the Traveling Wilburys are an important node that many forget:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roy_OrbisonTraveling Wilburys and Mystery Girl
Orbison had begun collaborating with Electric Light Orchestra frontman Jeff Lynne on a new album. Lynne was working on finishing production on George Harrison's Cloud Nine, and all three had lunch one day when Orbison accepted an invitation to sing on Harrison's album. They contacted Bob Dylan who allowed them to use a recording studio in his home. Along the way, Harrison had to stop by Tom Petty's house to pick up his guitar; Petty and his band had backed up Dylan on his last tour.[69] By that evening, the group had written "Handle with Care", which led to the concept of recording an entire album. They called themselves the Traveling Wilburys, and posed themselves as half-brothers from the same father. They gave themselves stage names; Orbison chose his from his musical hero, calling himself "Lefty Wilbury" after Lefty Frizzell.[70] Expanding on the concept of a traveling band of raucous has-beens, Orbison offered a quote about the group's foundation in honor: "Some people say Daddy was a cad and a bounder. I remember him as a Baptist minister."[71]
Lynne later spoke of the recording sessions: "Everybody just sat there going, 'Wow, it's Roy Orbison!'... [E]ven though he's become your pal and you're hanging out and having a laugh and going to dinner, as soon as he gets behind that mike and he's doing his business, suddenly it's shudder time."[72] Orbison was given one solo on the album titled "Not Alone Anymore". His contributions were highly praised by the press. Traveling Wilburys Vol. 1 spent 53 weeks on the U.S. charts, peaking at #3. It hit #1 in Australia and topped out at #16 in the U.K. The LP won a Grammy for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group.[63] Rolling Stone included it in the top 100 albums of the decade.[73]
Orbison was in high demand for concerts and interviews once again, and thrilled about it. He began writing songs and collaborating with many musicians from his past and newer fans to develop a solo album titled Mystery Girl. U2's lead singer Bono had become aware of Orbison when he saw Blue Velvet and wrote "She's a Mystery To Me" with The Edge.[74] Bono, a bit in awe of Orbison, witnessed the recording of the song:
I stood beside him and sang with him. He didn't seem to be singing. So I thought, 'He'll sing it the next take. He's just reading the words.' And then we went in to listen to the take, and there was this voice, which was the loudest whisper I've ever heard. He had been singing it. But he hardly moved his lips. And the voice was louder than the band in its own way. I don't know how he did that. It was like sleight of hand.[75]
The album was produced by Jeff Lynne, whom Orbison considered the best producer he had ever worked with.[76] Orbison attempted to make a conscientious effort to avoid the type of songs that had been attributed to him throughout his career that were simple prostrations of a man before a woman, almost paranoid in nature. Bono, Elvis Costello, Orbison's son Wesley, and others who offered their songs to him added complexity to the lyrics. The biggest hit from the album was "You Got It", written by Lynne and Tom Petty. It topped out at #9 in the U.S. and #3 in the U.K.[4][33]
[edit]Death
Orbison pursued his second chance at stardom relentlessly, but reacted to it in constant optimistic surprise, confessing "It's very nice to be wanted again, but I still can't quite believe it."[77] He lost some weight to fit his new image and the constant demand of touring and the newer demand of making videos. In November 1988 Mystery Girl was completed and Traveling Wilburys Vol. 1 was rising up the charts. Orbison went to Europe where he was presented with an award and played a show in Antwerp where footage for the video for "You Got It" was filmed. He gave multiple interviews a day in a hectic schedule. A few days later a manager at a club in Boston saw that he looked ill, but Orbison played the show to another standing ovation.[78]
Finally, exhausted, he returned to his home in Hendersonville to rest for a few days before flying again to London to film two more videos for the Traveling Wilburys. On December 6, 1988, he spent the day flying model airplanes with his sons. After having dinner with his mother, Orbison died at her home in Tennessee of a massive heart attack.[79] He was 52 years old.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Traveling_Wilburyshttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJWv3Xw5QrY
