See, I already saw that and was being both clever and biting at the same time. Well, that’s what I thought I was being..
Anyways, we’ll agree to differ on J Lynn’s “””achievements”””.
The first album is some sort of classic, the 2nd one is (mostly) terrible. Jeff Tweedy recently pointed out that he is now older than any of them were at the time. In the late 80s, they seemed impossibly old, but apart from one (Orbison), they were in their 30s or 40s!
You Got It (which is on an Orbison album, but part of the same setup) is great. I read in an interview with Jeff that he wanted to remind Roy Orbison that he was the actual Roy Orbison, not the disinterested has-been that had been putting out records before that. Hence it is a thing of pure joy. He did exactly the same thing with George Harrison on Cloud Nine.
I like that he did this.
Plus, has anyone heard Songbird off the most recent ELO album? One hell of a soulful song.
He took his stage name from his early years on the Fairstead Estate, Kings Lynn. His early years on the Fairstead Estate, Kings Lynn also help to explain his hair.
Loved the first one when it came out – it was just a fun fresh breath of air at a time when Dylan and Harrison in particular were in creative doldrums. The charm had worn off by the time of the follow up. Not having Orbison any more didn’t help – he was the soul of the thing and I think that the rest of them arguably took it more seriously and wanted to get it right when he was involved.
But it’s relatively lightweight and hasn’t worn all that well. Still better than Down in the Groove though, Junior, which was Dylan’s album immediately before the first Wilburys album….
I’m with @Junior-Wells on this one. In fact when he says it ‘may’ be his worst record I fear he is being unduly generous to it.
Saved is pretty terrible, I agree, @dai. The production of Empire Burlesque is grim, but at least it has some decent Dylan compositions and one glorious one, Dark Eyes.
I will own that some of his covers albums may rival Down in The Groove for the wooden spoon, but actually I think I’d rather have the Sinatra records given the choice. Let’s call it a tie with that terrible album of rejects from Self Portrait, ‘Dylan’.
I checked the tracklist and it confirmed my view. Furthermore that album delivered us Silvio which was to blight Dylan’s setlist for god knows how many year.
Check out the personnel who played on it. Talk about More is less.
Bob Dylan – guitar, harmonica, keyboards, vocals; production on “Death Is Not the End”
Mike Baird – drums
Peggi Blu – background vocals
Alex Brown – background vocals
Eric Clapton – guitar
Alan Clark – keyboards
Carolyn Dennis – background vocals
Sly Dunbar – drums
Nathan East – bass guitar
Mitchell Froom – keyboards
Full Force – background vocals
Jerry Garcia – vocals
Willie Green, Jr. – background vocals
Beau Hill – keyboards
Randy Jackson – bass guitar
Steve Jones – guitar
Steve Jordan – drums
Danny Kortchmar – guitar
Bobby King – background vocals
Clydie King – background vocals
Larry Klein – bass guitar
Mark Knopfler – guitar, production on “Death Is Not the End”
Brent Mydland – vocals
Madelyn Quebec – keyboards, background vocals
Pamela Quinlan – background vocals
Robbie Shakespeare – bass guitar
Stephen Shelton – drums, keyboards, engineering, mixing
Paul Simonon – bass guitar
Henry Spinetti – drums
Bob Weir – vocals
Kip Winger – bass guitar
Ronnie Wood – bass guitar
Harrison wasn’t in the creative doldrums. He’d recently released ‘Cloud 9’ which was a huge success, as was the accompanying single ‘Got My Mind Set On You’. George was back! I remember being quite excited at all the buzz. The Wilbury’s were born due to his comeback, getting together informally to chip in on a new track for a George single release that eventually became ‘Handle With Care’. Dylan however, was most certainly in the artistic and commercial dumps.
Who let this guy into our pub? Next thing he’ll be saying is that the majority of people on here have had an unhealthy fixation with popular music ever since they realised having sex with someone other than themselves was never really going to be on the cards.
I know the first album quite well – The End of the Line video has them in rocking chairs apart from Roy Orbison, who died shortly after the recording. In Roy’s rocking chair, there’s just his guitar.
A friend/housemate of mine sang “Runaway” at a gig at the Station Pub Kings Heath. The next morning, we awoke to the news that Del had killed himself. Some things stay with you for life.
