Here’s the legendary origin story – there’s this bloke George, who in April ’88, released a new album, that his close mate Jeff produced for him. Last minute, his label asked him to come up with B-side for the single release of one of the songs?. That evening, George and Jeff met up for dinner with their buddy Roy and talked about how tomorrow they had to come up with a new song. Roy said, hey that’s interesting, he’d like to come along and watch. But, where do you find a studio at such short notice? George remembered that his other buddy Bob had a studio in his garage. So, they called Bob who said, sure, come along tomorrow and use it. Next day, George realised he’d left his guitar at his other friend Tom’s place, so he went over to retrieve it. When he told Tom what he was planning on doing all day, Tom said he’d like to come along and hang out. So, here we are – George, Jeff, Roy, Bob and Tom in a studio, just hanging out, trying to help George write a new song. There’s a crate lying in the corner with a ‘Handle With Care’ label on it. That’s the spark of inspiration they need – in a couple of hours, the quintet write and record a brand-new song called ‘Handle With Care’. They have an absolute blast doing it, laughing and enjoying each other’s easy company?. Next day George takes the demo to the label execs, who proceed to freak out! This is way too good to be a B-side!! Can he please, pretty please, work with these unknown buddies of his and record a whole album ?? !! George asks his pals and they all say, cool, sounds like fun, let’s do it?. Over ten incredible days they write and record an entire album. Released a few months later in Oct, it literally blows away the entire world, leading to the quintet winning a Grammy few months later. Since you’re asking, the full names of the band members – George Harrison, Jeff Lynn (of ELO!), Roy Orbison, Bob Dylan, Tom Petty (of The Heartbreakers!). In order to not let their individual fame distract from their collective music, when they released the album, they took on pseudonyms, posing as brothers from a mythical Wilbury family. 30 years later, my mind is still blown to smithereens ?!!!

’twas Pudding who introduced me to the Wilburys. Sometime in 1989 we were together on a bus (returning from some off-site, I think). He told me about this brilliant new group who’s cassette he was listening to . I borrowed it, put it into my Walkman, and for three hours, listened spellbound, to the Traveling Wilburys Vol 1, flipping the cassette over and over.

The music is, of course, out of this world. Melodic arrangements with fantastic story telling lyrics, it just grabs your heart, right from the first chords on the album. But it’s the videos of the songs that I really love watching. All five musical giants stand in a circle and sing together, taking turns with a smile on their faces – a band of equals, just enjoying hanging out with their best mates and doing what they all love doing most. Sadly, two months after the album was released, Roy Orbison suddenly passed away. When the rest recorded the video for ‘End Of The Line’, they had Roy’s guitar on a rocking chair with them during the filming ?.

There is not a single bad song on this album. How could there be – every member of this band is individually a member of the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame!! Traveling Wilburys Vol 1 is a must listen – enjoy the sounds of best friends making music together.

Handle With Care

Tweeter And The Monkey Man