Traveling Wilburys--Volume I, released in 1988, is the product of the formation of a "supergroup" featuring what I like to think of as the elder statesmen of rock 'n roll--George Harrison, Roy Orbison, Jeff Lynn, Tom Petty and Bob Dylan pose as the last surviving members of a fictional civilization known as the Wilburys, whose purpose is to spread the "elusive Wilbury sound". Each musician takes on the identity of a particular Wilbury-- although the album is a spoof, the music is for real, and to hear legends like these musicians play together and interact is a special treat.

The tracks, and my take on each, are as follows:

1. Handle Me With Care--You couldn't pick a better tune to open an album featuring a supergroup like this. All of the players take a turn at lead vocals, but the most stirring by far is the chorus sung by Roy Orbison--it's full of the yearning that characterized his singing. George Harrison contributes a couple of nice slide guitar solos, and the rhythms of the song really make it a good rock 'n roll offering.

2. Dirty World--A lot of acoustic guitar and a bouncy beat dominate this song featuring Bob Dylan on lead vocals--his sloppy, nasal delivery is the same as ever, and this tune is perfectly suited for his style. The dense horns add a nice touch to the song--they sound a lot like the horns used in George Harrison's Savoy Truffle. The appearance of Bob Dylan-soundalike Tom Petty at the end of the tune demonstrates how similar their vocal styles really are.

3. Rattled--Jeff Lynn, formerly of Electric Light Orchestra, sings the lead vocals on this tune, which features acoustic guitars and a rocking rhythm section. The rockabilly influences on these players are apparent here, and George Harrison's guitar solo sounds like something straight out of Sun Studios--their debt to the King of Rockabilly, Carl Perkins, is acknowledged with this song.

4. Last Night--Tom Petty does his most earnest Bob Dylan impersonation, and he pulls it off pretty well. The harmonies from the rest of the vocalists are rich and full, and the randy bass line and the horns give this tune a Caribbean flavor. Roy Orbison sings the bridge with a powerful baritone voice, a register he didn't visit much--even though he is thought of as a "high singer", his voice was powerful in the lower ranges.

5. Not Alone Any More--This one is a jumped-up version of the type of song that Roy Orbison sang throughout his illustrious career. His voice is gorgeous and he manages to communicate all the hope, yearning and longing that was apparent in his solo work. His efforts are helped by the world-class singers and musicians who joined him on this album.

6. Congratulations--George Harrison's slide guitar work is thrilling on this song--it has a drowsy quality that sets a nice mood. Tom Petty and Bob Dylan sing a nice duet that further points up the similarities in their styles. When you assemble talent like this, it would be very easy to overdo things, but these guys are really tasteful--probably a testament to the production influences of Jeff Lynn.

7. Heading For The Light--This one features George Harrison with an energetic vocal performance--it sounds a lot like some of his earlier solo work. Jeff Lynn chips in with some nice accompanying vocals, and some of the Electric Light Orchestra sound comes to the surface with a very heavy horn texture and lush background vocals.

8. Margarita--A heavy dose of synthesizer give this one an electronic sound. Tom Petty sings lead vocals on this song, which sounds like island music in the truest sense of the word, and George Harrison really shines on the slide guitar. The production is again impeccable, with layered horns and background vocals, creating a big musical landscape.

9. Tweeter And The Monkey Man--The band returns to the acoustic theme of the first couple of songs, and Bob Dylan handles the lead vocals. The tune sounds like something he would write, and he probably played a big role in composing it--it has a dark feel that is reminiscent of Dylan's song about Reuben "Hurricane" Carter.

10. End Of The Line--A nice acoustic guitar hook starts this nice, upbeat song-- each Wilbury takes a turn on lead vocals, and the background vocals are full but subtle. Showcasing each member is a fine way to close an album as dynamic as this one, and the Traveling Wilburys do it perfectly. The album heads home with a repeat of the acoustic guitar intro.

Not often have players of this caliber gotten together and collaborated on a project. You really shouldn't miss the opportunity to see what happens when they do--a totally satisfactory listen.


Recommended: Yes

Great Music to Play While: Getting ready to go out