Just me who likes the second album, then. In my humble, this is their best tune, love the taking turns on the verses, the way Tom sings ‘birdies’ and George sings ‘maybe outer space’ and his slide/sitar solo. Sorry Roy…
I never bought the albums at the time, so first heard them in 2007 when I bought the CD “box” (if two CDs can count as a box set…)
I enjoy them both equally, neither one is a musical masterpiece, but both are entertaining and fun and great for dancing around to while cooking dinner.
Lodestone of Wrongness says
Travelling Wilburys are to be “taken seriously”? Are you serious – there’s Jeff Lynn in there for starters….??
James Taylor says
Jeff Lynn is every reason to take something seriously IMO, his work with Harrison , the Wilburys and Tom Petty stands up strongly, not to mention ELO.
Lodestone of Wrongness says
What do you know? You done nothing since Mud Slide Slim
James Taylor says
Please see the “Your life in one sentence” thread.
Lodestone of Wrongness says
See, I already saw that and was being both clever and biting at the same time. Well, that’s what I thought I was being..
Anyways, we’ll agree to differ on J Lynn’s “””achievements”””.
dai says
The first album is some sort of classic, the 2nd one is (mostly) terrible. Jeff Tweedy recently pointed out that he is now older than any of them were at the time. In the late 80s, they seemed impossibly old, but apart from one (Orbison), they were in their 30s or 40s!
Arch Stanton says
Ages of the Wilburys at the time of the first album…
Dylan…47
Lynn …41
Petty…37
Orbison…52
Harrison…45
Watching top of the pops at the time, they seemed like the oldest bunch of old fellas ever to make a record.
SteveT says
Debut album is very good – no idea why Jeff Lynne wouldn’t be taken seriously but that’s another subject.
Smiles Diles says
You Got It (which is on an Orbison album, but part of the same setup) is great. I read in an interview with Jeff that he wanted to remind Roy Orbison that he was the actual Roy Orbison, not the disinterested has-been that had been putting out records before that. Hence it is a thing of pure joy. He did exactly the same thing with George Harrison on Cloud Nine.
I like that he did this.
Plus, has anyone heard Songbird off the most recent ELO album? One hell of a soulful song.
Smiles Diles says
Interestingly, another Jeff – Jeff Tweedy, mentioned above – has a similar approach to production. Remind them of who they are.
Mrbellows says
I like that ethos but is there anyone left to remind?
Junior Wells says
As most know, I am a Dylan tragic but I don’t own one Wilburys recording. Dunno why.
Lodestone of Wrongness says
You know why!
dai says
Bizarre
count jim moriarty says
Afterword rule of thumb: If Lodey doesn’t like it, it must be good.
Lodestone of Wrongness says
What – Prog, Heavy Metal, folkies with fingers in their ears and the awful Lynn fellow are all good?
dai says
It’s Lynne
Lodestone of Wrongness says
He took his stage name from his early years on the Fairstead Estate, Kings Lynn. His early years on the Fairstead Estate, Kings Lynn also help to explain his hair.
Mrbellows says
That seems a tad churlish. (I love these old words! You guys are chillin’!)
MC Escher says
No, he’s about as right and wrong as all of us, he’s just certain.
Blue Boy says
Loved the first one when it came out – it was just a fun fresh breath of air at a time when Dylan and Harrison in particular were in creative doldrums. The charm had worn off by the time of the follow up. Not having Orbison any more didn’t help – he was the soul of the thing and I think that the rest of them arguably took it more seriously and wanted to get it right when he was involved.
But it’s relatively lightweight and hasn’t worn all that well. Still better than Down in the Groove though, Junior, which was Dylan’s album immediately before the first Wilburys album….
Junior Wells says
Not exactly a high bar @Blue-Boy
Down in the Groove may well be his worst album ever.
dai says
I always had a soft spot for it. would definitely put it ahead of Empire Burlesque, Saved, Self Portrait and probably others.
Blue Boy says
I’m with @Junior-Wells on this one. In fact when he says it ‘may’ be his worst record I fear he is being unduly generous to it.
Saved is pretty terrible, I agree, @dai. The production of Empire Burlesque is grim, but at least it has some decent Dylan compositions and one glorious one, Dark Eyes.
