Traveling Wilburys Vol. 3 is the second and final studio album by the Traveling Wilburys, a group consisting of George Harrison, Jeff Lynne, Bob Dylan and Tom Petty. It was released on October 29, 1990, as the follow-up to their 1988 debut, Traveling Wilburys Vol. 1. The band members again adopted pseudonyms for their contributions, using new names from the fictitious Wilbury brothers.
Though it was their second release, the album was mischievously titled Vol. 3 by George Harrison to play a joke on fans. According to Jeff Lynne, "That was George's idea. He said, 'Let's confuse the buggers.'"[10]
As the dynamics within the band had shifted with Roy Orbison's death, the four remaining members all adopted new Wilbury pseudonyms: Spike (George Harrison), Clayton (Jeff Lynne), Muddy (Tom Petty) and Boo (Bob Dylan). With Harrison and Lynne producing again, the sessions were undertaken in the spring of 1990. An additional track, a cover of "Nobody's Child", was recorded and released in June 1990 as a charity single in aid of Olivia Harrison's Romanian Angel Appeal. The song was also the title track of a multi-artist fundraising album compiled by the Harrisons, Nobody's Child: Romanian Angel Appeal. Traveling Wilburys Vol. 3 was dedicated to the memory of "Lefty Wilbury" (Roy Orbison).
Released on October 29 in the UK, and on October 30 in the US,[11] the album was less positively received than Vol. 1, yet still saw a fair measure of success. In the United States, "She's My Baby" (with guest guitarist Gary Moore) and "Inside Out" became radio hits, charting at number 2 and number 16, respectively, on Billboard's Album Rock Tracks chart. The album peaked at number 14 in the UK and number 11 in the US, where it was certified platinum by the RIAA.
Comparing the two Wilburys albums, a reviewer in The New York Times wrote in November 1990: "The superstar pop group stays close to 50's and 60's rock roots, drawing on blues, doo-wop, rockabilly and Buddy Holly. But their second album is faster, jokier, lighter and meaner than the first."[8]Rolling Stone described the blending of the four participants' musical styles as "seemingly effortless", and said that the album showed they continued to enjoy their collaboration.[8] In the years following Vol. 3, there was speculation about further Wilbury releases. Since Harrison was viewed as the de facto leader of the group, his death in November 2001 ended the possibility of any future projects.[12]
^Sutcliffe, Phil (July 2007). "Bob's Full House: The Traveling Wilburys The Traveling Wilburys Collection". Mojo. p. 118. It's an engaging sort of pop-rocking ...
^Badman, Keith; Miles, Barry (2001). The Beatles Diary Volume 2: After The Break-Up 1970-2001. London: Music Sales Group. ISBN978-0711983076.
^Van der Kiste, John (2015). Jeff Lynne: The Electric Light Orchestra, Before and After. Stroud, UK: Fonthill Media. pp. 114, 144. ISBN978-1-78155-492-0.
^White, Timothy (July 4, 1999). "Harrison, mates recommission Yellow Submarine". The Plain Dealer. p. 1I.
