The Wilburys finished traveling after Volumes 1 and 3, you say? No. At least…not necessarily. There is still Volume 7-and-a-half to release. Or something. I am hardly the first person to recognize that a viable—make that wonderful—Traveling Wilburys album is still out there, lurking (or larking), waiting for the Harrison Estate (and other parties) to assemble and release with much fanfare. Or at least a Monty Python-esque trumpet flourish.
Yes, every single song in question has been issued before, though only four in Wilburys context. What a ripoff, you say. Nah. No more—really much less—than any artist’s “greatest hits” package. Hell, it would fit with Wilburys don’t-take-this-too-seriously ethos. Call it Certified Pre-Owned Traveling Wilburys!
What’s more, this could be a fine occasion to issue Harrison’s “rock and roll song about the power of love” (his words), “Valentine,” which the late Billboard editor, Timothy White, called “one of his cleverest, hit-destined excursions.” (Last seen somewhere in the Harrison vault.) But if the Estate prefers to save this song for forthcoming albums consisting of any of the approximately 25 (!) partially completed new George songs (where are they?), there is still sufficient material for Traveling Wilburys Vol. 7-and-a-half. Or something.
Does this picture really need a caption?
Need further justification? Make it a charity album. One would think all concerned estates and parties would gladly waive rights to raise money to fight: poaching of animals, human trafficking, starvation in Sudan…
The album can be configured any number of ways, of course, and still sound solid. As the little known and reclusive musicologist, Leo “Scrib” Wilbury, told me in an exclusive Skype interview from Borneo:
“This album would play so magnificently, no matter how you arrange it, that to not release it is a crime against small animals and exotic birds everywhere.”
My lineup for The Traveling Wilburys: Certified Pre-Owned, side one:
“Runaway”—The Del Shannon song recorded by the Wilburys (Jeff Lynne, Tom Petty, George Harrison, Bob Dylan, Jim Keltner), this was released as a bonus track on the 2007 reissue, Traveling Wilburys Vol. 3, and featured Lynne on lead vocal. Great fun, and a tribute to the late Del Shannon, who was long rumored to be in the running as a Wilbury.
“A Love So Beautiful”—Roy Orbison’s moving ballad from the Mystery Girl album, it was co-written with Lynne and features him on bass, keyboard and backup vocal. Harrison plays acoustic guitar. One suspects that Orbison would have been delighted to have a couple of his songs help comprise a faux Wilbury project.
“Cheer Down”—This one came right between the two Wilburys albums (1988 and 1990), was written by Harrison and Petty and co-produced by Harrison and Lynne (who also plays on it) and released in 1989. A first-tier Harrison work that never really got its due, it was thrown away (in my view) on the closing credits of Lethal Weapon 2, of all things. Yes, it was also a single, and yes, was included in Best of Dark Horse (a vinyl-only release), but this faux Wilburys album needs a couple of George showcases. The beautifully crafted slide guitar work alone makes the song, and the dry-wit lyrics (“If your teeth drop out/you’ll get by without taking a bite”) are right in keeping with Wilbury spirit.
“Lift Me Up”— Wilburys antidote to “Cheer Down,” this, of course, was a single from Lynne’s terrific 1990 work, Armchair Theater. Harrison plays acoustic, slide and sings background vocals. It feels like Wilburys all the way.
Related: On March 19, 2024, Lynne announced his first tour in five years
“I Won’t Back Down”—Yes, I would include the huge hit for the late Petty, co-written with Lynne in 1989, with Harrison on acoustic guitar and backup vocals. Cheer Down/Lift Me Up/I Won’t Back Down—hmm. . .there’s some kind of emotional progression here, wouldn’t you say? Could easily have been on Wilburys Vol. 1 or 3.
“Like A Ship”—The Bob Dylan Wilburys bonus track on the 2007 release of Vol. 3. Like a ship on the sea/Her love rolls over me… These and other seemingly off-the-cuff Dylan lyrics are just so Wilbury-apropos, somewhere between poetic and daffy. Is that Bob playing the guitar solo? This gives side one bracketing Wilburys tracks.
Side Two
“Cockamamie Business“—One of Harrison’s best solo works, consigned to the scrap heap album of Dark Horse selections, it was recorded by Harrison and Lynne in 1979. Laden with some of the most sardonic George-isms of his career, it is witty, biting and uptempo. (My favorite verse: “Now we like to air condition though the air has no ozone ring/Still they’re chopping down the forest for McDonald’s and the Burger King/Eating cows with such persistence doesn’t offer much resistance/To this Cockamamie Business...”)
“I Call Your Name”—Introducing Cousin Ringo “Richard Wilbury” Starr on vocals and drums, with Petty (bass), Lynne (guitar), Keltner (cowbell) and Joe “Rocky Mountain Wilbury” Walsh on stinging lead guitar. (Song by Dr. Winston O’Wilbury and Paul Ramon Wilbury.)
“Maxine”—A splendid Harrison waltz about the mysterious Maxine, who disappeared for unknown reasons (possibly including alien kidnapping). Great lyrics, great Harrison vocal, released as a bonus track on Vol. 3, “Maxine” could have been on any Harrison collection.
“Under the Red Sky”—From Dylan’s 1990 album of the same name, the song features an elegant Harrison slide guitar solo and very whimsical Wilburys-esque lyrics, such as “There was an old man and he lived in the moon/One summer’s day he came passing by.” Written and recorded smack dab in the middle of Wilbury time.
“You Got It”—Roy Orbison’s posthumous hit, co-written by Lynne and Petty, from the album Mystery Girl,” it hit #3 on the U.K. singles charts. The song’s “All You Need is Love” changes in the chorus always made it irresistible.
“Nobody’s Child”—The rousing, poignant 1949 song first recorded by Hank Snow (written by Cy Coben and Mel Foree), this full-force Wilburys version features verses sung by Petty, Harrison, Dylan and winning harmony vocals by Lynne. First recorded for the charity album organized by Olivia Harrison, Nobody’s Child: Romanian Angel Appeal, it was also a bonus track on the 2007 version of Traveling Wilburys Vol. 3.
“Stormy Weather”—Lynne does a swell job phrasing the Harold Arlen-Ted Koehler classic, and Harrison contributes a characteristic understated, elegant slide guitar solo. A standard? On a Wilburys album? Why not? Harrison recorded Hoagy Carmichael and Harold Arlen, and loved this fare. This track is a minor gem.
That’s it, unless Lynne or other concerned parties have quasi-Wilbury tracks lying around somewhere, gathering dust. Of course, one can also “do this in the kitchen with your mom,” as George once sang of making H-bombs, but that’s no fun. An official release would seem much more in order. Once again, here is Borneo musicologist, Leo “Scrib” Wilbury:
“The world is in such a pitiful, pitiful state. Bring back the Traveling Wilburys! I’m sure they would all be very humored, I mean honored.”
And here’s a bonus track, featuring Lynne with Harrison on guitar.
Related: Our Album Rewind of the Wilburys’ debut
The Wilburys’ recordings are available in the U.S. here and in the U.K. here.
1 Comment so far
Jump into a conversationHow about “I Don’t Want To Do It” written by Bob and performed by George? It doesn’t have the TW sound but qualifies otherwise.