The 1960s girl group the Traveling Wilburys wanted to recreate: “If there is such a thing”
The Traveling Wilburys drew on early rock and roll and pop when making their music, rather than trying to sound cutting edge. On “New Blue Moon”, they took inspiration from 1960s girl group The Shirelles, with George Harrison joking that the band had become “the male Shirelles”.
The song appeared on the group’s second album, *Traveling Wilburys Vol. III*, released after Roy Orbison’s death. Jeff Lynne’s layered vocal harmonies help give it the feel of a classic pop group, while reflecting the Wilburys’ shared approach rather than a single frontman.
In short
- The Wilburys modelled “New Blue Moon” on The Shirelles.
- Harrison called them “the male Shirelles”.
- Jeff Lynne’s harmonies helped shape the song’s sound.