I will own that some of his covers albums may rival Down in The Groove for the wooden spoon, but actually I think I’d rather have the Sinatra records given the choice. Let’s call it a tie with that terrible album of rejects from Self Portrait, ‘Dylan’.
Junior Wells says
I checked the tracklist and it confirmed my view. Furthermore that album delivered us Silvio which was to blight Dylan’s setlist for god knows how many year.
Check out the personnel who played on it. Talk about More is less.
Bob Dylan – guitar, harmonica, keyboards, vocals; production on “Death Is Not the End”
Mike Baird – drums
Peggi Blu – background vocals
Alex Brown – background vocals
Eric Clapton – guitar
Alan Clark – keyboards
Carolyn Dennis – background vocals
Sly Dunbar – drums
Nathan East – bass guitar
Mitchell Froom – keyboards
Full Force – background vocals
Jerry Garcia – vocals
Willie Green, Jr. – background vocals
Beau Hill – keyboards
Randy Jackson – bass guitar
Steve Jones – guitar
Steve Jordan – drums
Danny Kortchmar – guitar
Bobby King – background vocals
Clydie King – background vocals
Larry Klein – bass guitar
Mark Knopfler – guitar, production on “Death Is Not the End”
Brent Mydland – vocals
Madelyn Quebec – keyboards, background vocals
Pamela Quinlan – background vocals
Robbie Shakespeare – bass guitar
Stephen Shelton – drums, keyboards, engineering, mixing
Paul Simonon – bass guitar
Henry Spinetti – drums
Bob Weir – vocals
Kip Winger – bass guitar
Ronnie Wood – bass guitar
RobC says
Harrison wasn’t in the creative doldrums. He’d recently released ‘Cloud 9’ which was a huge success, as was the accompanying single ‘Got My Mind Set On You’. George was back! I remember being quite excited at all the buzz. The Wilbury’s were born due to his comeback, getting together informally to chip in on a new track for a George single release that eventually became ‘Handle With Care’. Dylan however, was most certainly in the artistic and commercial dumps.
Mrbellows says
I couldn’t agree more. But I will.
Smiles Diles says
I’m also not sure why taking pop music seriously is such a good thing. Is it worth it? Occasionally.
Lodestone of Wrongness says
Who let this guy into our pub? Next thing he’ll be saying is that the majority of people on here have had an unhealthy fixation with popular music ever since they realised having sex with someone other than themselves was never really going to be on the cards.
Mrbellows says
mikethep says
Jeff Lynne: file under supremely competent musicians who get to play with their heroes. See also: Jools Holland. Lodes is just jealous.
RobC says
It’s such a darned shame that everything Jeff produces sounds like it was recorded in a sock.
Mrbellows says
He likes a heavy thud of the snare to be sure but everything else is exemplary.
retropath2 says
You mean: everything else (else else) is exempelairy
Mrbellows says
Nope. (Draws cigar, squints eye quizzically at the newcomer.)
Twang says
Loved the first one when it came out. Not heard it for yonks. Second one made no impression if I heard it at all.
Black Celebration says
I know the first album quite well – The End of the Line video has them in rocking chairs apart from Roy Orbison, who died shortly after the recording. In Roy’s rocking chair, there’s just his guitar.
Mrbellows says
It must take a heart of stone😉 to not love this. Maybe I should send her a spliff?
Sniffity says
With only two of them left, why is no-one mentioning the Wilbury Curse?
mikethep says
I seem to remember Del Shannon was lined up to replace Roy, but then he carked it too.
James Taylor says
A friend/housemate of mine sang “Runaway” at a gig at the Station Pub Kings Heath. The next morning, we awoke to the news that Del had killed himself. Some things stay with you for life.
TrypF says
Just me who likes the second album, then. In my humble, this is their best tune, love the taking turns on the verses, the way Tom sings ‘birdies’ and George sings ‘maybe outer space’ and his slide/sitar solo. Sorry Roy…
Locust says
I never bought the albums at the time, so first heard them in 2007 when I bought the CD “box” (if two CDs can count as a box set…)
I enjoy them both equally, neither one is a musical masterpiece, but both are entertaining and fun and great for dancing around to while cooking dinner.
fatima Xberg says
There is no better recommendation.