(Track from album, “Traveling Wilburys Vol. 1”)
Exactly why the success of this incredible English-American supergroup was never realised, is a mystery to me. A phenomenally talented artist collective, an unmatched sound, and a mere 2 albums was the Traveling Wilbury's astonishingly short career, over in under 3 years. And though the Wilburys, consisting of ex-Beatle, George Harrison, Bob Dylan, Jeff Lynne, Tom Petty and Roy Orbison, are remembered most vividly for their few singles, "End Of the Line", "Handle With Care" and the cover, "Nobody's Child", all commercial failures, their album tracks are, perhaps, far superior songs.
Choosing the song for this review was difficult. It was, in the end, a toss-up between "Tweeter And The Monkey Man", Dylan's greatest offering out of all the band's recordings, "Last Night", a blatantly rebranded Heartbreakers song, and maybe Tom Petty's most humorous lyrics, and this song, sung beautifully by Roy Orbison, a reassuring croon of love and admiration, "Not Alone Any More". It could just as easily also have been "Maxine" or "Margarita", two more fantastic tracks, but the way the bass line crunched in my ears and hearing Orbison's sweet voice, buttering the listener up to musical bliss, was just unparalleled.
Opening much like an Electric Light Orchestra song (courtesy, no doubt, of Jeff Lynne), complete with electric whine and jumpy bass-line, the track bears the signature attributes of a Tom Petty record as well as those of the aforementioned Lynne. Harrison and Dylan have taken more of a backseat here, but their input is recognisable in the backing guitars and especially poetic parts of the lyric (respectively).
The lyrics are sweet and real and emotion pours out of every musical crevice. The production here is epic and everything is loud and clean sounding, down to the normally infamous cymbal crashes, perfectly mixed so as to avoid distortion. The bass weaves around like a curious insect, and the guitars are mixed superbly over the top to create a real sense of layer and technique to the playing, all very accomplished and fine-tuned. Even Lynne's backing synth is a perfect element, included for atmosphere, and giving twice its value as an instrument, achieving not only its intended job, but also giving the blissful feeling real tone.
This track is great, and, actually, I only discovered it this morning. If you can, get hold of a copy of the album, the 2007 CD remaster being the one with the best sound. Despite their initial commercial failings, you might find that this great supergroup are of interest, especially with so much talent being thrown around at once. It's a brilliant chance to witness several levels of skill being shown at once and, with two of the members now passed away, the album represents a real window in time, a moment passed, and an opportunity well spent by the 5 members of the Traveling Wilburys.
★★★★★
Versions of "Not Alone Any More"
Album Version - 3:24