# “We better write another”: The 1988 Traveling Wilburys song they initially said wasn’t good enough

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/we-better-write-another-the-1988-traveling-wilburys-song-they-initially-said-wasnt-good-enough/
- Published: 2026-11-01T12:34:41+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-01T13:10:49+00:00
- Original publisher: Far Out
- Original article: https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/1988-traveling-wilburys-song-they-initially-said-wasnt-good-enough/
- Topics: Culture, Entertainment, Music, Travel

## Key points

- The Wilburys considered dropping “Not Alone Anymore”.
- Jeff Lynne reworked it around Orbison’s existing vocal.
- Tom Petty later called it one of his favourites.

## Summary

The Traveling Wilburys nearly abandoned “Not Alone Anymore” because the group felt it lacked the punch of the other songs on their 1988 debut album. Jeff Lynne reworked it instead, turning it into a favourite of Tom Petty’s and showing how the band could reshape a song around Roy Orbison’s voice.

Petty recalled that Lynne rebuilt the track overnight, adding a new lead vocal and drums; Lynne later described changing the chord pattern and stripping away the original backing. Orbison’s existing vocal stayed in place, but the new arrangement gave it a different emotional feel. The episode also reflects Lynne’s close musical partnership with Orbison, including their work on Orbison’s album *Mystery Girl*.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.