Roy Orbison

INCLUDES 4 BONUS TRACKS

With a three-octave range, and the ability to sing falsetto, Roy Orbison’s most memorable performances were lovelorn melodramas, such as “Crying” and “Love Hurts”, in which he emoted in a brooding, tremulous voice. The melancholic intensity in his voice resonated with listeners of all ages, but especially heartsick teenagers who knew how unrequited love and loneliness felt. As music critic Nik Dirga once wrote: “Roy Orbison was the voice of sorrow. But sorrow never sounded quite so sweet. For nearly 30 years, Orbison was the quintessential spokesman for the brokenhearted, with his trademark sunglasses, hiding his eyes, so all you would focus on was the voice.” He maintained his popularity through music which displayed an extraordinary variety of themes, structures, tempo and rhythm, and an authentic, emotional connection that transcended mere craft.

Available again on vinyl, this quintessential collector’s edition includes Roy Orbison’s sensational third album, Crying. Originally released in 1962 by the Monument label, this LP consolidated “The Big O” (Orbison’s nickname) as one of the all-time-great singers. The trademark early Orbison production flourishes, with swooping strings and full vocal choruses, are also present. With the exception of “Love Hurts”, the title track, and the epic smash hit “Running Scared”, most of the songs lean toward Roy’s more sentimental side. The more obscure cuts here are also noteworthy, such as the uptempo “Nite Life” and “Let's Make a Memory”, with its bouncing string arrangement.

In addition to this original masterpiece,4 bonus tracks, consisting of singles from the same period.

PERSONNEL:

ROY ORBISON, lead vocals on all tracks, plus:

Grady Martin, Hank Garland (guitar),
Harold Bradley, Jerry Byrd or Bob Moore (bass),
Floyd Cramer or Marvin Hughes (piano),
Buddy Harman (drums),
Boots Randolph (saxophone),
Joe Melson, The Anita Kerr Singers (background vocals),
Lillian Hunt, Wilda Tinsley, Jane K. Norris, Alline Fentress,
Verna Richardson, Solie Fott, George Binkley III, Brenton Banks (violin), Howard Carpenter (viola).

Stereo recording by Bill Porter at RCA Victor Studios, Nashville, Tennessee,
between 1961 and 1962 (except “Paper Boy”, which was produced by Bob Moore and recorded in April 1959).

SIDE 1
01. CRYING
02. THE GREAT PRETENDER
03. LOVE HURTS
04. SHE WEARS MY RING
05. WEDDING DAY
06. SUMMERSONG *
07. THE CROWD *

SIDE 2
01. DANCE
02. LANA
03. LONELINESS
04. LET’S MAKE A MEMORY
05. NITE LIFE
06. RUNNING SCARED
07. WORKING FOR THE MAN *
08. LEAH *