5 Surprising Facts About Traveling Wilburys' 'Vol. 1'
The Traveling Wilburys weren’t supposed to exist. But when George Harrison needed a B-side in 1988, what began as a one-off jam between friends became one of the most delightful curveballs in rock history. Traveling Wilburys Vol. 1 arrived that October, sounding like it had been playing on your record player for decades—even if you had never heard it before. Let’s dig into five little-known facts about this Grammy-winning, triple-platinum classic that united Bob Dylan, Tom Petty, Roy Orbison, Jeff Lynne, and Harrison under one roof and five pseudonyms.
George Harrison didn’t plan a supergroup—he planned a barbecue. The magic started in Bob Dylan’s garage in Malibu. Harrison had rounded up Jeff Lynne and Roy Orbison to help him record a quick B-side. Needing a studio, he called Dylan. Needing his guitar, he swung by Tom Petty’s house and invited him, too. What was meant to be a throwaway track, “Handle with Care,” was so good that Warner Bros. refused to let it be buried. So they turned one song into ten, and a backyard hangout into rock and roll alchemy.
Source: Eric Alper/thatericalper.com
