Traveling Wilburys - Alternate Timeline (1986-2002)

 The Traveling Wilburys has always been sort of a musical oddity to me. Here come 5 music legends clearly past their prime, right in the middle of the late-80's 1960's revival period no less, and they revitalize all of their careers at once by teaming up and churning out 2 very decent albums. Nelson, Otis, Lefty, Charlie T. and Lucky; whichever one is your personal favorite, it's objectively clear that this sometimes overlooked time in all of their careers has a peculiar place in music history.

And yet, all they ever made was 2 studio albums (as well as a handful of other songs here and there). This was due mainly for 2 reasons. Similar to another famous supergroup Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, this group was never meant to last longer than a few collaborations, and throughout the entirety of the time, the focus was still mainly on their solo careers. But the death of Roy Orbison killed any remaining momentum they had. They released Volume 3, and then they split, never to Wilbury Twist again. But what if they hadn't done that? Sure Orbison's death marked the death of the group as well, but what if they just found someone else? How long could the Traveling Wilburys realistically last with a semi-revolving line-up? I've decided to make my own line of albums that could hypothetically answer that question using solo material that each band member had written and recorded before, during and after the band's existence. Here are my results:

Traveling Wilburys (1987)

Side A (18:15)

1. Jammin' Me - 4:09 [1]

2. That's What It Takes - 3:59 [2]

3. Calling America - 3:26 [3]

4. This Is Love - 3:48 [2]

5. Got My Mind Made Up - 2:53 [4]

Side B (16:06)

1. Think About Me - 3:45 [1]

2. I Don't Wanna Do It - 2:07 [5]

3. Band of the Hand - 4:34 [6]

4. Endless Lies - 2:55 [3]

5. Zig Zag - 2:45 [2]

[1] Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers - Let Me Up (I've Had Enough)

[2] George Harrison - Cloud Nine [2004 Reissue]

[3] Electric Light Orchestra - Balance of Power

[4] Bob Dylan - Knocked Out Loaded

[5] Various artists - Porky's Revenge!

[6] Various artists - Band of the Hand

Ok so already we're kinda cheating. This is not a continuation of the Wilbury discography but a new starting point altogether. Somehow and someway, the four Wilburys (minus Orbison who will be joining us on album #2) form the band slightly earlier, and we get this looser and shorter album. But it's not short on good material. Songs like "Jammin' Me" and "This Is Love" are genuinely great starting points for a band like this. If you couldn't tell, I'm prioritizing songs that other Wilburys had a part in writing and/or playing on, and this is the result of that. No other Wilbury played on any Lynne song during this period, but "Endless Lies" displays an intentional Roy Orbison impression, foreshadowing what's to come.

End of the Line (1988)

Side A (17:01)

1. Handle with Care - 3:19 [1]

2. Dirty World - 3:30 [1]

3. Rattled - 3:00 [1]

4. Last Night - 3:48 [1]

5. Not Alone Any More - 3:24 [1]

Side B (19:22)

1. Congratulations - 3:30 [1]

2. Heading for the Light - 3:37 [1]

3. Margarita - 3:15 [1]

4. Tweeter and the Monkey Man - 5:30 [1]

5. End of the Line - 3:30 [1]

[1] Traveling Wilburys - Traveling Wilburys Vol. 1

Yep, this is just Traveling Wilburys Vol. 1 with a new title and cover. No reason to change an already great album like this (plus because of the harmonies throughout the album, nothing from their solo careers would really fit here). This is Roy's first album with the band, and obviously he's a natural fit here, despite his age difference with everyone else.

Volume 4 (1989)

Side A (18:19)

1. You Got It - 3:30 [1]

2. I Won't Back Down - 2:56 [2]

3. Cheer Down - 4:08 [3]

4. Lift Me Up - 3:36 [4]

5. Under the Red Sky - 4:09 [5]

Side B (20:27)

1. Every Little Thing - 3:41 [4]

2. A Love So Beautiful - 3:33 [1]

3. Maxine - 2:49 [6]

4. Like a Ship - 3:31 [6]

5. California Blue - 3:57 [1]

6. Zombie Zoo - 2:56 [2]

[1] Roy Orbison - Mystery Girl

[2] Tom Petty - Full Moon Fever

[3] Various artists - Lethal Weapon 2

[4] Jeff Lynne - Armchair Theatre

[5] Bob Dylan - Under the Red Sky

[6] Traveling Wilburys - Traveling Wilburys Vol. 1 [2007 Reissue]

Just as their second album IOTL was called Vol. 3, their third album ITTL is Volume 4. Some other blogs such as Strawberry Peppers and Albums That Never Were have tried to make a possible "Vol. 2" album, so to speak, and have gotten almost the exact same results that I have. And there's a reason for that; all the material here is fantastic. Everyone (except maybe for Bob) was at the top of their game, and this makes for one hell of an album. Unfortunately, even at this point, Roy had already died, and this album acts as a tribute to him. As I said previously, instead of breaking up, they will simply find someone to fill the void he left. But we still have a few albums left until that happens. "Maxine" and "Like a Ship" can both be found as bonus tracks on the 2007 reissue of the Wilburys' first album, making them the only two real Wilbury songs here.

