Welcome to another edition of “Please Release Me,” in which your Idolators request–nay beg–that an out-of-print, delayed or held-up-in-customs album be issued Stateside:

Artist: The Traveling Wilburys
Hometown: Everywhere. They traveled!
Albums: Traveling Wilburys Vol. 1 (1988); Traveling Wilburys Vol. 3 (1990)
What is it?: We’re pretty certain you already know this, but the Wilburys were a semi-jokey supergroup featuring Bob Dylan, Tom Petty, Roy Orbison, George Harrison, and Jeff Lynne. Vol. 1 was an unexpected hit upon its release, thanks in no small part to “Handle With Care,” surely the last MTV hit to feature five not-particularly-foxy old dudes singing about day-care centers and night schools. Vol. 3 was recorded after Orbison’s death, and while there are a handful of good tracks, the Wilburys were clearly never going to work as a full-fledged group.
Where is it?: Amazingly, more than a year since Jenny Lewis’ unfortunately yupped-out sing-along cover of “Handle,” these albums are still out of print, thanks to rights issues (our copies are Russian-produced bootlegs). Jeff Lynne recently told Q magazine that a box set is in the works, but whomever’s in charge of it better get hustling, as the albums’ over-40 demo is only a few months away from learning how to use Oink.

The Traveling Wilburys – End Of The Line [MP3, link expired]
The Traveling Wilburys – Not Alone Anymore [MP3, link expired]
The Traveling Wilburys – She’s My Baby [MP3, link expired]
The Traveling Wilburys – Wilbury Twist [MP3, link expired]