Traveling Wilburys history - Volume One

[FPSHOT]

With the news about this band, it may be nice to look at what they actually have been recording, so here it is;

You will know that "Handle With Care" came from a request to have a "C side" for use on the German 12" of "This Is Love". George and Jeff ended up in Bob's studio in Malibu. Jeff brought Roy, with whom he was recording at the time, and Tom was invited by George.

They first played the acoustic guitars, all of them, and then finished together the lyrics where George had already had been working on. The tittle came from a crate in the garage.

Warner thought this track to be too good for a C side, so George and Jeff got the others back again to record some more songs for a full album, for which they moved to Dave Stewart's studio in Los Anglese http://www.beatlelinks.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif , that was May 1988.

After the basic recordings, George and Jeff completed the album at FPSHOT http://www.beatlelinks.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif with the recording of the contribution by Ray Cooper, Jim Keltner and Jim Horn (that's his real name) .

The band's name came from an inside joke between George and Jeff when they described stray audio noize during the Cloud Nine sessions... "Trembling Wilburys".

A promotional film entitled "Whatever Wilbury Wilbury" was made for use at a Warner trade convention and included material shot during the Dave Stewart studio sessions and the editing at FPSHOT.

"Dirty World" is said to be Dylan trying to write a "Prince" kind of lyrics.

"Rattled" is a mainly Jeff composition, clearly memorizing some Big O history and I find this one the best example of the original acoustic sessions. Not much overdubs here and a very rough sound.

"Last Night" is Tom's thing basically and was meant to become the second single.

"Not Alone Anymore" is to many, the best track on the album. A fantastic song by Jeff, for Roy.

"Congratulations" is very much Bob and could have been on one of his own albums. Bob did this one "Live" a few times and the recording is available on download sites.

"Heading For The Light" is a song which would have fitted on Cloud Nine easily, quite some overdubs.

"Margarita" is the only song totally written by the five basic Wilburys.

"Tweeter And The Monkey Man" has some Bruce Sprinsteen references. Another Bob song.

"End Of The Line" is the perfect example of how the sesions originated, think, apart from the overdubs. . George wrote most of the "all Right" parts, like "live and let live" while on holiday on Hawaii.


In another topic I will write about the second album, during which recordings also video recordings were made, called "Camp Wilbury". That may see the highlight maybe later this year.

It is also memorized that George was filming with his private camera a lot during all the sessions and during the making of the videos, mainly following Bob everywhere. That must be fun, I'd love to see that.

Okay, maybe share some thoughts on this, on the existence of the band and on the songs from this album?

[sourmilkpinky]

so can you fill me in on the Bruce references?

[beatlemad]

I'd like to know the Bruce refererances too! http://www.beatlelinks.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

[FPSHOT]

http://www.beatlelinks.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif I could make that a Monthly Contest question http://www.beatlelinks.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Tweet And The Monkey Man has lyrical references to songs such as "Thunder Road" and "Mansion On The Hill"

Well, it has the lines

"She made secret calls to the Monkey Man from a mansion on the hill"

"It was out on thunder road - Tweeter at the wheel"

And ..... "Thunder Road" has a reference to Roy Orbison, so the circle is roundf


Them lyrics are so much Bob... you just gotta lov'im

[sourmilkpinky]

My daughter went through the lyrics for me and marked all the references. There is also the one about 'Lyon's Den; 'I'm sitting in a gambling club called the Lyon's Den.'

She also thinks it is similiar to Bruce's early 70's music style.

I find the lyrics to this song very odd. But it is a great little song.

oh and please don't make that a monthly question I have tried to find a more in depth answer and there is not much that I could find. That would be too tough.

[beatlemad]

Thats great! Thanks for that.You learn something new every day!! http://www.beatlelinks.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

[FPSHOT]

[ QUOTE ]
sourmilkpinky Posted:oh and please don't make that a monthly question I have tried to find a more in depth answer and there is not much that I could find. That would be too tough.

[/ QUOTE ]
The answer is already here anyways http://www.beatlelinks.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Lyon's Den?

[sourmilkpinky]

not to be picky but I said 'a more in depth answer'. I am just real curious to know the reason for the references. http://www.beatlelinks.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif

Bruce has a song called Lion's Den, released in 1999 on his Tracks album. I unfortunately don't have it available right now, but I will check to see which album recording session it was from to see if it was done proir to TATMM.

[ABCKO]

"Not Alone Anymore" is to many, the best track on the album. A fantastic song by Jeff, for Roy."

YOU GOT THAT RIGHT !

[darkhorse]

This is a really incredible album. The ironic lyrics are sort of friendly at the same time... you cannot help but loving them. George is at his best, Dylan is having fun, a couple of numbers by Petty and Lynne... plus Roy's heaven-like vocals. Lots of acoustic guitars, simple chords, authentic music. No more words, really, have fun. http://www.beatlelinks.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

[sourmilkpinky]

'Lion's Den' was recorded by Bruce in 1982.

[Cecilia]

A great album. My faves: "Handle With Care", "Not Alone Anymore" (precious Orbinson vocals), "Heading For The Light" and "End Of The Line" http://www.beatlelinks.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

[sourmilkpinky]

[ QUOTE ]
Cecilia Posted:
A great album. My faves: "Handle With Care", "Not Alone Anymore" (precious Orbinson vocals), "Heading For The Light" and "End Of The Line" http://www.beatlelinks.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

totally agree http://www.beatlelinks.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif I thought some newbies would like to see this http://www.beatlelinks.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif

[beatlemad]

I've said it before but I'll say it again: Wilburys Vol.1 is a true classic http://www.beatlelinks.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif

[sourmilkpinky]

True True and I don't think it can be said enough http://www.beatlelinks.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif

[twovirgins]

ya ive saw this aternative take traveling wilbury cd and ive been very tempted to buy it

[sourmilkpinky]

Dirty Wold is a great song http://www.beatlelinks.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif It is fun and must be played loud.


