Handle With Care

The Zoo Crew is spinning the classic "Handle With Care" by the Traveling Wilburys from their debut album Traveling Wilburys Vol. 1, and Zoo Freaks, you're in for a treat with this one! This song was a happy accident, originally meant as a B-side for George Harrison's single "This Is Love" from his 1987 album Cloud Nine. Harrison, hanging out with Jeff Lynne, Bob Dylan, Tom Petty, and Roy Orbison, decided to record it in Dylan’s garage studio in Malibu. The story goes that Harrison spotted a box labeled "Handle With Care" in the studio, sparking the song’s title. When they played the track for Warner Bros., the label execs were floored, insisting it was too good to be relegated to a B-side. This led to the formation of the Traveling Wilburys and the creation of their first album in just ten days at Dave Stewart’s Los Angeles home studio. Jeff Lynne once shared in a 1989 Rolling Stone interview, “We’d arrive about twelve or one o’clock and have some coffee... Somebody would say, ‘What about this?’ and start on a riff. Then we’d all join in, and it’d turn into something.” The laid-back, collaborative vibe, fueled by late-night stories from Orbison about Sun Records and Elvis, gave the song its fresh, effortless charm.

Another cool tidbit comes from Tom Petty, who recalled in a 2010 Mojo magazine interview how Dylan’s songwriting prowess shone through. Petty marveled at Dylan’s ability to pinpoint the perfect word to elevate a line, making "Handle With Care" a masterclass in craft. The song’s bridge, with lines like “Put your body next to mine, and dream on,” was Dylan’s contribution, echoing his late-’60s country vibe. Social media posts from the official Traveling Wilburys X account have highlighted this origin story, noting how the song’s creation was a “happy accident” that Warner Bros. exec Mo Ostin championed. Fans on Reddit’s ClassicRock community have shared their love for the song’s organic feel, with one user pointing out how Petty kept its legacy alive by performing it live throughout his career. Sadly, Roy Orbison passed away just two months after the album’s release, making this one of his final recordings and a poignant swan song.

The Traveling Wilburys, often dubbed the ultimate supergroup, came together in 1988 through a mix of friendship and serendipity. George Harrison, already a global icon from The Beatles, was working on Cloud Nine with Jeff Lynne, the mastermind behind Electric Light Orchestra. Lynne was also producing Roy Orbison’s comeback album Mystery Girl, where Tom Petty contributed backing vocals. Harrison, Lynne, and Orbison were socializing when the idea for "Handle With Care" emerged. Harrison then roped in Bob Dylan, who was at a creative low point, and Petty, who tagged along after Harrison stopped by his house to grab a guitar. The five adopted playful pseudonyms—Harrison as Nelson Wilbury, Dylan as Lucky, Orbison as Lefty, Petty as Charlie T. Jr., and Lynne as Otis—pretending to be half-brothers from a fictional Wilbury family. This tongue-in-cheek approach, inspired by their shared love for Monty Python, set the tone for their fun, ego-free collaboration. Their debut album, released in October 1988, went triple platinum and revitalized the careers of Dylan, Petty, and Orbison.

You can dive deeper into the Traveling Wilburys’ world through their official website, which features an interactive timeline, videos, and music clips. Follow them on Facebook, Instagram, and X for updates and throwback posts about their legacy. Fans gather at sites like AllMusic for detailed discographies and reviews, while Genius offers lyric breakdowns and song insights. On Facebook, groups like the Traveling Wilburys Fan Club are buzzing with Zoo Freak-style devotees sharing rare photos, videos, and stories about the band’s short but legendary run. So, crank up "Handle With Care," and let the Wilbury brothers take you on a roots-rock road trip!