Wilbury Twist

Wilburys Strike Gold

2008-05-28T11:10:00.007-04:00

Rhino Records announced that The Traveling Wilburys Collection has been certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).

The announcement follows an amazing worldwide chart run for the recently-reissued collection, which appeared on several international album charts while going on to sell nearly two million copies and prompting a reissue of the limited edition release in late 2007.

Sally Bacchetta - Freelance Writer
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Traveling Wilburys
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Traveling Wilburys Chart Positions

2007-06-21T12:18:00.001-04:00

The Traveling Wilburys Collection is a runaway hit with music fans this summer.

Following its number one positions on the UK album chart, IRMA album chart, Australian album chart, Amazon's pre-order and sales list, and Apple's iTunes, the collection debuted at number nine and number one on the Billboard album and digital album charts, respectively.

This is an amazing accomplishment considering that the Deluxe edition was out of stock on nearly every major online distributor's website (e.g. Amazon, Best Buy, etc.) just one day after its release, and had very limited retail distribution (read no Starbucks displays). What's even more amazing is that this is a three-disc collection.

Although, you must admit, selling music at Starbucks is an excellent idea that has worked well for Ray Charles, Bob Dylan, Paul McCartney, and the Police, among others. How else can you get music in front of over 40 million customers every week?

Sally Bacchetta - Freelance Writer
Music
Traveling Wilburys
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Traveling Wilburys Collection Tops The Charts!

2007-06-17T16:55:00.000-04:00

It took 19 years but the once-stationary people have finally arrived. The Traveling Wilburys found their way to the number one position on the UK Album Charts with the release of The Traveling Wilburys Collection.

It's no surprise, given the excitement surrounding the reissue of one of the finest albums in the rock era. The highly-anticipated collection has held the number one position on Amazon's pre-order and sales list, as well as Apple's iTunes.

Sally Bacchetta - Freelance Writer
Music
Traveling Wilburys
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If You Belonged to Me

2007-06-15T08:53:00.000-04:00

(I'd) be happy as I could be if you belonged to me. - Bob Dylan

These words are being spoken by Wilburys fans everywhere who are having a hard time finding the just-released Traveling Wilburys Collection (Deluxe Edition).

Since the set was first offered on Amazon.com, it rocketed to the number one position on its pre-order and sales list, followed by a number one ranking on Apple's iTunes.

It seems that Rhino underestimated demand (at least for the Deluxe Edition) and has had to short pre-orders to distributors. If you're one of the lucky 50,000 to have already received the set, congratulations for breaking my heart. I'm still looking for mine.

Sally Bacchetta - Freelance Writer
Music
Traveling Wilburys
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The Traveling Wilburys Collection (promos)

2007-05-31T09:36:00.000-04:00

Nearly twenty years after the creation of the band, and over a decade since the music was last available to fans, the music of The Traveling Wilburys will be reissued on June 12, 2007, in the U.S. and June 11, 2007, worldwide. The previously released albums Traveling Wilburys Volume 1 and Traveling Wilburys Volume 3 feature inarguably some of music's greatest singer- songwriters -- George Harrison, Jeff Lynne, Roy Orbison, Tom Petty and Bob Dylan -- as the iconic band The Traveling Wilburys. Both CDs will be combined into one release, The Traveling Wilburys Collection, and will feature bonus tracks of rare and newly mixed previously unreleased music along with a bonus DVD featuring a 24-minute documentary showing unseen footage of the Wilburys and their five video clips.

E-Card:
http://www.rhino.com/flashcards/travelingwilburys/

Listening Party:
http://www.rhino.com/fun/listeningparties/167804_PartyPlayer.lasso

Traveling Wilburys Official Myspace Page:
http://www.myspace.com/travelingwilburys

Preferred Retail Link:
Standard Set: http://www.rhino.com/store/ProductDetail.lasso?Number=167804
Deluxe Set: http://www.rhino.com/store/ProductDetail.lasso?Number=167868

Flash Video
Parachute
Plane

Sally Bacchetta - Freelance Writer
Music
Traveling Wilburys
Freelance Writer

Heading For The Light

2007-05-29T19:47:00.000-04:00

The new Traveling Wilburys Collection promises to make a splash when it's released on June 12.

