She’s My Baby

The Zoo Crew is spinning "She’s My Baby," the high-energy opener from the Traveling Wilburys' 1990 album, Traveling Wilburys, Vol. 3, and the Zoo Freaks are loving it! This track, a collaborative effort by George Harrison, Jeff Lynne, Bob Dylan, and Tom Petty, showcases each member taking a vocal turn, with a scorching lead guitar solo by guest artist Gary Moore, credited as "Ken Wilbury." In a 2023 post on X, the official Wilburys account quoted Harrison saying of Moore’s contribution, “When we did [She’s My Baby] I just thought ‘Well, it has to have a guitar solo put on it’ ... I thought ‘Why not just get Gary to play it?’. He came along, it took him five minutes. It’s brilliant, great player.” The song’s raw, ’50s-inspired rock vibe and humorous lyrics, like “She’s got her pudding in the oven / And it’s gonna be good,” kicked off the album with a playful spirit, reaching number 2 on the Billboard Album Rock Tracks chart.

The music video for "She’s My Baby," directed by David Leland, captures the band’s camaraderie, showing the four Wilburys and drummer Jim Keltner (nicknamed "Buster Sidebury") performing in a ballroom setting, with a quirky moment of Dylan riding a bike on set. Drummer Jim Keltner, reflecting on the Vol. 3 sessions, shared in a 2024 interview with Best Classic Bands, “The second album was even more fun for me because we played live. The drums were set up in a part of the foyer where they sounded good, and the guys sat in a semi-circle facing me. That was one of the most enjoyable moments of my life, playing with Bob and Tom and George and Jeff.” The album, dedicated to Roy Orbison ("Lefty Wilbury"), who passed away in 1988, carried a slightly darker tone but retained the group’s knack for lighthearted collaboration.

The Traveling Wilburys formed by happy accident in 1988 when George Harrison needed a B-side for his single “This Is Love” from his album Cloud Nine. As detailed on their official website, Harrison enlisted Jeff Lynne, who was producing tracks for Roy Orbison and Tom Petty, and they gathered at Bob Dylan’s Malibu garage studio. What started as a casual session to record “Handle with Care” turned into a full album, Traveling Wilburys, Vol. 1, as the group realized their chemistry was too good to waste. Harrison, the de facto leader, coined the name “Wilburys” from a studio term he and Lynne used for equipment like equalizers, initially joking about “The Trembling Wilburys” before settling on “Traveling.” The band adopted pseudonyms to keep egos in check, creating a fun, collaborative environment where all members wrote, sang, and produced.

Each Wilbury brought a storied career to the supergroup. Harrison, a former Beatle, had already redefined rock with his solo work; Dylan was a folk-rock legend; Lynne led Electric Light Orchestra; Petty fronted Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers; and Orbison was a rockabilly and ballad icon. Their Vol. 1 album, recorded over ten days in Dave Stewart’s Los Angeles kitchen, was a massive hit, selling over five million copies. By Vol. 3, the group, now a quartet after Orbison’s death, leaned into a rougher sound, with sessions held at Harrison’s home studio in England and in Los Angeles. The intentional misnumbering of Vol. 3 as a joke, as Lynne recalled, “That was George’s idea. He said, ‘Let’s confuse the buggers,’” reflected their playful approach.

Fans can connect with the Traveling Wilburys’ legacy through their official website and social media on Facebook, Instagram, and X. For deeper engagement, fan communities thrive on platforms like The Traveling Wilburys Fan Club on Facebook, where enthusiasts share memorabilia, stories, and tributes. Another fan hub, r/TravelingWilburys on Reddit, offers discussions on the band’s music and history. These spaces keep the Wilburys’ spirit alive, celebrating the joy and friendship that defined their brief but impactful run.