In the history of rock music, there have been many creative alliances that have had the honorary title of "Supergroup". The Traveling Wilburys can be called a supergroup in a square or a cube.
It's an amalgamation of geniuses who were all rock legends: Bob Dylan, Roy Orbison, George Harrison, Jeff Lynne and Tom Petty.
The Traveling Wilburys: the puzzle is in place
The whole event began as an exquisite joke of famous musicians. None of them seriously considered the issue of creating such a group. However, everything turned out well and fun.
In 1988, ex-Beatle George Harrison was preparing another solo album, Cloud Nine, for release on Warner Brothers.
In support of the album, they demanded to release a "forty-five". The finished opus This is Love was intended for her. For the flip side, the managers asked for something new.
Harrison was saddled with the task at hand and left for Los Angeles. In one of the cafes, he saw Jeff Lynn (ELO) and Roy Orbison (an early rock and roll star).
Both comrades were then engaged in Orbison's new record. George told his friends about his working day, about the requirements of the record company, and they wanted to help.
They decided to meet at Bob Dylan's house. Having agreed with the hospitable host to hold a session, Harrison ran to Tom Petty for a guitar. And casually secured his presence at the rehearsal.
A day later, an impromptu quintet in Dylan's studio composed the song Handle with Care in a few hours. It was divided into five voices, performed separately and in chorus.
The recording came out very good for a single. And then George came up with the idea of adding another 8-9 to the song for the album.
The idea was unanimously supported by all those present. But it took time to create new songs. Therefore, the company gathered in the same composition a month later, with ready-made author's material. But already visiting Dave Stewart (Eurythmics), where all approved sound tracks were recorded.
Modern classic
The initiator of the project, George Harrison, undertook to improve the work. But already at the FPSHOT home studio in Oxfordshire, which surpasses the famous Abbey Road in terms of capabilities.
This is how the original disc was created, created by the five giants of modern music. Coming up with a name for the new ensemble, they went through many options, chose the word Wilburys.
So in the slang of rockers are called failures that occur periodically with studio equipment. The word Wilburys was a surname, and the guys came up with the idea of turning into the Wilbury brothers: Nelson (George Harrison), Otis (Jeff Lynn), Lucky (Bob Dylan), Lefty (Roy Orbison) and Charlie T. Jr. (Tom Petty). By the way, the real names of the performers did not appear in the data on the disc.
Although this magnificent opus was released by Harrison's working label Warner Bros. Records, with the fictional Wilbury Records on the cover.
The Traveling Wilburys, Volume One went on sale in the fall of 1988. In the British lists, the record took 16th position, and in the American lists - 3rd position, remaining in the rankings for more than a year.
The album earned the band a Grammy Award for Best Rock Performance.
They say that George Harrison dreamed of a full-fledged tour of The Traveling Wilburys. He wanted the concerts to start as solo programs for each of the members. In the second part it was necessary to play together. And no electricity, only acoustics! It would be interesting if Bob Dylan would sing Harrison's songs, and Harrison would sing Dylan's songs, etc. Interesting intentions remained only in the plans.
The album cover featured an image of the five musicians with their eyes hidden behind sunglasses. But connoisseurs of music recognized the individual characteristics of each.
To be continued ...
In December 1988, one of the Wilbury brothers, Roy Orbison, passed away. The further existence of the collective became impossible. But by a collegial decision it was decided to record another album as a quartet (in memory of a departed friend).
The music video for the song End of the Line, which was filmed during Orbison's lifetime. In the chorus, when his velvety voice sounded, a rocking chair with the musician's guitar is demonstrated. And then one of his photographs.
In 1990, the second album The Traveling Wilburys Vol. 3. However, such a hype, which was caused by the release of the debut disc, was no longer observed.
After Harrison's death in 2001, the work was re-released on two CDs and one DVD. The compilation was called The Traveling Wilburys Collection.
The release instantly took 1st position in the English album charts. And in America, he took 9th position on Billboard.
The second album featured: Spike (Harrison), Clayton (Lynn), Muddy (Petty), Boo (Dylan).
During the entire time, Jim Keltner (session drummer) worked with the "brothers". However, he was not accepted into the Wilbury family, but he was in the group's videos. In addition, during the re-recording, Ayrton Wilbury got into the group.
Under this pseudonym was Dhani Harrison, son of George, who helped during the recording of individual tracks.