The multi-platinum Traveling Wilburys Volume 1 and Traveling Wilburys Volume 3 will be available together in one package with bonus tracks and a DVD of rare video footage, as a deluxe linen-bound edition, a vinyl set, and a digital bundle. The DVD boasts a 24-minute documentary and five music videos.

With media coverage from interviews and reviews in major trade publications, this much-anticipated release is likely to be one of the big hits of the summer. It has already reached the Amazon.com top 10 sales rank in it's pre-release.

Watch the YouTube video clip of never-before seen footage from the upcoming DVD documentary.

Sally Bacchetta - Freelance Writer
Music
Traveling Wilburys
Freelance Writer

ELO Finishes Second In New Rolling Stone Poll

2007-04-11T13:46:00.000-04:00

ELO finished second to Rush in Rolling Stone's official list of the Rock’s Undisputed Guilty Pleasure Bands. According to the article posted on rollingstone.com website, "Like the rest of the acts on our list (which you helped put together), we love them (Rush) to death, and can never forgive ourselves".

I guess it's better not to have won?

The article is just one reason why this music fan doesn't read the magazine anymore. It's bad enough that they had to copy Q magazine by publishing a guilty pleasures list. Their derision cloaked in reluctant praise falls short of being funny. What's laughable is that Rolling Stone thinks it's still relevant.

Sally Bacchetta - Freelance Writer
Music
Traveling Wilburys
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Alpacas Orgling

2007-04-03T15:16:00.001-04:00

I've been reading a lot about L.E.O., a Wilbury-esque creative outlet for musicians from bands including Jellyfish, Candy Butchers, and the Black Crowes, among others. What is unique is their spot on tribute to 70's power pop (read ELO, The Move, Sweet, Cheap Trick).

Not Lame Records provides an excellent overview of the band and their new album, Alpacas Orgling. Be sure to listen to it as I'm sure the songs will soon grow on you.

Sally Bacchetta - Freelance Writer
Music
Traveling Wilburys
Freelance Writer

Traveling Wilburys To Be Released On Rhino

2007-03-21T19:06:00.000-04:00

The Traveling Wilburys will finally return to the marketplace in a variety of formats released by Wilbury Records/Rhino on June 12.

Traveling Wilburys Volume 1 and Traveling Wilburys Volume 3 will be available together in one package with bonus tracks and a DVD of rare video footage, as a deluxe linen-bound edition, a vinyl set, and a digital bundle. The DVD boasts a 24-minute documentary and five music videos. more

Sally Bacchetta - Freelance Writer
Music
Traveling Wilburys
Freelance Writer

Bad Hair. Great Orchestral Pop.

2007-03-02T14:52:00.000-05:00

At least that is what Q magazine is saying about the Electric Light Orchestra at the time of the release of Out of the Blue in 1977.

Out of the Blue was the follow-up to the hugely successful A New World Record, and is generally regarded as Jeff Lynne's greatest achievement. At the time of its release the double album had preorders of four million copies, and eventually went on to sell eight million records worldwide (16 million records total). A remarkable achievement in 1977.

What was even more remarkable was the music.

Read the rave review of the new remastered version of Out of the Blue in the March 2007 issue.

Sally Bacchetta - Freelance Writer
Music
Traveling Wilburys
Freelance Writer

Camp Wilbury

2007-02-25T09:54:00.001-05:00

Fans can get a rare look at the Wilbury recording process by viewing this video, posted recently on YouTube.com. You'll hear clips from songs such as "Like a Ship" and "Seven Deadly Sins". You'll also appreciate the necessity of Jeff Lynne's backing vocals on the commercially released version of the latter. His (and George Harrison's) role as producer cannot be underestimated.

Sally Bacchetta - Freelance Writer
Music
Traveling Wilburys
Freelance Writer

A Wilbury Twist?

2007-02-13T21:10:00.000-05:00

It appears that the long-awaited Traveling Wilburys remasters are just around the corner.

Roger Friedman at FoxNews.com reports "The Traveling Wilburys are back. The famed supergroup’s CDs have been out of print. But I’m told that Rhino Records has won the contract, and the Wilburys’ catalogue should reappear on or around June 1...Barbara Orbison and Olivia Harrison, widows respectively of Roy and George, are responsible for getting the project off the ground."

Having done an incredible job with Roy Orbsion - For The Lonely: 18 Greatest Hits in 1988, and the Concert For George DVD in 2002, Rhino is the perfect choice. In fact, it was that particular Rhino anthology that started it all for me.

