercy" was a blip, too (notice he followed "Oh Mercy" directly with the pretty dreadful "Under the Red Sky"?).

1993/1994 was when the real change took place.

1987-1993/94 is definitely a "floundering" period in Dylan's career, with the two blips of "Oh Mercy" and "Wilburys" (and yes, ONE song off of "Down in the Groove").

-Brian

You make a lot of good points mate, but gee I disagree about the Bob Dylan one's. "Oh Mercy" was massive for getting traditional/old school Bob Dylan fans back to listening to his NEW music. it came hot off the heels off the Wilburys-the song "Tweeter and the Monkey man" is considered by many Bob fans to be amongst his best 80s songs. I agree.

"Under the Red Sky" is not great at all, I agree, in fact I never listen to it, but it come out at a time when he also released "Traveling Wilburys vol 3", where he had a big role in most of the songs, prob more than in the first Wilbury's album, and I think his exposure in the media was pretty high at this point. he had a bit of heat on him.

He did two folk "cover albums" in the early 90's, both excellent, but for the hardcore fans, and then in '97, out of the blue, "Time Out of Mind" put him right back in the game, solo, grammys, etc. It was a process. Look at how he is revered now. In 87, before the Wilbury's album, Bob was struggling, creatively and commercially.

The real fallow period of Bob's career imo was post Infidels (83) until the release of The Wilbury's album ('88)-you can't discount what being a member of a platinum selling group did for all parties concerned. Petty and Orbison (briefly) benefited greatly, George basically retired, but he was very proud of it all, and Bob just kept on keeping on, but it brought in a lot of new fans. I know as I was one. :-) Seriously man, I'm listening to the albums and he's all over them.

[leonaozaki]

You make a lot of good points mate, but gee I disagree about the Bob Dylan one's. "Oh Mercy" was massive for getting traditional/old school Bob Dylan fans back to listening to his NEW music. it came hot off the heels off the Wilburys-the song "Tweeter and the Monkey man" is considered by many Bob fans to be amongst his best 80s songs. I agree.

"Under the Red Sky" is not great at all, I agree, in fact I never listen to it, but it come out at a time when he also released "Traveling Wilburys vol 3", where he had a big role in most of the songs, prob more than in the first Wilbury's album, and I think his exposure in the media was pretty high at this point. he had a bit of heat on him.

He did two folk "cover albums" in the early 90's, both excellent, but for the hardcore fans, and then in '97, out of the blue, "Time Out of Mind" put him right back in the game, solo, grammys, etc. It was a process. Look at how he is revered now. In 87, before the Wilbury's album, Bob was struggling, creatively and commercially.

The real fallow period of Bob's career imo was post Infidels (83) until the release of The Wilbury's album ('88)-you can't discount what being a member of a platinum selling group did for all parties concerned. Petty and Orbison (briefly) benefited greatly, George basically retired, but he was very proud of it all, and Bob just kept on keeping on, but it brought in a lot of new fans. I know as I was one. :-) Seriously man, I'm listening to the albums and he's all over them.

Spot on. The first Wilburys album-- "Tweeter and the Monkey Man" specifically-- got me interested in Dylan beyond the 60's and Blood on the Tracks. Then I bought Oh Mercy and it was off to the races. Granted, Under the Red Sky isn't nearly as good but it has great some songs on it. And with the release of The Bootleg Series my interest in Bob only deepened. Plus, as you say, he's all over Wilbury's Vol 3; his singing on "If You Belonged To Me" beats the pants off of anything on Red Sky. Not long after that came Good as I Been to You (1992) and World Gone Wrong (1993).

So between 1988-1993 we have at least 5 good albums with Dylan on them. In that context it looks like Under the Red Sky is the blip.

rob

[redlantern2051]

Spot on. The first Wilburys album-- "Tweeter and the Monkey Man" specifically-- got me interested in Dylan beyond the 60's and Blood on the Tracks. Then I bought Oh Mercy and it was off to the races. Granted, Under the Red Sky isn't nearly as good but it has great some songs on it. And with the release of The Bootleg Series my interest in Bob only deepened. Plus, as you say, he's all over Wilbury's Vol 3; his singing on "If You Belonged To Me" beats the pants off of anything on Red Sky. Not long after that came Good as I Been to You (1992) and World Gone Wrong (1993).

So between 1988-1933 we have at least 5 good albums with Dylan on them. In that context it looks like Under the Red Sky is the blip.

rob


Rob, when "Bootleg Series" came out, it basically sealed the deal for me re:Bob Dylan. I just loved it. I think it has SO MANY good songs on it, it was just a magical way to get into him. i have alll the Bootleg Series they have released since then, too. I'm fond of them all. prob my faves are the 1964 one, all folk, and then the Rolling Thunder one. i love thhat Rolling Thunder period. One of the original albums my Mum had was "Desire" and "Hurricane" was the song that REALLY got me into him first off, like as in first thing I ever heard from Bob KNOWING it was Bob-then i got into the 60's albums on CD, myself! and then I bought "Blood on the Tracks", and game over! ;-)