Traveling Wilburys - Traveling Wilburys (2CD/1DVD, Deluxe Edition)
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Free Music Notes for Traveling Wilburys (2CD/1DVD, Deluxe Edition)
Free Music Review: George, Bob, Tom, Roy and Jeff... 5 stars for sure!
Hit: 5 Stars
I guess that based on some of the comments, I am one of the lucky ones. I pre-ordered this set in early May and it shipped a couple of days before the actual release date. It arrived a couple of days after the day of issue, but based on my Amazon price of $24.99 for the deluxe set, the same price as the standard edition in most of the "super-stores" in my area, that couple of days of waiting were not too bad.
I rate this set as five stars based on the price I paid. If I paid the near 40 Dollars for the limited edition set as it is priced locally, I might not feel the "extras" are worth 15 extra Dollars. The standard set of two CDs and the DVD are worth $24.99, and indeed, the deluxe set has the standard set inserted into a larger box. So for that extra 15 Dollars you get a small book with photos and narrative about the group, a couple of postcards with generic vintage photos (not of the group) announcing the "Wilburys are coming", and a couple of photos of the actual group playing. There is also a number of issue supposedly from 1 to 50,000, mine being 26, XXX for a set that was sent out before the release date.
The actual reason that I wanted this set, already being in possession of the original vols. 1 and 3 CDs was that DVD, and I was not disappointed. The documentary of the group's initial formation as well as the production of vol. 1 was great to watch. The production value is 1980s home video, but that was when this documentary was shot, so it is true to that era. There is no Dolby 5.1, but the basic stereo works for the low-tech group of rock and rollers. As I watched it, I wished I could have been a fly on the wall during that very short period of terrific synergistic creativity. The lack of ego from these rock-gods and the fun of this endeavor came through. I was so sad watching Roy Orbison laughing and cutting up knowing how short his time on earth was, but I think he had a great exit, going out on top. Seeing the speed at which these people came up with so many songs, the way they finalized them, and the trust in the final product was great. When you think of how many "lesser" albums required much more in time, effort and technology, it reminds you of how great this group really was.
The DVD transitions from the documentary into 5 music videos, again each only basic 2.0 stereo, but fine for this music. Two songs are from vol. 1, and three from vol. 3. I always liked vol. 1 more than 3, but watching the videos for "She's my baby" and "Inside out", gave me a new appreciation, as I watched the trading of lead vocals and the harmonizing in a (dare I say) "Beatle-esk" way. Seeing that empty rocking chair during Orbison's vocal in "End of the Line" was a heart-breaker, but I was glad the group paid respect to him after passing. Overall, this is a fine DVD from an era that never needed anything better than quality good enough for VHS.
The two CDs are as good as they can be technically and both have additional tracks tacked on. This is the all-in-one Wilburys product for those that were never able to get the original recordings all those years ago. The addition of the DVD makes this a no-brainer.
I know some are harping about what is not on this set, but I am rating it for what it is, not what it isn't. 5 stars are warranted for these two discs of great music, and video of a terrific group in action.
Free Music Review: Traveling to Greatness
Hit: 5 Stars
With all the junk the music industry continues to churn out, one wonders how the classic albums of the Traveling Wilburys could have been allowed to go out of print for almost a decade. Thanks to the remastering geniuses at Rhino Records, the Traveling Wilburys are finally back in the catalog, sounding better than ever.
Rhino' s engineers are fanatics when it comes to finding the original master tapes and remixing them in a way that is both state-of-the-art in terms of sound quality, yet at the same time faithful to the original production values. In the case of the Traveling Wilburys, the supergroup formed almost as a lark by Bob Dylan, Tom Petty, the late George Harrison, Jeff Lynne, and of course the late Roy Orbison, that sound was a stripped-down, down to earth rebellion against the overproduced, over commercialized studio productions being lavished upon mediocre talents by the major studios in the late 1980s, while at the same time legitimate singer-songwriter-performer talents were barely allowed into the recording studio. The first album was so breathtakingly stupendous that it was followed by a second, which if not quite the triumph of the first, was also better than 99% of the junk that the major studios were pumping out at the time. Both the first and second albums, along with some pretty decent outtakes, a fascinating DVD featuring footage from the recording sessions, and a lengthy booklet featuring studio notes and the various reminiscences, are included in the 2 CD, 1 DVD Rhino package. (The booklet in Rhino's deluxe edition is hardbound and offers a bit more information and more pictures than the booklet included with the standard edition; if you're a Wilburys fanatic, the deluxe edition is probably worth the slight up charge over the standard edition.)
