Once Upon a Time... The Traveling Wilburys

Their collaboration lasted only from 1988 to 1990 but, thanks to the star-studded cast, it made a real impact. It is difficult to rival the "supergroup" of the Traveling Wilburys: Bob Dylan, George Harrison, Tom Petty, Jeff Lynne and Roy Orbison! How can you possibly top that? And yet, absolutely no marketing campaign went into the making of this short-lived quintet.... In 1988, Harrison asked Dylan if he could use his studio in Los Angeles to record the song 'Handle With Care'. The old Fab Four member got involved with Roy Orbison and Jeff Lynne from ELO, with whom he lunched with that day. In the vicinity, Tom Petty joined in on the performance, and The Traveling Wilburys were born! Produced by Lynne and Harrison and released in October 1988, Traveling Wilburys Vol. 1 is a marvel that perfectly juggles nostalgia and modernity. A marvel because 5 star songs were made (all were involved, but it is Dylan who provides the majority here). The combination of two voices as distinct as those of Dylan (often reproached for his vocals) and of Orbison (a real Rolls Royce of a voice!) is a brilliant idea. Merging the best bits of each member, rock'n'roll is at the heart of this record and it’s a true daydream... Just two years after releasing their first album, the Wilburys did it again in the spring of 1990. A consequence of a light-hearted joke (Vol. 3 and not Vol. 2, as logic would have it) was marked by the loss of one of its founding members, Roy Orbison, who died in December 1988. In spite of this, Bob Dylan, George Harrison, Tom Petty and Jeff Lynne were still involved. An event that made this second album a little less successful, even if it remains a fantastic classic rock record. The four legends addressed this second opus in a more powerful way, with guitars taking control of the proceedings from the outset. As before, everyone took part in the writing, Dylan again working at a quicker pace... The remaster in High-Resolution of these two marvel, as well as the collection with an uncut version full of unreleased material, is a real gift from heaven.

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