1990s
The Petty Archives
  • 1990-11-08_The-Cavalier-Daily

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Put 'Volume 3' on your shopping list
By Shay Quillen
The Cavalier Daly - November 8, 1990

We are lucky to have the Traveling Wilburys around.

With their second album, incongruously titled Volume 3, the Wilburys have once again assembled a fine collection of amusing ditties with refreshingly off-hand lyrics.

The Wilburys have chosen to remain a quartet for this album, and have created new Wilbury identities for themselves -- "Spike" (George Harrison), "Muddy" (Tom Petty), "Clayton" (Jeff Lynne) and "Boo" (Bob Dylan).

Volume 3 opens with "She's My Baby," the rockingest song yet by the Wilburys and the first single from the album. Each of the Wilburys sings, but Dylan makes the biggest impression with his verse: "She can build a boat/She can make it float/She can play my guitar note for note/She loves to stick her tongue right down my throat/She's my baby."

  • 1990-11-08_The-Chanticleer

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Rockline
By Craig Morrison
The Chanticleer - November 8, 1990

The Traveling Wilburys' new album is out, but don't look for them to tour. Wilbury member Tom Petty has reunited with his backup band The Heartbreakers in the studio with fellow Wilbury-mate Jeff Lynne producing.

Music Choice
Galway Advertiser - November 8, 1990

Traveling Wilburys 3: Well, they're back! And though it's inevitable that Volume 3 lacks the sheer element of delightful surprise that belonged to Volume 1 (Volume 2 is so hard to get, men have died trying!), and Lefty Wilbury (to whom this new set of tracks is dedicated) has gone to that big recording studio in the sky, I think this latest offering from the remaining Wilbury brothers is every bit as good -- and in some cases better -- than its predecessor. If we drop the aliases for a moment, at time this sounds like a new Bob Dylan record! Lyricwise, Dylan's presence is very strong, especially on tracks like "Where Were You Last Night," and "If You Belonged to Me" (this is classic Dylan and recalls the great days of "Blood on the Tracks" and "The Basement Tape"). "7 Deadly Sins" is doo-wop number that sounds like those '50s songs made famous by the late Del Shannon and the still-with-us Dion -- it's both parody and homage. Tom Petty contributes a couple of typically off-the-wall tracks -- "Poor House" and the very funny "Cool Dry Place," and the foursome really have a ball of "The Wilbury Twist" -- hope they make a video of this one! Harrison and Lynne chime in beautifully throughout (when are we going to get another album from George?). My favourite song, though, is "The Devil's Been Busy" -- splendid lyrics, brilliant playing, and driving rhythm from those two maestro session-men, Jim Keltner and Ray Cooper. Don't listen to all those smoothies who'll be telling you -- "Naw, it's not as good as the first one." It is. Verdict: 9/10 (only because Lefty's voice is sorely missed).

Traveling Wilburys present "Vol. 3"
By Edna Gundersen
The Concordian - November 9, 1990

The Traveling Wilburys, four graying rock heroes who founded a slap-happy garage band, defy all logic. Their second album bears the head-scratching title "Vol. 3."

Rather than splash their considerably familiar names across billboards and Billboard, they lay low under mysterious aliases.

Two years ago, when "Vol. 1" was embraced by fans and critics, they called themselves Lucky, Otis, Charlie T. Jr., Nelson and Lefty. Now George Harrison is Spike, Bob Dylan is Boo, Tom Petty is Muddy and Jeff Lynne is Clayton. The late Roy Orbison, to whom "Vol. 3" is dedicated, was Lefty.

"People already think they've got us in a bag, so we decided to change our names," Harrison explains. Then he changes his story, suggesting that the first batch of Wilburys "are probably trying to do 'Vol. 2.' but we may have to go help them. There's nine of us now."