What sets the first album apart first and foremost is the marvelously pure tenor of rock legend Roy Orbison, who fortunately lived long enough to see his career revived and celebrated by his appearance on this album before succumbing to cardiovascular disease before recording sessions could start on the second album. What is not as often appreciated about the first album is how it also marked a return to form for Bob Dylan, who was emerging from his commercially unpopular Christian rock phase. Viewed strictly from the Dylan perspective, this was arguably his best effort since the legendary Blood on the Tracks, even though his unmistakable authorship was imprinted on only two of the tracks, Tweeter and the Monkey Man and Congratulations. On these tracks, Dylan's unique and edgy lyrical vernacular combined with his often underrated vocal ability to make for a remarkable musical experience. The second album is of almost the same overall high quality as the first, but somehow it just lacks the peaks provided by Dylan and Orbison on the first. Still,it was eminently worthy of the talents of the group.
From today's perspective, the Traveling Wilburys were a reminder that music, particularly rock music, which had moved through all sorts of dark phases in the 70s and mid-80s, was above all supposed to be about having fun, both for the audience and for the performers. The members of the Traveling Wilburys sure were having fun recording this album, which when I really think about it, is what makes listening to this album after too long an absence, such a pure, unadulterated joy.
Free Music Review: Super Group and a "Very Good" re-packaged set.
Hit: 5 Stars
Was semi-surprised last night to find in the U.S. mail this box set that was sent to me by my brother- he and I were talking about the Wilburys several months ago and I mentioned that I was disappointed that the Wilbury videos were not available any where. Sure enough, thanks to Olivia Harrison, this set includes the videos and "The True History of the Traveling Wilburys" which makes the collection worth having. The re-mixed audio is great but other than these two enhancements the set does not offer much of anything else that is ground breaking. In fact, the two audio CD's contain additional bonus tracks that (at best) are fillers and except for these, the CD's are the same as the original releases except for the improved dynamics of the re-mix.
The two bonus tracks on the second CD (volume 3) are the songs "Nobody's Child" and the Del Shannon song, "Runaway". Del Shannon was said to have been considered to be a replacement for Roy Orbison for the Volume 3 release which he did not participate in, so perhaps this was a tribute to Del- he too past away- shortly after the release of the second CD. The "Nobody's Child" track was written by Cy Coben and Mel Foree and is from the "Romanian Angel Appeal" CD- a pet project of Olivia Harrison's. Both the audio CD's are 42+ minutes long, so I decided to copy the material to a single CD and by dropping "Nobody's Child" and "Runaway" tracks, the remainder of the songs fit on an 80 minute disc. I select "Handle with Care" as the track to start my compilation and "End of the Line" as the last track and arranged all the songs in-between in alphabetical order by title. This sequence really changes the listening experience- first of all you hear back-to-back songs by Dylan, then the same for Petty and Harrison and it adds a whole different perspective to the Wilburys. The one thing I noticed was of the total 23 Wilbury tracks, Roy Orbison and Jeff Lynn both only had one lead vocal song each, and second, that the Dylan songs are as unique as any of his solo material- but all songs have the signature Wilbury sound and the flow of the material in this sequence is the next best thing to hearing a new album release from the group. I always felt that the second release was inferior to the first- especially with Roy Orbison being missing in the backup vocals, but in this sequence it is hard to tell which songs are from which release and all the material sounds great. I can't wait to jump in the car and take a road trip listening to this mix- Thanks to Olivia for making this material available, and hopefully, she will continue to revisit George's work and offer up more of the same- how about the Japan concerts on DVD video?
