There Is Only One Roy Orbison

Last updated
There Is Only One Roy Orbison
Thereisonlyoneroyorbison.jpg
Studio album by
ReleasedAugust 1965
RecordedJuly 2–9, 1965
StudioRCA Studios. Nashville, Tennessee
Genre Rock
Length28:15
Label MGM
Producer Wesley Rose, Jim Vienneau
Roy Orbison chronology
Early Orbison
(1964)
There Is Only One Roy Orbison
(1965)
Orbisongs
(1965)
Singles from There Is Only One Roy Orbison
  1. "Ride Away"
    Released: 1965

There Is Only One Roy Orbison is the seventh album recorded by Roy Orbison, and his first for MGM Records, released in July 1965. It features his studio recording of "Claudette", an Orbison-penned song which had become a hit for The Everly Brothers in 1958. Ironically, at the time he recorded the song in 1965, he had divorced his wife Claudette, who had inspired the lyrics. Orbison later re-recorded the song for In Dreams: The Greatest Hits in 1985. (They later reconciled in 1966, before her death in a motorcycle accident in June of that year near Galatin, Tennessee. [1] ) The single taken from the album was "Ride Away", which reached no. 25 in the US charts, no. 12 in Australia and no. 34 in the UK. Cash Box described "Ride Away" as a "rhythmic teen-angled ode about a somewhat ego-oriented lad who cuts-out on romance." [2]

Contents

The album was released on compact disc for the first time by Diablo Records on October 5 2004 as tracks 1 through 12 on a pairing of two albums on one CD with tracks 13 through 24 consisting of the other album being Orbison's Other Album from January 1966, The Orbison Way. [3] The Roy's Boys was included in a box set entitled The MGM Years 1965-1973 - Roy Orbison, which contains 12 of his MGM studio albums, 1 compilation, and was released on Deember 4, 2015. [4]

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [5]
Record Mirror Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [6]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music Star full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [7]

History

In 1965, Roy Orbison was riding high with the hit single "Oh, Pretty Woman", which was No. 1 globally, when word got about that his Monument contract was due to expire in June. Orbison was interested in Hollywood and signed to MGM Records for $1 million for three albums per year from 1965-1985. Half of the money went to Decca's London Records. He also was looking for freedom when he signed with the label. His producer for Monument Records, Fred Foster and Orbison's manager Wesley Rose were having disagreements about whether or not to keep Orbison. This album charted at No. 10 in the UK [8] and No. 55 (No. 41 on Cash Box, [9] while reaching the Top 30 on Record World ) in the US. [10] It was recorded at the RCA Studios in Nashville.

Reception

Richie Unterberger of AllMusic's described the album as "unimpressive" noted "He forsakes much of the rock & roll foundation of his classic early-'60s hits for Nashville country & western on most of the LP." [5]

Track listing

Side one
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Ride Away" Roy Orbison, Bill Dees 3:28
2."You Fool You"Orbison, Joe Melson 2:10
3."Two of a Kind" Bob Montgomery, Earl Sinks2:37
4."This Is Your Song"Dees2:18
5."I'm in a Blue, Blue Mood"Orbison, Melson1:51
6."If You Can't Say Something Nice"Orbison, Melson, Ray Rush2:21
Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Claudette"Orbison2:01
2."Afraid to Sleep" Buddy Buie, John Rainey Adkins2:15
3."Sugar and Honey"Orbison, Dees2:22
4."Summer Love"Dees, Mathis2:29
5."Big as I Can Dream"Bob Montgomery2:08
6."Wondering"Orbison, Dees2:16

Produced by Wesley Rose & Jim Vienneau

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roy Orbison</span> American singer-songwriter (1936–1988)

Roy Kelton Orbison was an American singer, songwriter, and guitarist known for his distinctive and powerful voice, complex song structures, and dark, emotional ballads. Orbison's music is mostly in the rock music genre and his most successful periods were in the early 1960s and the late 1980s. He was nicknamed "The Caruso of Rock" and "The Big O". Many of Orbison's songs conveyed vulnerability at a time when most male rock-and-roll performers projected machismo. He performed with minimal motion and in black clothes, matching his dyed black hair and dark sunglasses.

<i>Crying</i> (album) 1962 studio album by Roy Orbison

Crying is the third album by Roy Orbison, released in 1962. It was his second album on the Monument Record label. The album name comes from the 1961 hit song of the same name. The album was ranked No. 136 on Pitchfork's 200 Best Albums of the 1960s.

<i>Roy Orbisons Greatest Hits</i> 1962 greatest hits album by Roy Orbison

Roy Orbison's Greatest Hits is a Roy Orbison record album from Monument Records recorded at the RCA Studio B in Nashville and released in 1962. Between the hit songs were also "Love Star" and "Evergreen" which were released here for the first time. "Dream Baby" had recently been a No. 4 hit in the United States and No. 2 in England.

