DevillEars
Dedicated ignorer of fashion
Spun my original vinyl copy of their first album again last night after a break of a few months.
The recording is in pretty good nick for a 20 year-old pressing and listening to the various tracks as they unfolded, I was again struck by the sheer exuberance of the cast and production.
So much so that I dug out a 2007 Rhino collection which included a DVD with a video clip of how they got together and produced the first album. Playing that DVD, it became apparent that they obviously had had a great time laying down the tracks in a constrained time-window (Dylan was due to hurtle off on a tour).
The great counterpoint component in the group's structure has to have been the combination of Orbison & Dylan - two opposites that combined well...
Add to that mix George, Tom & Jeff and then pour in a little Jim Keltner and...
The catalyst and bonding agent role was definitely filled by Harrison but to pick out individuals is really to miss the point - the Wilburys first album was one of those rare examples of everything just clicking into place - talents and personalities - to produce a great moment that was - thankfully - captured for posterity.
Sadly, Orbison passed on shortly after the release of album one and that magic died with him - the follow-on second album (Volume 3?) was nowhere near the first.
The music happens to appeal to me - as do the individual performers - but I think the overall impression of a bunch of top-notch musicians just having so much fun and getting so much enjoyment out of their collaboration, is what really appeals the most - and it is plainly evident when you listen to that first album!
The recording is in pretty good nick for a 20 year-old pressing and listening to the various tracks as they unfolded, I was again struck by the sheer exuberance of the cast and production.
So much so that I dug out a 2007 Rhino collection which included a DVD with a video clip of how they got together and produced the first album. Playing that DVD, it became apparent that they obviously had had a great time laying down the tracks in a constrained time-window (Dylan was due to hurtle off on a tour).
The great counterpoint component in the group's structure has to have been the combination of Orbison & Dylan - two opposites that combined well...
Add to that mix George, Tom & Jeff and then pour in a little Jim Keltner and...
The catalyst and bonding agent role was definitely filled by Harrison but to pick out individuals is really to miss the point - the Wilburys first album was one of those rare examples of everything just clicking into place - talents and personalities - to produce a great moment that was - thankfully - captured for posterity.
Sadly, Orbison passed on shortly after the release of album one and that magic died with him - the follow-on second album (Volume 3?) was nowhere near the first.
The music happens to appeal to me - as do the individual performers - but I think the overall impression of a bunch of top-notch musicians just having so much fun and getting so much enjoyment out of their collaboration, is what really appeals the most - and it is plainly evident when you listen to that first album!