Highchair Theatre (1990)

Side A (19:52)

1. Inside Out - 3:35 [1]

2. Heartbreak Radio - 2:57 [2]

3. The Devil's Been Busy - 3:18 [1]

4. Don't Say Goodbye - 3:09 [3]

5. Cool Dry Place - 3:37 [1]

6. Poor House - 3:16 [1]

Side B (19:30)

1. Where Were You Last Night? - 3:03 [1]

2. Yer So Bad - 3:05 [4]

3. New Blue Moon - 3:20 [1]

4. You Took My Breath Away - 3:18 [1]

5. I Drove All Night - 3:46 [2]

6. Wilbury Twist - 2:58 [1]

[1] Traveling Wilburys - Traveling Wilburys Vol. 3

[2] Roy Orbison - King of Hearts

[3] Jeff Lynne - Armchair Theatre

[4] Tom Petty - Full Moon Fever

This is mostly just OTL's Vol. 3, but unlike with Vol. 1 I decided to make a few minor changes, mostly giving Jeff and Tom a few more songs as well as giving the deceased Roy two songs that were produced by Jeff. "I Drove All Night" was actually written for Roy Orbison IOTL, but he died before he could release it, so Cyndi Lauper made a hit of it herself. Here, it fits in well with all of the actual Wilbury material. The Vol. 3 songs that weren't used here will be used on the next album released the following year.

Runaway Train (1991)

Side A (22:21)

1. She's My Baby - 3:15 [1]

2. Poor Little Girl - 4:33 [2]

3. The Dark of the Sun - 3:23 [3]

4. That Kind of Woman - 4:32 [4]

5. Hot Love - 3:25 [5]

6. If You Belonged to Me - 3:13 [1]

Side B (22:36)

1. Runaway - 3:36 [1]

2. Walk Away - 3:37 [5]

3. Cockamamie Business - 5:15 [2]

4. 7 Deadly Sins - 3:17 [1]

5. Work It Out - 3:22 [6]

6. Blown Away - 3:29 [7]

[1] Traveling Wilburys - Traveling Wilburys Vol. 3 [2007 Reissue]

[2] George Harrison - Best of Dark Horse 1976-1989

[3] Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers - Into the Great Wide Open

[4] Gary Moore - Still Got the Blues [Reissue]

[5] Del Shannon - Rock On! [Expanded Version]

[6] Jim Horn - Work It Out

[7] Jeff Lynne - Armchair Theatre

I said before that Roy would be replaced, but I bet no one could've predicted him being replaced by three people. "She's My Baby" and "That Kind of Woman" feature Ken Wilbury (Gary Moore) on guitar, and "Work It Out" is the product of Chopper Wilbury (Jim Horn). But Roy's main replacement was none other than Ginger Wilbury, also known as Del Shannon. Shannon was speculated to be Roy's replacement IOTL, and it just so happens that he had just released an album that year that features Jeff, George and Tom! Unfortunately, Del killed himself just a few months before this album would release, so not only does this album also double as a tribute to him (with the Wilburys' own cover of "Runaway" included) but it also means they'll need to find yet another replacement. Don't worry, this time the replacement will be permanent.

Portrait of a Wheel Barrow (1993)

Side A (20:16)

1. Any Road - 3:52 [1]

2. Learning to Fly - 4:02 [2]

3. Wild Times - 3:12 [3]

4. King of the Hill - 5:27 [4]

5. Into the Great Wide Open - 3:43 [2]

Side B (19:04)

1. September Song - 2:57 [5]

2. Shenandoah - 4:47 [6]

3. Stormy Weather - 3:42 [5]

4. Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea - 2:34 [1]

5. Blood in My Eyes - 5:04 [7]

[1] George Harrison - Brainwashed

[2] Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers - Into the Great Wide Open

[3] Various artists - Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves

[4] Roger McGuinn - Back from Rio

[5] Jeff Lynne - Armchair Theatre

[6] Roger McGuinn - Limited Edition

[7] Bob Dylan - World Gone Wrong

So, in theory, who could make a good Wilbury? The most important factor is that they have to be middle-aged rock musicians who are, frankly, past their prime. A sad amount of musicians fit this description. But they also have to be close with 2 or more Wilburys before they join the band; we can't be having unknowns join this supergroup! I looked at speculative lists from the early 90's and just other artists who fit that description; artists like Eric Clapton, Ringo Starr, John Fogerty and Robbie Robertson were all considered. But Roger McGuinn (Boo Wilbury), formerly of the Byrds, won out for me. A bit of a dark horse pick I know, but McGuinn took full advantage of the late-80's 60's revival period, and was pretty close with George and Tom. So he will be our fifth until the end of the timeline.