Sally Bacchetta - Freelance Writer
Music
Traveling Wilburys
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Tom Petty Nominated For Two Grammy Awards

2007-02-11T15:48:00.000-05:00

Tom Petty is up for two awards in the 49th annual Grammy Awards, to be broadcast live at 8:00 PM tonight from the Los Angeles Convention Center.

His latest album, the critically-acclaimed Highway Companion has been nominated for Best Rock Album, and the single "Saving Grace," received a nomination for Best Rock Solo Vocal Performance. Both were produced with fellow Wilbury Jeff Lynne.

Sally Bacchetta - Freelance Writer
Music
Traveling Wilburys
Freelance Writer

ELO Back In The Charts?

2007-02-06T21:21:00.001-05:00

Could this be the year that ELO re-enters the singles charts? It could happen, now that "Latitude 88 North" has been released as a download single on iTunes.

The previously unreleased song from the Out of the Blue sessions, has struck a chord with listeners in the UK, having been playlisted on every radio station, including BBC Radio 2 and Capital Radio.

Listen to the sample available on the FTM website, or better yet, download the single on iTunes.

Sally Bacchetta - Freelance Writer
Music
Traveling Wilburys
Freelance Writer

Latitude 88 North

2006-12-20T08:42:00.000-05:00

"Latitude 88 North", a previously unreleased song from the Out of the Blue sessions, will be released as a new Electric Light Orchestra single in January 2007.

According to the Face the Music website, promo CDs and orange colored vinyl 7" singles are being sent to radio stations in the UK. From the sample available on the FTM website, it sounds like a fantastic song.

Sally Bacchetta - Freelance Writer
Music
Traveling Wilburys
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No Direction Home

2006-12-17T12:54:00.000-05:00

No Direction Home: Bob Dylan, brilliantly directed by Martin Scorcese, chronicles Bob Dylan's evolution from folk singer to rock star during the years 1961 to 1966.

Throughout the three and a half hour documentary, Dylan displays unusual candor and humor when discussing his musical journey. It is a side rarely seen during interviews, but often revealed through his lyrics.

Do we learn more about the man navigating his way through the musical and cultural landscape of the 1960's?

Yes and no.

The story is told so well that is transports the viewer to that era, allowing you to re-live the moment in time, and more fully appreciate Dylan's impact on our culture in context. He galvanized an entire generation and quite possibly set our future onto another course.

Yet, the viewer also gets the sense that he was a cork on the ocean every bit as much as a fish who swam upstream.

For all his candor, Dylan reveals more about a man who knows where he wants to be (and not to be), but not necessarily how to get there.

Which makes for the perfect title.

Dennis Bacchetta - guest blogger

Sally Bacchetta - Freelance Writer
Music
Traveling Wilburys
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Wilburys Catalog To Be Remastered

2006-11-10T15:28:00.000-05:00

After a series of delays, work on the long-awaited Traveling Wilburys catalog may finally resume.

During an interview with The Rock Radio last month, Olivia Harrison revealed that plans are finally underway to remaster the albums for release in the near future: "It's really nice to get this one done. He'd remastered this already in 2001 himself, but he didn't get a chance to finish it. I think next year the Wilburys is so overdue -- way overdue. And there's a lot of great material on that as well, so I'm just trying to get to it."

Special video footage from the albums' sessions is also expected to be released on DVD in conjunction with the Wilburys reissues.

Sally Bacchetta - Freelance Writer
Music
Traveling Wilburys
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Jeff Lynne Presented With The Q Icon Award From Q Magazine

2006-10-31T16:30:00.000-05:00

Jeff Lynne was presented with The Q Icon Award from Q magazine during a ceremony October 30 at London's Grosvenor House Hotel. The cream of the world's music stars including: U2, The Who, The Kooks, Paul Weller, Oasis, Corinne Bailey Rae, Sugababes, Manic Street Preachers, Peter Gabriel, Embrace, Primal Scream, Take That, Smokey Robinson, Muse, Keane, Jay Kay, Razorlight, and Jeff Lynne attended the non-televised ceremony.

The recognition comes just a few months after Electric Light Orchestra's "Livin' Thing" was named Britain's top guilty pleasure track by Q magazine.