Free Music Review: "Handle With Care" this is the ultimate prize!
Hit: 5 Stars
As the author of the Jefferson Airplane book "Take Me To A Circus Tent" and a former radio disc-jockey, I am often asked to write and or discuss various music supplies and recordings from the 60's and 70's.
You've heard the terms "Supergroup", "Rock "Legends", and "Heavyweights." The Traveling Wilburys exemplified the terms but what made the project so extraordinary were some other expressions "Respect", "Fun", and "Egos in check."
The opening track "Handle With Care" may be the best song written in the past twenty years. The sound of the guitars, the Harrison vocal segments, and the blending of the words and music make this a song for the ages. It is an example of a tune so powerful and addicting that if the rest of the CD were blank justice wouldn't be served if we didn't purchase a copy. The consistency of the tracks the guys penned is a credit to their collective genius. "Heading For The Light" is another instant classic. The vocals are delivered with such sincerity you feel that you are in the recording studio. "Tweeter And The Monkey Man" is Dylan magic. At any moment Dylan could deliver a masterful performance. The song is as eventful as the wonderful words found on "Desire" and Blood On The Tracks." When the follow-up CD came out many unjustly only wanted to compare it to the debut. The new release will be a great excuse to rediscover some brilliant compositions. "The Devil's Been Busy", "Where Were You Last Night?", and "Cool Dry Place" are reason alone that the follow-up should have been placed on a higher pedestal.
The bonus tracks are more than a generous holiday gift. "Nobody's Child" which originally appeared as a charity song for the Romanian earthquake victims is a song that any artist should be honored to have on one of their releases. If you have enjoyed previously the myriad of versions of the song "Runaway", here is another one that will mesmerize you! I don't even have to mention the DVD bonus with the videos.
It's hard to imagine a world without George and Roy. It is very easy to imagine how special their families are!
Enjoy the music and be well,
Craig Fenton
Author of the Jefferson Airplane book "Take Me To A Circus Tent"
Free Music Review: Dylan Harrison Petty Orbison, Lynne: Front and center! Great boxset!
Hit: 5 Stars
In 1988, five titans of rock, whom had always wanted to play together informally, assembled for two studio records. The five: Bob Dylan, George Harrison, Roy Orbison, Jeff Lynne (of Electric Light Orchestra and the Move) and Tom Petty. Many of them had worked in tandems before, but never all five together in some blender version of genius stew. The result was a finely toned mixture of folk and rock Americana even though Harrison and Lynne are Brits. Sadly, Orbison died a couple of weeks after the release of the first album. He didn't get to contribute to the second album, "Volume 3" (don't ask me why they named their 2nd album: Vol. 3. Makes no sense to me!)
Tom Petty for years performed `Handle With Care, one of two highly charted singles from the first album. The first release is generally acknowledged as the most memorable of the two. "Tweeter and the Monkey Man" was an FM favorite of alternative radio for years.
In June of 2007, both hard to find and out of print cds/albums were repackaged and put out as 2-cd and 1 DVD boxset. There are four total bonus cuts of previously unreleased Traveling Wilburys tracks. There are two versions of the boxset: The basic version and the second `Deluxe/Limited Numbered Version. Usually numbered versions of boxsets appreciate in value, especially if they are indeed limited. Both boxset versions have 2 CD's and 1 DVD. The Limited boxset also includes a larger thicker box, bigger insert booklet with many more photos of the rockers, postcards and a fabric covered box.
The DVD contains two main elements: a 28 minute rockumentary of the band formation; and five different Wilburys videos. Just like the audio performances, there is a reality-check starkness to the video and audio quality of the DVD. I found it enthralling. Where else can you see five superstars of this magnitude, acting humble and just enjoying the moment.
Fans have long awaited a remastered of these long out of print (OOP) cds, and they were treated with a double choice of prime beef rock and roll. Highly recommended and an outstanding gift to the rock collector who already has every known album or cd known to man.!