Eighties, In The Groove

IN THE GROOVE (June 6, 2023)

Nancy's Notes 🖊️♬

Wikipedia calls them a “rock supergroup”. Well, I guess they were but funny – I never thought of them that way. I mean, they definitely were all that but to me they were just a bunch of guys – friends, actually – who got together for a very short period of time, recorded some terrific songs and made it all look incredibly easy and fun.

I bet you think you know who I’m talking about and I wouldn’t blame you but you’d only be one-fifth correct … not very good odds so don’t put all your money on “THAT” supergroup from Liverpool because you’d lose.

No, the group I’m talking about was the American/British combo of (in alphabetical order) Bob Dylan, George Harrison, Jeff Lynn, Roy Orbison and Tom Petty, otherwise known as The Traveling Wilburys. Getting a group together was something George Harrison wanted to do for a long time; the idea finally started to gel when George and Jeff Lynne were chatting it up one night. Some of the best ideas come from two good friends having a nice sit down.

Now, I’m only partially serious when I ask this but I’ve learned never to discount any possibility. If you haven’t heard of The Traveling Wilburys, is there a chance you’ve been in a coma since 1988? Maybe you hadn’t been born yet. Well, the age defense doesn’t really hold water, now does it? We’d have very little going on it our noggins if that were true. No matter our age, something we can all do is broaden our horizons by embracing the new along with the old.

But I digress.

So, if these five guys formed what’s being called a “rock supergroup”, what happened to it after just three short years? The answer is simple: life. And, of course, death. After Roy Orbison died in December 1988, the Wilburys continued as a quartet and released a second album in 1990 which won the Grammy for “Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group”.

Due to the guys busy solo careers, the group began taking a different direction. The remaining foursome stayed friends and performed on/contributed to each other’s albums until George Harrison’s death in 2001. Today there are only two of the original five still with us – Bob Dylan and Jeff Lynn.

Now that you know about The Traveling Wilburys, allow me to tell you about the song I’ve chosen for today. “End of the Line” was the final track on their October ’88 debut album; a video followed in December ’88 and a second single was issued in January ’89. Set in a moving passenger car pulled by a steam locomotive, the video features all five members of the group as well as a session musician playing the brushes. Since Roy Orbison died after recording his vocals – but before the video was shot– an image of his guitar sitting in a rocking chair and a photo of him are shown when his vocals are heard (a rather nice touch and a first class act by George Harrison).

Here now, possibly for the first time for a couple of you, are The Traveling Wilburys performing their hit song, “End of the Line”. I sincerely hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

How’d you like the song? Not a bad little group, eh?

Thanks for being with me today. I’ve got a train to catch.

See you on the flip side.

I’m The Sicilian Storyteller

NAR © 2023

19 thoughts on “IN THE GROOVE (June 6, 2023)”

  1. Now, I’m going to sound like I’ve been in a coma now. 🤣 I’ve never heard of The Traveling Wilburys , although with a name like that you’d think it would ring a bell somewhere… but nope… not even the sound of two of my pieces of wood being knocked together! 😒
    That said, I’m pleased to announce that I know the song you’ve chosen to play… or part of it. I think I may have heard it on a commercial or movie soundtrack… but please don’t ask me where. I like the Roy Orbison touch… that was nice.

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    1. The song was featured on a couple of British and Australian shows so that’s why it may sound familiar to you, Tom. Hopefully you know the band members or at least recognize their names; each one was/is a star in his own right … and they were all friends who got together to jam, drop a few tracks and make some memories.
      I took a stab that you might be one of TRS followers who wouldn’t know this group (blindly guessing at your approximate age) and I was right. Well, guess what. Now you know them and I hope you find the time to learn who the different guys are and familiarize yourself with a little Wilbury’s music. I think you’ll become a fan.
      I also think you’ll come to agree they were one of the coolest little supergroups around!

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      1. I know the people in the band, but didn’t know they were in their own band. My age varies, Nancy… that is no gauge for anything! 🤣 I’ve been 24 for years, hence knowing Perry Como and One Direction, but none of their songs. P!nk and Björk, the same… and Shoo Fly Pie And Apple Pan Dowdy by Dinah Shore… very eclectic, me. It takes a while for music to ‘grow’ on me, but I shall look into your suggestion! 🙂

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    2. I’m so glad to read that, D! This post is a little more personal than usual; that’s what happens when we feel strongly about our groups and the music they make. As I said in another comment, it would have been a hoot hanging with these guys … watching them making great music, having a blast and keeping it real.
      Thanks for your thoughts, my friend!

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  4. I had no idea there was a second album. I’ve just added it to my playlist. They’re calling The Travelling Wilburys, vol 3 released 1990. That’s it, right?

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    1. That’s the title, yes.
      It’s kinda funny, Misky. They said there was so much pressure for them to produce vol 2, they decided to skip it and just go for vol 3 🤣 (I love these guys!)

      There are 5 CDs altogether, one being the Roy Orbison collection, but unless you’re a serious collector, I think you’d be happy with Vol 1 and 3 (don’t look for 2; you’ll go nuts! 😂

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  7. “Some of the best ideas come from two good friends having a nice sit down.”…damn straight they do!

    This is an excellent share, Nancy… in all accounts; a treasure hidden in plain sight!
    When most groups break up due to seeking solo careers, these guys did the exact opposite!

    I better hop onto my Chieftain Elite, “take Highway 99
    And the walls came down
    All the way to hell
    Never saw them when they’re standing
    Never saw them when they fell”

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    1. Thanks so much, Nick. I just wrote what I believe and feel in my heart. You know me … that’s what I do best.

      If there’s one group I would have loved to have hung out with it’s this one right here. No frills, no bells, no whistles, no egos; just writing and singing great songs as easy as breathing. The amount of talent and love for each other is spilling over. It’s a great little group. I love everything about it!

      George H had a way of bringing joy into peoples’ lives just by being present.

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