Sally Bacchetta - Freelance Writer
Music
Traveling Wilburys
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Jeff Lynne Joins Tom Petty On Stage

2006-10-20T15:56:00.000-04:00

Jeff Lynne joined Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers on stage for their rendition of "Handle With Care" during a concert at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles on September 26.

Watch the video on www.YouTube.com.

Sally Bacchetta - Freelance Writer
Music
Traveling Wilburys
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Mr. Blue Sky Number 18 on All-TIme List

2006-10-06T11:35:00.000-04:00

Sold on Song, a BBC Radio 2 site dedicated to classic songs, covers, songwriting and more, recently took a poll to determine the top 100 classic songs of all-time.

“Mr. Blue Sky”, a worldwide hit from ELO's Out of the Blue and background music to numerous movie soundtracks and television ads since, came in at number 18.

Featuring an infectious beat and lavish orchestration, “Mr. Blue Sky” is the eternal song of hope and joy which closes out the “Concerto for a Rainy Day” suite on side three of the album.

“It was dark and misty for two weeks,” songwriter Jeff Lynne later recalled, “and I didn’t come up with a thing. Suddenly the sun shone and it was ‘Wow, look at those beautiful Alps.’ I wrote ‘Mr Blue Sky’ and 13 other songs in the next two weeks.”

To learn more about “Mr Blue Sky”, or better yet to listen to it, visit the song page.

Sally Bacchetta - Freelance Writer
Music
Traveling Wilburys
Freelance Writer

A New World Record Revisited

2006-09-14T21:40:00.000-04:00

"Soon millions will hold A New World Record", proclaims the Face the Music website. This clever wordplay is reminiscent of the print and television ad campaign that coincided with the release of what many believe is Jeff Lynne's greatest work.

A New World Record was released in 1976, amid the coming global superstorm of disco and punk music. It provided an interesting juxtaposition to the sounds that would soon be taking over the airwaves.

Yet somehow it not only survived, it thrived.

The album contained nine tracks, each one of them a gem. From the maudlin "Telephone Line" to the ethereal "Mission", Lynne creates a near-perfect pop masterpiece; an aural soundscape that heightens your appreciation of the music. Listeners are treated to superb songwriting, catchy melodies, and equally brilliant production.

A New World Record went on the sell over five million records worldwide and spawned three hit singles. It also paved the way for record-setting tours, even bigger-selling albums, and, unfortunately, cries of commercialism for being too successful.

With ELO receiving numerous accolades in the music industry press, and credit for influencing modern bands like Jellyfish and Supergrass, one gets the sense that a reevaluation of ELO is in order.

But to fully appreciate Jeff Lynne's genius all you have to do is listen to the music.

Sally Bacchetta - Freelance Writer
Music
Traveling Wilburys
Freelance Writer

ELO Remaster Series Continues

2006-08-30T11:08:00.000-04:00

With the release of the second phase of the ELO remaster series on September 12, 2006 you can listen to remastered and expanded versions of three classic albums, including On the Third Day, Face the Music, and A New World Record.

All releases feature alternate tracks, expanded booklets and newly-published artwork. The latter features an unreleased song titled "Surrender", which is soon to be available as the band's first download single from iTunes.

Sally Bacchetta - Freelance Writer
Music
Traveling Wilburys
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Ringo Gets a Little Help From Jeff Lynne and Jim Keltner

2006-07-10T08:35:00.000-04:00

Jeff Lynne and Jim Keltner, among others, joined Ringo Starr and His All-Starr Band onstage during a performance of "With A Little Help From My Friends" at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas on July 1. There were rumors that Paul McCartney would join them, having arrived in Las Vegas to see the premiere of the "Love" Cirque du Soleil show, featuring the music of the Beatles.

Watch a short clip on www.youtube.com.

Sally Bacchetta - Freelance Writer
Music
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Last Dance For Tom Petty?

2006-07-08T10:51:00.000-04:00

In support of his upcoming solo album Highway Companion, Tom Petty sat down with Rolling Stone magazine in what may be his last interview for a long time. He also hinted that this summer's tour with the Heartbreakers may be his last.

Sally Bacchetta - Freelance Writer
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Highway Companion Release Date Set

2006-06-13T23:19:00.000-04:00

Warner Brothers/American recordings have confirmed July 25 as the official release date of Highway Companion.

On June 14, "Saving Grace", the first radio track from Highway Companion will be streamed on www.TomPetty.com.

Sally Bacchetta - Freelance Writer
Music
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