Rattled is also one that gets my body tapping http://www.beatlelinks.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif

[FPSHOT]

[ QUOTE ]
twovirgins Posted:
ya ive saw this aternative take traveling wilbury cd and ive been very tempted to buy it

[/ QUOTE ]
Coded message? http://www.beatlelinks.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif http://www.beatlelinks.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif there are great alternative takes of the Wilbury songs on bootlegs.

Yeah in my ranking of favorite George related albums, this is the #1 by far.

There isn't a weak song on Volume 1, is there. To choose a favorite is so hard.

[Georgia]

You're right. I simply love it! I could listen to Volume I. again and again... which i sort of do these days http://www.beatlelinks.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif

[Jason Byzewski]

I agree this is a classic album by this great superstar group, the late 80s was really a high point in George's career, a hit comeback album, and the success of the TWs. I love every song on Vol 1 Margarita is a fun number and I love Tweeter And The Monkeyman, great lyrics. I love Dylan on this album singing clever lyrics on Dirty World and T&TMM. http://www.beatlelinks.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif

[Savoy Truffle]

[ QUOTE ]
sourmilkpinky Posted:
Dirty Wold is a great song http://www.beatlelinks.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

Oh yes! http://www.beatlelinks.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif When I first got this CD I looked at the title "Dirty World" and thought It's a 'dirty' world as in tough or mean or along the lines of the expression "It's a dirty job, but somebody's gotta do it" , and then I listened to the song! http://www.beatlelinks.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh5.gif

I can just see them sitting around throwing out lyrics for this one! http://www.beatlelinks.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif

Volume 1 is great. A little gem of an album with a magic that's hard to duplicate.

[Savoy Truffle]

[ QUOTE ]
FPSHOT Posted:
"Dirty World" is said to be Dylan trying to write a "Prince" kind of lyrics.

[/ QUOTE ]

Ah, so that was his excuse! http://www.beatlelinks.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif http://www.beatlelinks.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif

[FPSHOT]

http://www.beatlelinks.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif

Here is a little part of Tom Petty interview about the origin of the band

“Handle With Care” it was mostly George’s. He had the frame of the song. And we recorded that just across the road [from here] at Bob Dylan’s house, in his garage. And we all
wrote the song there. We wrote the lyric together. Mostly George and Bob and myself.
Jeff sat down with George – I remember them sitting down in the grass, and working out that middle-eight section. There’s an augmented chord in there. A “naughty chord” as
we call it. They worked that out. Bob and I came up with that other bridge: “Everybody needs somebody/to lean
on…” That was Bob and me. And then the lyrics are just kind of a communal thing.
George took the title off a box, a packing box, which said “Handle With Care,” which is the actual title, and he took that off the box because he just needed a title.
It was a good day’s work. Cause the song was all finished and recorded that night. Almost. Pretty much everything. I think we did an overdub or two the next day, but for the most part, it was finished.

Q- That middle section: “I’m so tired of being lonely” is so perfect for Roy’s voice. Did George and Jeff write it for Roy?

Tom - Yeah. They wrote it specifically for Roy. Because it just turned out that everybody was there that day. I think George always had that idea in his head of the Traveling Wilburys. Actually, we had all been hanging out for some time by then. We had all been hanging out socially. I think maybe we had already done part of Full Moon Fever by that point. Probably recorded part of it. Roy had just come on the scene, because Jeff was going to do a track with Roy.
The first day I met Roy, Jeff and I and Roy wrote that song “You Got It.” “Anything you want, you got it…” We had written that song.
So everybody knew each other. We had been hanging out. And George decided -- cause he was just trying to do an extra track for single -– so he thought, if we’re all here, let’s design something for each of us to sing on. And when he got the record on, he felt it wasn’t really a George Harrison record, it’s more of a group. So what do you say we have a group? So that’s how that ball got rolling. It was a great band. It was really fun being in that band.

[Savoy Truffle]

That was a very informative interview. And VERY, VERY long! http://www.beatlelinks.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif

I never knew that the R&RHOF committee told the inductees what songs to play. Handle With Care was a good choice. Even though the others had 'lent a hand' http://www.beatlelinks.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif it was very much a George song and related very much to his fame experience.

[FPSHOT]

I like info to be long, long, long http://www.beatlelinks.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif

Don't you have the desire to play This Boy when you hear Seven Deadly Sins?

[Savoy Truffle]

Ah yes, long, long, long is very good here. http://www.beatlelinks.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

[ QUOTE ]
Don't you have the desire to play This Boy when you hear Seven Deadly Sins?

[/ QUOTE ]

Uh....No. At least not until you mentioned it! http://www.beatlelinks.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif I can see a connection now though. I don't know why it escaped me before!

[beatlemad]

Just bumping this up again as the Wilburys should never be out of sight.
Does anyone have any news on the CD release of this album?
I was listening to it again this morning as I woke up with two days off work to look forward to.It's such a feel good sound.The start to Dirty World has got me hooked right now, very jaunty, very unbob if you like.
My favourite album of all time without a doubt....Long Live The Wilbury's!!

[AnyRoad69]

You mean the CD out bring still times again. As CD give it already before 16 and 14 years

[beatlemad]

I know it's been out on CD before but the last time I lokked it had been deleted.
So OK.....When will this BE RE-RELEASED on CD? Better?

[FPSHOT]

I haven't seen any reports on this apart from saying a while ago that also the Wilbury catalogue will be part of re-releases..