Album Review: Traveling Wilburys - Traveling Wilburys Volume Three (1990)

The first album by the Traveling Wilburys is without a doubt one of the more fun albums to listen to and one of the best supergroup records ever made.  No obligations of any kind motivated the creation of that particular album, contractual or otherwise, and it shows in every song.  It was, in fact, such a good album that, despite the untimely passing of Roy Orbison, the boys decided to get together one more time and record another album.  The end result was Traveling Wilburys Volume Three.  Now, many will be wondering, of course, what ever happened to "Volume 2?"  Well, Tom Petty's Full Moon Fever is probably the closest thing we'll ever get to a "Volume 2." This album is technically "Volume 2" in spite of the name.  It was also their last album, unfortunately, and the weaker of the two albums that they produced in total.  "Wilbury Twist" is perhaps too silly, but "If You Belonged to Me" showcases Dylan at his Wilbury best, the likes of which we haven't heard since "Tweeter & The Monkey Man."  "She's My Baby", in contrast to their earlier hits, is a bit of a letdown, but still manages to be listenable.  "Poor House" seems to be getting more palatable every time I listen to the album, which is not often nowadays.  The final verdict - yeah, it's not too bad.  B+

Album Review: Traveling Wilburys - Traveling Wilburys Volume One (1988)

Put two of Britain's best musicians together, add rock 'n roll's greatest vocalist and folk music's greatest songwriter, and throw in Tom Petty just for the hell of it, and what do you get? A rather surprising combination packaged into one supergroup. The Traveling Wilburys isn't meant to be taken seriously - of course, they're serious about making music, they just don't take the process of making it seriously. This results in an equally surprising gem - Traveling Wilburys Volume One, a collection of bold, eccentric, daring and ambitious numbers that works extraordinarily well. No other band could get away with it - many have no doubt tried, and stopped right at the point where people started throwing tomatoes at them. And that's when they've read out the song list. Songs like "Handle with Care", the Orbison-centric "Not Alone Anymore", the Dylan-esque "Tweeter and the Monkey Man" and the ever popular 'End of the Line" are all delightful reflections of the laid back nature and relationship between Dylan, Orbison, Petty, Lynne and Harrison that made this otherwise outlandish project work brilliantly. It's an unfathomably good thing they re-released this baby. A