<i>In Dreams</i> (Roy Orbison album) 1963 studio album by Roy Orbison

In Dreams is the fourth LP record by Roy Orbison with Monument Records recorded at the RCA Studio B in Nashville, Tennessee and released in 1963. It is named after the hit 45rpm single "In Dreams."

<i>More of Roy Orbisons Greatest Hits</i> 1964 greatest hits album by Roy Orbison

More of Roy Orbison's Greatest Hits is a Roy Orbison album from Monument Records recorded at the RCA Studio B in Nashville, Tennessee and released in 1964. The songs "It's Over" and "Indian Wedding" were recorded at the Fred Foster Studios also in Nashville.

<i>Early Orbison</i> 1964 compilation album by Roy Orbison

Early Orbison is an album recorded by Roy Orbison on the Monument Records label at the RCA Studio B in Nashville, Tennessee, and released in 1964. Essentially a compilation of songs from his first two Monument albums, it is most noteworthy for containing "Pretty One", the "B" side of Orbison's second Monument single, "Uptown". Many Orbison fans believe "Pretty One" would have been his first major hit had it been promoted as an "A" side. The second song of interest on this album is "Come Back to Me My Love" which Fred Foster, owner of Monument Records and producer of all of Orbison's earliest hits, says was the song which inspired production of the hit arrangement that later became "Only the Lonely".

<i>The Classic Roy Orbison</i> 1966 studio album by Roy Orbison

The Classic Roy Orbison is the ninth studio album recorded by Roy Orbison, and his third on the MGM Records label, released in July 1966. The single taken from it, "Twinkle Toes", would be Orbison's last US top-forty single during his lifetime, scraping in at #39. It also reached #24 in Australia and #29 in the UK, The album was successful in The UK, where it spent for 8 weeks on the album chart there at number 12.

<i>Roy Orbison Sings</i> 1972 studio album by Roy Orbison

Roy Orbison Sings is the sixteenth album recorded by Roy Orbison and the ninth for MGM Records, released in May 1972. Around this time, Orbison's hit singles had well and truly dried up, but this album is said to be one of his finest.

<i>Orbisongs</i> 1965 compilation album by Roy Orbison

Orbisongs is a compilation LP released by Monument Records in 1965 after Roy Orbison had left the label and joined MGM. It features tracks such as the stereo version of "Oh, Pretty Woman", a different version of "Dance", and the unreleased "I Get So Sentimental."

<i>The Orbison Way</i> 1966 studio album by Roy Orbison

The Orbison Way is the eighth album recorded by Roy Orbison, and his second for MGM Records, released in January 1966. Two singles were taken from the album—"Crawling Back" and "Breakin' Up Is Breakin' My Heart"—both of which were chart hits in England, the US and Australia.

<i>Roy Orbison Sings Don Gibson</i> 1967 studio album by Roy Orbison

Roy Orbison Sings Don Gibson is a tribute album recorded by Roy Orbison for MGM Records. Released in January 1967, it is a collection of songs written by Country Music Hall of Fame singer/songwriter Don Gibson who, like Orbison, often wrote about the loneliness and sorrow that love can bring. Its one single, "Too Soon to Know", became a smash hit in the UK, reaching #3 there in September 1966, and also reached no. 4 in Ireland and no. 27 in Australia. In Canada, the song only reached no. 71.

<i>Cry Softly Lonely One</i> 1967 studio album by Roy Orbison

Cry Softly Lonely One is the twelfth music album recorded by Roy Orbison, and his sixth for MGM Records. The album was released in October 1967 and included two singles: "Communication Breakdown" and the title tune, both of which were minor hits in the States early that year. "Communication Breakdown" did much better in Australia, where it reached #9 in February. According to the official Roy Orbison biography, the London Records release of this album featured the extra track "Just One Time".

<i>The Big O</i> (album) 1970 studio album by Roy Orbison

The Big O is the fifteenth music album recorded by Roy Orbison, and according to the authorised Roy Orbison biography, his second for London Records in the United Kingdom. The music and backing vocals were provided by English group, the Art Movement on all tracks except for "Penny Arcade", which was a studio recording and was released as a single in 1969, peaking at No. 27 in the UK and was Orbison's last UK chart success during his lifetime. "Penny Arcade" was also his biggest hit in Australia, spending four weeks at number one around Christmas 1969. The second single, "Break My Mind", was Orbison's last Australian chart success during his lifetime, reaching #24 in March 1970. The album was released in Europe in early 1970.

