Only the Lonely…

Roy Orbison – from Rockabilly Wink to Top of the Pop!

Roy Orbison started his musical life as a country and rockabilly purist – finding his way onto the famed Sun Records label joining the iconic rockers there.  He could definitely rock and toured with the Sun acts delivering raucous performances.  He would would move on from Sun after less than two years, to RCA Victor where he recorded only a few tracks, and then it was onto a tremendous recording career at Monument Records – a respectable run at MGM and beyond.

Cash Box September 16th, 1961

Beginnings – A “Wink” Good as a Nod

Roy Kelton Orbison was born in Vernon, Texas on April 23rd, 1936.  His family moved to Fort Worth to find employment after the start of World War II.

Little Roy Kelton

His first inspiration was “Lefty” Frizzell, based on Lefty’s slurring vocal style. (Later on Roy as a member of the Traveling Wilbury’s would take the name “Lefty Wilbury”.)

During his Fort Worth high school days Roy would join a young country group called the “Wink Westerners” – named based on their school “Wink High School”.  The “Winks” would originally include Roy along with James Morrow, Charles Evans, Richard West and Billy Ellis.

During this time period Roy’s lead vocals would in no way resemble what was to come when he would sign on with Monument Records.  The first hint of the group leaning towards rockabilly was when they began including “Shake, Rattle and Roll” in their performances.

Roy in High School

(Photos of Roy before he started dying his hair to dark black – He didn’t like what he thought of his nearly “white” hair)

In short order, the Winks  were rocking full time including all the big boppin’ numbers of the day in their repertoire. The transition to rockabilly and rock ‘n roll was complete and they became the “Teen Kings”.

During this transition period, Jack Kennelly came in to replace Charles Evans.

Roy and His Winks

In a strange twist of things – the Teen Kings’ recording of  “Trying to Get to You” was sent to Imperial Records along with a song by Weldon Rogers titled “So Long, Good Luck and Goodbye”.  Rogers had also recorded a demo version of the song.  Imperial accidentally released Rogers’ “So Long” and backed it with the Teen Kings song.  “Trying to Get to You” would remain buried in the Imperial Catalog for nearly 4 decades before being revived and placed in a 1991 Orbison box set collection.

Teen Kings – Not Rogers

Roy was enrolled in College in Denton, Texas where he learned that fellow student Pat Boone had landed a recording contract which sparked his interest.  Then when he heard a song titled “Ooby Dooby”.   He would return home and present the song to the “Winks” who would begin performing the song.  Then Roy would become further inspired by Elvis Presley.  Roy would meet up with Johnny Cash who recommend that he go to Memphis to see Sam Phillips.

The group had initially approached Columbia Records with “Ooby Dooby” but were turned away.

Some reports said Phillips immediately turned Roy and his band away stating that ‘Johnny Cash doesn’t run my record company’ but Sam later refuted this as did members of the Wink Westerners.  What is probably more accurate is that the Winks changed their name to the Teen Kings – recorded the song for the Je-Wel record label, submitted it to Phillips who saw some potential and signed the group to a contact.

Phillips had the group re-record the song and it was released in May of 1956.  The group went out on tour with Carl Perkins, Johnny Cash, Johnny Horton and Sonny James – all during their rockabilly days.  Roy and the Teen Kings would split up, based on various reasons but the clincher coming when they entered the Sun studio and saw that Phillips had brought in studio musicians to play behind Roy.

Roy in the Sun Studio

Sun’s catalog only contained a few Teen King tracks, but amazingly in 1991 the vaults of KOSA-TV – where the Kings had hosted a weekly program in 1956 – came 16 live Teen Kings’ tracks – all leaning toward their rockabilly styling – The songs would make their way onto a 1995 CD LP from Rollercoaster Records titled “Are You Ready” with some of these tracks also coming on a CD 45 RPM Flexi titled “Go! Go! Go!”.

The tracks on these songs were recorded by the latter version of Teen Kings with Billy Pat Ellis, James Morrow, Jack Kennelly and Orbison.

Roy’s Sun days were short lived and by 1958 he would depart for RCA Victor before finding his way to Monument Records where he would stun the world of pop with a once in blue moon vocal delivery and style.  Roy set himself apart from all the other Sun rockers with his compositions or co-compositions – taking him to the top of the charts and providing hit material for others for decades as demonstrated in the discography that follows.

Here I skip beyond the oft-told tragic chapters of Orbison’s life – the tragic loss of his wife Claudette and both sons in horrific accidents, his somewhat declining time at MGM after a great career with Monument and his final years teaming up with the Wilburys.  Suffice it to say that Roy was one heck of a rockabilly star – a rocker – with a voice that would stand alone for all time!

Roy Orbison passed away on December 8th, 1988 from heart failure at the young age of only 52.

Roy – Claudette and Sons Roy Dwayne & Tony

Orbison Signs with MGM Records January, 1967

Roy Orbison U.S. Discography

Roy Orbison 45 RPM U.S. Discography

45 – Sun 242 – Ooby Dooby – Charted Number 59 Billboard Hot 100 – b/w Go! Go! Go! – with the Teen Kings – June 16th, 1956

45 – Sun 251 – Rockhouse b/w You’re My Baby – Released September 24th, 1956

45 – Sun 265 – Sweet and Easy To Love b/w Devil Doll – with the Roses – released January 24th, 1957

45 – Sun 284 – Chicken-Hearted by/I Like Love – Released December, 1957

45 – RCA Victor 47-7381 – Seems to Me b/w Sweet and Innocent – Released October, 1958

45 – RCA Victor 47-7447 – Almost Eighteen b/w Jolie – Released January, 1959

45 – Monument 409 – Paper Boy b/w With the Bug – Released September, 1959

45 – Monument 412 – Up Town – Charted Number 72 Billboard Hot 100 – b/w Pretty One – Released November, 1959

45 – Monument 421 – Only the Lonely (Know the Way I Feel) – Charted Number 2 Billboard Hot 100 – Number 14 R&B – b/w Here Comes That Song Again – Released May 9th, 1960

45 – Monument 425 – Blue Angel – Charted Number 9 Billboard Hot 100 – Number 23 R&B – b/w Today’s Teardrops – Released August, 1960

45 – Monument 433 – I’m Hurtin’ – Charted Number 27 Billboard Hot 100 – b/w I Can’t Stop Loving You – Released November, 1960

45 – Sun 353 – Sweet and Easy to Love b/w Devil Doll – Released November 25th, 1960

45 EP – Monument 010 No. 2 – Demand Performances Selections from Their Hit Album (I Can’t Loving You by Roy Orbison) – Released 1960

45 – Monument 438 – Running Scared – Charted Billboard Hot 100 Number 1 -b/w Love Hurts – Released March 27th, 1961

45 – Monument 447 – Crying – