Out of print for over 10 years, the complete body of work of the Traveling Wilburys has been re-released as of today, by Rhino Records, as a set — two albums, a few extra tracks (including one previously unreleased song on which Dylan sings lead, implying it is largely one of his compositions) plus a DVD with various footage. I don’t have my hands on it as yet, so this is not a review. However, most people would be familiar with the kind of good humored, melodic stuff that made up the Wilburys’ oeuvre. Congratulations is one of the most smile-inducing songs Bob Dylan ever came up with, I would say.

A few things from the USA Today story on the release:

Nelson, Otis, Charlie T. Jr., Lefty and Lucky were never household names on the order of, say, John, Paul, George and Ringo. But in 1988, the alter egos of George Harrison, Jeff Lynne (ELO), Tom Petty, Roy Orbison and Bob Dylan were lighting up airwaves and sales charts as the Traveling Wilburys.

[...]

Maxine and Like a Ship, featuring Harrison and Dylan, respectively, on lead vocals, are previously unreleased outtakes from Vol. 3. “They were completed, except for some harmonies, so I asked George’s son, Dhani, to do his father’s parts, which was nice,” Lynne says.

The third bonus track, Nobody’s Child, was recorded for Nobody’s Child: Romanian Angel Appeal, a charity album Harrison’s wife, Olivia, put together to help Romanian orphans. The fourth song, Runaway, was a B-side to a British single (She’s My Baby).

The DVD features the original music videos, along with a 24-minute documentary told in the group’s own voices. Fans will savor home videos shot during the recording of both albums, showing everything from writing sessions to vocal tracking to fun with the guys.

[...]

The reluctant Dylan was brought into the fold after Harrison, who had the tune but no lyrics, played him the song. When Dylan asked its name, “George looked around and spotted some words on a touring case in the garage: Handle with care,” Lynne says.

“We wrote the words over dinner,” Petty says. “Bob grilled us some chicken, and we wrote the words together in the garden.”

The song was recorded that night and presented to Warner Bros. Records chief Mo Ostin, who insisted that Harrison not waste it but continue recording an entire album.

[...]

Harrison was happy to have the camaraderie, his widow says. “They had such great skill and brought out the best in you, and they were people you wanted to do your best for. That’s really what it was about for him, and probably for all of them.”

…

...................
Share this!

Posts which might be related to this one based on a mysterious algorithm:

• Another number one
• And further on Ferry
• “Twelve”