Wilburys put together hard-rocking second LP
By Marty Racine
Houston Chronicle - Sunday, November 11, 1990

Vol. 3 | Traveling Wilburys | Warner Bros. | ★★★½
Jokingly titled "Vol. 3," the Traveling Wilburys' second album dodges the sophomore jinx by taking a different flight path than the debut. It rocks harder, tackles more serious topics and hits a purposeful band-oriented groove.

Now we've got "Muddy," "Boo," "Clayton" and "Spike" Wilbury, a k a Bob Dylan, Tom Petty, George Harrison and Jeff Lynne, who've consolidated after the death of Roy Orbison, the fifth "Wilbury." The four have discussed a tour if individual schedules can accommodate it, but as of this writing none has been announced.

Wilburys release witty mix of folk, pop
By Bill Goldstein
American University Eagle - November 12, 1990

Long hailed as the kings of rock 'n' roll, the Traveling Wilburys' newest album "Volume III" is the best of its kind. Then again, with no Volume II, it's a joke which only a supergroup could think of.

Rock superstars George Harrison, Bob Dylan, Jeff Lynne and Tom Petty have taken a concept album and turned it into a piece of folk-art pop that will no doubt be remembered long in the future.

"Volume III" was an accident just waiting to happen. Just as they did for its predecessor, "Volume I" -- although regrettably without the late Roy Orbison -- the four gathered in a small Los Angeles recording studio. With nothing prepare, they began to play the first thing that came to their heads. From the folksy-sounding "You Took My Breath Away" to the chart-hopping "She's My Baby," the Wilburys' acoustic sound make each song unique and an instant hit.

Traveling Wilburys | Vol. 3 | (Wilbury/Warner) | ★★★
By Greg Kot
Chicago Tribune - November 15, 1990

Does anyone really want to hear four aging rockers -- Bob Dylan, Tom Petty, Jeff Lynne and George Harrison -- sing a bunch of buoyant pop tunes with lyrics that sound as though they were scrawled on a napkin and recorded two minutes later? Of course. Where else can one hear Dylan belt out immortal lines such as "Where were you last year/You sure as hell weren't here" or hear Tom Petty singing about mildew ("Cool Dry Place")? Or hear Dylan rewrite "Blue Moon" as "Seven Deadly Sins" or Harrison lift a bit of the Byrds' "Chimes of Freedom" for a "new" song called "Inside Out"? For all its disposability, this record is loaded with charm. Dylan's "If You Belonged to Me" is stronger than anything on his last record, and "You Took My Breath Away" is a first-rate ballad.

Ratings:
Excellent ★★★★ | Good ★★★ | Fair ★★ | Poor ★

Traveling Wilburys' Volume 3 Lacks Substance, Creativity
By Thomas Kennedy
The Colgate News - November 16, 1990

Listening to a Traveling Wilburys album can be likened to watching an all-star game. It's intriguing, but there really isn't that much depth to it. They're "just out there to have fun." One would expect this from a band with Jeff Lynne and George Harrison (George's post-All Things Must Pass era, that is). However, one might also expect that throwing in Bob Dylan and Tom Petty would counter the overly boppish nature of Lynne. Volume 3 (the group elected to skin a Volume 2; perhaps some perplexing attempt at being witty), the Wilburys' recent release, though, is dominated by Lynne's generic "catchy tune" sound that now graces not only the Wilburys' album, but the solo albums of each member as well.

All-star Wilburys regroup
By Kevin C. Heil
The Villanovan - November 16, 1990

Volume 3 | Traveling Wilburys | Warner Bros. Records | ★★★
For those who may have missed Volume 2 by the Traveling Wilburys, there were not any new surprises because there was no album. However, their second release, Volume 3, leaves off right where their debut, Volume One, started.

The Wilburys, Muddy (Tom Petty), Boo (Bob Dylan), Clayton (Jeff Lynne) and Spike (George Harrison) have crafted another simple, straight forward album showcasing the talents of four of the best rhythm guitarists in music.