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318 of 321 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
No Superstar Trappings...Just Good Music, January 6, 2002
This low-key supergroup effort by Harrison, Dylan, Orbison, Petty and Lynne was a well deserved hit when it was released in 1988, peaking at No. 3 on Billboard's album charts. And justifiably so. The album is filled with wonderfully crafted (if sometimes slight) and enjoyable songs. In hindisght, that appeared to be the goal of this project--to have a good time. There are no superstar trappings here. All songwriting credits are attributed to the Traveling Wilburys. In fact, real names are not to be found anywhere on the album.There are numerous highlights, beginning with the the album's first single "Handle With Care," which features vocals by Harrison and Orbison with some nice slide guitar work from Harrison as well. Dylan's tongue-in-cheek lyrics to "Dirty Work" give new meaning to 'auto'-eroticism. [Sample lyric: You don't need no wax job / You're smooth enough for me / If you need your oil changed / I'll do it for you free.] "Rattled" is a delightful rockabilly number. "Last Night" has a funky Jamaican rhythm to it. "Not Alone Any More" features Orbison's soaring tenor reminiscent of his Monument-era classics. "Heading for the Light" with Harrison handling lead vocal also makes good use of saxophone. "End of the Line" closes the album with a terrific uptempo rocker and sadly serves as a fitting tribute to Orbison who died of a heart attack not long after the album was completed. [The survivng Wilburys did a wonderful video to this track paying tribute to their musical comrade.] Additional support is provided by honorary Wilburys Jim Keltner (drums), Jim Horn (saxophones), and Ray Cooper (percussion). From start to finish, this album is a pure joy. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
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120 of 120 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
An unforgettable music experience, February 21, 2004
This album is brilliant! This was definitely one of the most exciting music projects to come out of the '80s. There had been "super-groups" before, like the Yardbirds or Blind Faith, but it was unprecedented to have FIVE well-established rock 'n roll greats (Roy Orbison, Bob Dylan, George Harrison, Jeff Lynne and Tom Petty) form their own band and bring out two records, and it was a trans-Atlantic collaboration. The story goes that ex-ELO maestro Jeff was helping produce new albums by George and the others, when they decided, "Hey, why not try to bring out a whole album together?!"
Part of the beauty of Traveling Wilburys Vol. 1 is that it is so under-stated. It's not like the five guys were saying, "Look at us, we're a super-group!" No, they got pure enjoyment from their collaboration, appearing almost mysteriously as five "Wilbury" brothers. You first had to figure out who those guys in sunglasses were on the album cover.
That notwithstanding, this album was also invaluable for the appreciation it gave the legendary Roy Orbison for a new generation. It made me interested in his songs from way back, even before the movie Pretty Woman gave him new exposure. Sadly, Orbison died soon after Traveling Wilburys Vol. 1 was released. The band commemorated his passing in their music video for the single, "End of the Line." When Orbison sings, a guitar is shown in an otherwise empty rocking chair.
But the first song I heard from this album was the catchy story-song, "Tweeter and the Monkey Man." It was Bob Dylan, but it was more. What a great song! It got a lot of airplay in South Africa, where I grew up. The first single, "Handle With Care," is also excellent, with Harrison leading the vocals and the other guys chiming in.
Bob does a great job on "Dirty World," which has some really funny tongue-in-cheek lyrics, e.g., "I love her big refrigerator." "Rattled" is fine rockabilly sung by Jeff Lynne and with Roy adding his trademark growls. "Last Night" with its reggae beat is probably my favorite track, a humorous story of misguided love as sung by Petty and with a fine bridge by Orbison. Roy himself shines on the track written for him, "Not Alone Anymore." "Margarita" on side two is also an excellent song with the guys trading lead vocals.
Jeff Lynne's production, as well as familiar vocals by the parts of the whole, gave continuity to the Wilburys' solo albums: George's Cloud Nine, Petty's Full Moon Fever, Orbison's Mystery Girl and Lynne's own Armchair Theatre. I think of these albums as collectively being the missing Vol. 2.
We await the re-issue of Vol. 1 and Vol. 3 on CD. Warner Brothers, are you listening?
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34 of 34 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The best of the best?, February 13, 2002
Criminally deleted at the present moment, due to legal
wrangles between the various surviving stars and Warner
Brothers Inc - this truly is a classic recording.
From the first take "Handle With Care", through to the
countryfied "End Of The Line" - there are many gems from
each member - Dylan and Harrison being particularly prolific.
"Handle With Care" was destined to be a 12" bonus track
on George Harrison's 1987 single "This Is Love" (the title
comes from an orange sticker on a box in Dylan's garage -
where the song was written) - but Warners considered it "too
good". The album spawned from there. Check out Roy Orbison's
haunting "Not Alone Any More", too. Music to melt the
hardest of hearts. The lyrical majesty of "Tweeter and the
Monkey Man" is one of Dylan's best of the 1980s. You can't go wrong guys.
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album Traveling Wilburys, Volume 1 
