"She's My Baby" by The Traveling Wilburys

You would think that combining the talents of Bob Dylan, Tom Petty, Roy Orbison, Jeff Lynne (ELO), and George Harrison (The Beatles) would produce a supergroup that crushed the charts. But this collection of musical superstars, who called themselves The Traveling Wilburys, never even cracked the Top 40.

The Traveling Wilburys managed to score two chart appearances in 1988-89, when "Handle With Care" and "End of The Line" reached #45 and #63, respectively. They came from their debut album, "Vol. 1." Despite a lackluster performance on the chart, the record was critically acclaimed and won a Grammy.

Shortly after the record's release, the band endured the sad and untimely passing of Orbison, who died of a heart attack at 52. The Wilburys decided to soldier on as a foursome. In keeping with their quirky nature, their sophomore effort was entitled, "Vol. 3," but it failed to yield any charting singles. That was the end of the line for the band.

"She's My Baby" was from "Vol. 3" and should have given The Wilburys a much-needed boost.

"Kings Highway" by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers

Tom Petty had an illustrious career that ended unexpectedly in 2017 after he passed away at the age of 66, likely due to excessive pain medications for a broken hip. The Florida native began his recording career in the 70s with a band called Mudcrutch, which would soon evolve into the Heartbreakers, the group that became nearly synonymous with Tom Petty.

Petty and the Heartbreakers first crept onto the chart in 1977 when "Breakdown" peaked at #40, but they significantly raised their profile in 1980 when "Don't Do Me Like That" hit #10. The hits kept coming, and Petty began to rack up a number of classics that were absent from the charts. Petty's biggest hit would be "Stop Draggin' My Heart Around," one of several duets he performed with Stevie Nicks. The song went to #3 in 1981.

Petty would score plenty of top 40 hits, but didn't see the top 10 again until Jeff Lynne (E.L.O.) teamed up with Petty for his landmark "solo" album without the Heartbreakers, 1989's "Full Moon Fever." "Free Fallin'," the third single from that record," reached #7. Petty got to know Lynne from their supergroup, The Traveling Wilburys, which formed a year earlier.

Petty had additional collaborations with his Wilbury friends. Before their formation, Bob Dylan co-wrote "Jammin' Me," which reached #18 in 1987. Another Wilbury friend, George Harrison, provided backing vocals and guitar on Petty's #12 hit from 1989, "I Won't Back Down."

"Kings Highway" was a terrific track on his 1991 reunion record with the Heartbreakers, "Into The Great Wide Open" that did not chart.

"Jewel & Johnny" by The Orchestra

The Orchestra is kind of like ELO without Jeff Lynne. Members of the band (along with members of ELO Part II) continued onward after Lynne left with the rights to the band's name. So they simply shortened it to The Orchestra.

The Orchestra also retained a lot of the sweeping, opera rock sound one might expect from ELO. They released a single album entitled "No Rewind" in 2001 (reissued in 2006) without any major label support. It didn't go anywhere, but is a sought after gem for many ELO fans. "Jewel & Johnny" is the best track in the bunch.

"The Rumour" by Olivia Newton-John

Granddaughter of the famed physicist Max Born, Olivia Newton-John would become famous for something "Physical" as well. She began her singing career in the early 70s, carving out a niche as a country and folk artist. Her first chart appearance was a cover of Bob Dylan's "If Not For You," which landed at #25 in 1971. Her talents were quickly noticed and by 1974 she won a Grammy for Country Female Vocal after "Let Me Be There" hit #6.

While maintaining a hint of her country roots, Newton-John shifted towards soft rock in the mid-70s and became a superstar. Her heartfelt ballad, "I Honestly Love You," gave Newton-John her first #1 smash and earned her a couple more Grammys, this time for Record Of The Year and Pop Female Vocal. She followed this with another #1 classic, "Have You Ever Been Mellow."

In the late 70s, she landed a breakout role in the musical film Grease, which led to more hits including the #1 duet with John Travolta, "You're The One That I Want." Her hot streak continued into the early 80s, with "Magic" staying at #1 for 4 weeks in 1980, followed by "Physical" in 1981, her biggest chart success yet. "Physical" stayed atop the chart for an astounding 10 weeks. A second film with Travolta, Two Of A Kind, generated her final top 10 hit when "Twist Of Fate" peaked at #5. A second track from the film, "Livin' In Desperate Times" reached #31.

By 1985, Newton-John was finally running out of steam on the US charts. "Soul Kiss" became her final top 40 of the decade after peaking at #20. She appeared in the top 40 once more, though, when "The Grease Megamix" single reached #35 in 1996. Her accomplishments have made her the 10th most successful artist of the 70s, the 25th for the 80s, and #41 of all-time.

Newton-John has sung tunes written by many big names, including the aforementioned Bob Dylan. Songwriter John Farrar wrote many of her hits, and she's collaborated with the likes of Richard Marx and Cliff Richard. Her hit "Xanadu," the title track to another film in which she was the star, went to #8 in 1980 and was written by Jeff Lynne and performed with E.L.O. 

One would think that a song written and performed with the great Elton John would be instant hit, but "The Rumour" somehow only made it to #62 in 1988.

"Lift Me Up" by Jeff Lynne

Legendary songwriter and producer Jeff Lynne has always been busy with his band projects, which include ELO, Traveling Wilburys, and The Move. Nonetheless, he has released a couple of solo songs and albums. His lone chart appearance as a solo artist came in 1984 when "Video!" - a song from the movie Electric Dreams - went to #85.

Lynne's first full-length solo record arrived in 1990, called "Armchair Theatre." After a rollicking start, it settles down into a rather sedated mood. But Lynne's talents for melody and harmony continue to shine throughout. In addition to "Life Me Up," be sure to check out "Every Little Thing" and "Blown Away."

"Ya Had Me Goin'" by L.E.O.

In 2006, modern powerpop songwriter Bleu gathered some of the best players in the genre to pay homage to Jeff Lynne and E.L.O. Likeminded musicians who contributed to the project included Mike Viola, Hanson, and Andy Sturmer (Jellyfish).

The project resulted in a single album called "Alpacas Orgling" and it is simply magnificent. A mix of upbeat rockers and melodramatic ballads, this record sounds more E.L.O. than some of their own. Channeling the ability of Jeff Lynne to effortlessly blend rock, pop, and dance, "Ya Had Me Goin'" is the ultimate feel-good party song. Sounds like it came out of a late 70s time capsule (in a good way)!

"On The Run" by Electric Light Orchestra

Electric Light Orchestra (ELO) had a great run in the 70s with a string of their trademark "orchestral rock" and pop songs. Their accomplishments on the charts earned them a ranking of #35 in the best artists of the 70s. The captain of ELO was the prolific Jeff Lynne, who also had a successful turns as a solo artist, a member of The Traveling Wilburys, and a songwriter or producer for other acts.

ELO got their start on the charts in 1973 with "Roll Over Beethoven", which reached #42. Their first big hit came the next year with #9's "Can't Get It Out Of My Head", which was quickly followed up with the #10 smash "Evil Woman".

ELO had plenty of top 40 hits, but never managed to hit #1. The closest they came was in 1979 with "Don't Bring Me Down" (#4). The band's last chart appearance was in 1986 when "Calling America" peaked at #18.

The band also never scored a #1 album, but had a strong run of top 10 records through the 70s. Many a fan favorite is "Discovery", which went to #5 in 1979 and spawned their biggest hit mentioned above and then some. "On The Run" is another terrific cut from this masterpiece of a record, although it didn't chart.