<i>Milestones</i> (Roy Orbison album) 1973 studio album by Roy Orbison

Milestones is the eighteenth album by Roy Orbison, released on September 24, 1973, by MGM Records and his last album for that label. It was arranged by Joe Tanner, Rex North and Randy Goodrum. "The Morning After" was featured in the film The Poseidon Adventure.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Only the Lonely</span> 1960 song by Roy Orbison and Joe Melson

"Only the Lonely (Know the Way I Feel)" is a 1960 song written by Roy Orbison and Joe Melson. Orbison's recording of the song, produced by Fred Foster for Monument Records, was the first major hit for the singer. It was described by The New York Times as expressing "a clenched, driven urgency". Released as a 45 rpm single by Monument Records in May 1960, "Only the Lonely" went to No. 2 on the United States Billboard pop music charts on 25 July 1960 (blocked by Brenda Lee's "I'm Sorry") and No. 14 on the Billboard R&B charts. "Only the Lonely" reached number one in the United Kingdom, a position it achieved on 20 October 1960, staying there for two weeks (out of a total of 24 weeks spent on the UK singles chart from 28 July 1960). According to The Authorized Roy Orbison, "Only the Lonely" was the longest charting single of Orbison's career. Personnel on the original recording included Orbison's drummer Larry Parks, plus Nashville A-Team regulars Floyd Cramer on piano, Bob Moore on bass, and Hank Garland and Harold Bradley on guitars, Joe Melson and the Anita Kerr Singers on backing vocals. Drummer Buddy Harman played on the rest of the songs on the session.

"It's Over" is an American song composed by Roy Orbison and Bill Dees and sung by Orbison. The single was produced by Fred Foster and engineered by Bill Porter.

"Let the Good Times Roll" is a song that was recorded by Shirley and Lee in 1956. This song was written by the duo, Shirley Goodman and Leonard Lee.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oh, Pretty Woman</span> 1964 single by Roy Orbison and the Candy Men

"Oh, Pretty Woman", or simply "Pretty Woman", is a song recorded by Roy Orbison and written by Orbison and Bill Dees. It was released as a single in August 1964 on Monument Records and spent three weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 from September 26, 1964, making it the second and final single by Orbison to reach number one in the United States. It was also Orbison's third single to top the UK Singles Chart, where it spent three weeks at number one.

<i>Best Always</i> (Rick Nelson album) 1965 studio album by Rick Nelson

Best Always is the twelfth studio album by rock and roll and pop idol Rick Nelson, and his fifth for Decca Records, released on April 19, 1965. One single, "Mean Old World", debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 in the issue of the magazine dated March 20, 1965, eventually reaching number 96 during its two-week stay. and number 94 on the Cashbox singles chart. Jimmie Haskell arranged the album and Charles "Bud" Dant produced it.

<i>For Your Sweet Love</i> 1963 studio album by Rick Nelson

For Your Sweet Love is the eighth studio album by rock and roll and pop idol Rick Nelson and his first for Decca Records. The album was released on May 27, 1963, and features the singles "I Got a Woman", "You Don't Love Me Anymore ", "String Along", and "Gypsy Woman", It also features the cover of Little Peggy March's "I Will Follow You"

References

  1. Orbison, Roy Jr. (2017). The Authorized Roy Orbison. Orbison, Wesley,, Orbison, Alex,, Slate, Jeff (First ed.). New York: Center Street. p. 133. ISBN   9781478976547. OCLC   1017566749.
  2. "CashBox Record Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. August 14, 1965. p. 72. Retrieved 2022-01-12.
  3. "Roy Orbison 1965-1973, Vol. 1: There Is Only One Roy Orbison/The Orbison Way". allmusic.com. Retrieved 16 September 2024.
  4. "The MGM Years 1965-1973 - Roy Orbison". allmusic.com. Retrieved 16 September 2024.
  5. 1 2 Unterberger, Richie. "Roy Orbison - There Is Only One Roy Orbison: Ratings & Reviews". AllMusic . Retrieved 2024-09-30.
  6. Jones, Peter; Jopling, Norman (30 September 1965). "Roy Orbison: There Is Only One Ray Orbison" (PDF). Record Mirror . No. 238. p. 8. Archived from the original (PDF) on 1 April 2022. Retrieved 18 August 2022.
  7. Larkin, Colin (2007). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Omnibus Press. p. 1062. ISBN   9781846098567 . Retrieved 29 August 2024.
  8. "Roy Orbison". Official Charts. Retrieved 20 May 2024.
  9. Hoffmann, Frank W (1988). The Cash box album charts, 1955-1974. Metuchen, N.J.: Scarecrow Press. p. 278. ISBN   0-8108-2005-6.
  10. Whitburn, Joel (1996). Joel Whitburn's top pop albums : 1955-1996 : compiled from Billboard magazine's pop album charts, 1955-1996. Menomonee Falls, Wis.: Record Research. p. 580. ISBN   0898201179.