 But his first album with them is a doozy. Running short on good Wilbury material as well as trying to fit a new guy into the band results in Portrait of a Wheel Barrow, frankly my favorite of these album titles. Side A isn't bad, but Side B focuses on covers; even Bob's only lead vocal here is a cover. This would undeniably be considered their worst album by far, but every band needs at least one dip right? Nobody's perfect. Afterwards, the band would break up to focus on their own careers before returning with another record in 1997.

Time Out of Mind (1997)

Disc One (40:59)

1. Love Sick - 5:12 [1]

2. Stuck Inside a Cloud - 4:04 [2]

3. Melting in the Sun - 3:10 [3]

4. Not Dark Yet - 5:29 [1]

5. Climb That Hill - 3:34 [4]

6. Pisces Fish - 4:50 [2]

7. All the Wrong Reasons - 3:46 [5]

8. Southbound 95 - 3:52 [6]

9. Never Get Over You - 3:26 [2]

10. Moment in Paradise - 3:36 [3]

Disc Two (36:27)

1. Leave Virginia Alone - 4:16 [4]

2. Run So Far - 4:05 [2]

3. Dirt Road Blues - 4:17 [1]

4. Hung Up and Overdue - 6:03 [4]

5. Rocking Chair in Hawaii - 3:08 [2]

6. Castanet Dance - 3:30 [6]

7. Standing in the Doorway - 7:06 [1]

8. Lonesome Lullaby - 4:02 [3]

[1] Bob Dylan - The Bootleg Series Vol. 17: Fragments – Time Out of Mind Sessions (1996–1997)

[2] George Harrison - Brainwashed

[3] Electric Light Orchestra - Zoom

[4] Tom Petty - Wildflowers & All the Rest

[5] Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers - Into the Great Wide Open

[6] Roger McGuinn - Limited Edition

Bet you weren't expecting anything like this huh? This album is different from the rest in a few different ways. Firstly, it's a double album and therefore the longest Wilbury album. Secondly, musically and lyrically it's totally different. Where before their sound was tight and overall comedic, this album, released after a four-year hiatus, is a bit on the sadder side with much more introspective lyrics. Bob and Tom were both putting out some of the most introspective songs of their lives around this time, so I thought it wouldn't be too out of the question to say that the Wilburys could pull off a completely serious album. Picking more serious George songs wasn't too hard, but I had to reach when it came to Jeff and Roger. Rawer folk-inspired rock and all the MTV Unplugged stuff was all the rage around that time, so I can actually see this one doing pretty good commercially. Critics would consider it "a triumphant return". All of the songs from Tom's Wildflowers used here are bonus tracks so the original album can still exist in all its glory.

"Brainwashed" (2002)

Disc One (45:34)

1. Mississippi - 5:21 [1]

2. The Rising Sun - 5:27 [2]

3. May the Road Rise to Meet You - 3:58 [3]

4. A Long Time Gone - 3:15 [4]

5. Lost Children - 4:28 [5]

6. Looking for My Life - 3:49 [2]

7. All She Wanted - 3:14 [4]

8. Honest with Me - 5:50 [1]

9. Have Love, Will Travel - 4:05 [5]

10. "Brainwashed" - 6:07 [2]

[1] Bob Dylan - "Love and Theft"

[2] George Harrison - Brainwashed

[3] Roger McGuinn - Limited Edition

[4] Electric Light Orchestra - Zoom

[5] Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers - The Last DJ

And now we're at our final Wilburys album. Pretty sudden right? Well that's how everyone would feel ITTL as the band releases one final album before splitting for good. Of course the reason for that is George's unfortunate and untimely death. While Roy could've realistically been replaced, George is a much different story. All of the other Wilburys have said that George was the band. He started it and was the de facto leader. No George means no Wilburys. Putting aside the tribute that is this album, musically, this is basically Time Out of Mind 2. Not that anyone would've had an issue with that of course. This album would surely get a boost in attention due to George's death, but disregarding that, this is another fantastic collection of songs, and listeners would agree. It was not meant to be a goodbye, but it still subtlely felt that way.

The other four Wilburys would continue their solo careers much the same way they would IOTL. Tom would die in 2017, leaving Jeff, Bob and Roger as the three remaining Wilburys to this day. In our timeline and this one, there's never been another group like the Traveling Wilburys. Just 5 talented stars getting together to make some music together by leaving their egos at the door. This has been a pretty fascinating look into not only how the band could've stayed together longer but also how the Wilbury sensation stayed with them even after the fact; with multiple collaborations happening between them even decades after, it really is like they never left us.