There are numerous highlights, beginning with the the album's first single "Handle With Care," which features vocals by Harrison and Orbison with some nice slide guitar work from Harrison as well. Dylan's tongue-in-cheek lyrics to "Dirty Work" give new meaning to 'auto'-eroticism. [Sample lyric: You don't need no wax job / You're smooth enough for me / If you need your oil changed / I'll do it for you free.] "Rattled" is a delightful rockabilly number. "Last Night" has a funky Jamaican rhythm to it. "Not Alone Any More" features Orbison's soaring tenor reminiscent of his Monument-era classics. "Heading for the Light" with Harrison handling lead vocal also makes good use of saxophone. "End of the Line" closes the album with a terrific uptempo rocker and sadly serves as a fitting tribute to Orbison who died of a heart attack not long after the album was completed. [The survivng Wilburys did a wonderful video to this track paying tribute to their musical comrade.]

Additional support is provided by honorary Wilburys Jim Keltner (drums), Jim Horn (saxophones), and Ray Cooper (percussion). From start to finish, this album is a pure joy. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED


An unforgettable music experience   February 22, 2004
 117 out of 117 found this review helpful

This album is brilliant! This was definitely one of the most exciting music projects to come out of the '80s. There had been "super-groups" before, like the Yardbirds or Blind Faith, but it was unprecedented to have FIVE well-established rock 'n roll greats (Roy Orbison, Bob Dylan, George Harrison, Jeff Lynne and Tom Petty) form their own band and bring out two records, and it was a trans-Atlantic collaboration. The story goes that ex-ELO maestro Jeff was helping produce new albums by George and the others, when they decided, "Hey, why not try to bring out a whole album together?!"
Part of the beauty of Traveling Wilburys Vol. 1 is that it is so under-stated. It's not like the five guys were saying, "Look at us, we're a super-group!" No, they got pure enjoyment from their collaboration, appearing almost mysteriously as five "Wilbury" brothers. You first had to figure out who those guys in sunglasses were on the album cover.
That notwithstanding, this album was also invaluable for the appreciation it gave the legendary Roy Orbison for a new generation. It made me interested in his songs from way back, even before the movie Pretty Woman gave him new exposure. Sadly, Orbison died soon after Traveling Wilburys Vol. 1 was released. The band commemorated his passing in their music video for the single, "End of the Line." When Orbison sings, a guitar is shown in an otherwise empty rocking chair.
But the first song I heard from this album was the catchy story-song, "Tweeter and the Monkey Man." It was Bob Dylan, but it was more. What a great song! It got a lot of airplay in South Africa, where I grew up. The first single, "Handle With Care," is also excellent, with Harrison leading the vocals and the other guys chiming in.
Bob does a great job on "Dirty World," which has some really funny tongue-in-cheek lyrics, e.g., "I love her big refrigerator." "Rattled" is fine rockabilly sung by Jeff Lynne and with Roy adding his trademark growls. "Last Night" with its reggae beat is probably my favorite track, a humorous story of misguided love as sung by Petty and with a fine bridge by Orbison. Roy himself shines on the track written for him, "Not Alone Anymore." "Margarita" on side two is also an excellent song with the guys trading lead vocals.
Jeff Lynne's production, as well as familiar vocals by the parts of the whole, gave continuity to the Wilburys' solo albums: George's Cloud Nine, Petty's Full Moon Fever, Orbison's Mystery Girl and Lynne's own Armchair Theatre. I think of these albums as collectively being the missing Vol. 2.
We await the re-issue of Vol. 1 and Vol. 3 on CD. Warner Brothers, are you listening?


The Traveling Wilburys (Robertdunbar)   September 10, 2002
 39 out of 41 found this review helpful

Since this particular Cd arrived, I have not yet taken it out of the player. The content is pure gold, real infectious music. If you haven't yet purchased a Wilburys Cd, this is the one to get. Both Volume one and three, plus a rare Europe only released Single "Nobody's Child". Released for the Romanian Angels Appeal. The only reason I gave it a four star rating was due to the low volume level on Volume One, but this in no way detracts from the actual content of the songs themselves.
Every track has that unique blend of rythmn, vocals, and gritty Rock ,n Roll, that can only be delivered by Messrs Harrison, Orbison, Petty, Dylan and Lynne together.
"Tweeter and the Monkey Man" is pure genius in verse. Dylan's vocals, as he tells the story of two dropouts on the run from the "undercover cop" is just superb. Other tracks I've picked out are "Not Alone Anymore" and "She's My Baby" with Gary Moore guesting on guitar.
Every track is a joy to listen to. It sounds so crisp and fresh, it could have been recorded yesterday.
If your collection doesn't include the "Wilburys", there's a big gap in it, and this is the perfect Cd to fill it!!!


The best of the best?   February 13, 2002
 37 out of 38 found this review helpful

Criminally deleted at the present moment, due to legal
wrangles between the various surviving stars and Warner
Brothers Inc - this truly is a classic recording.
From the first take "Handle With Care", through to the
countryfied "End Of The Line" - there are many gems from
each member - Dylan and Harrison being particularly prolific.
"Handle With Care" was destined to be a 12" bonus track
on George Harrison's 1987 single "This Is Love" (the title
comes from an orange sticker on a box in Dylan's garage -
where the song was written) - but Warners considered it "too
good". The album spawned from there. Check out Roy Orbison's
haunting "Not Alone Any More", too. Music to melt the
hardest of hearts. The lyrical majesty of "Tweeter and the
Monkey Man" is one of Dylan's best of the 1980s.

You can't go wrong guys.


One for the records   June 21, 2002
 34 out of 38 found this review helpful

When a lineup like Roy Orbison, George Harrison, Bob Dylan, Tom Petty, and Jeff Lynne get together, one would expect something amazing, and on Vol. 1, it is so much more than that. To me, this album is better than any of these guys solo work by far. This one is constantly in my cd player, and to me is the best rock and roll album of all time. My personal favorite song is End of the Line, but the other songs on here are not even close to being worse. If you find this anywhere, pick it up because its been out of print and is getting harder to find.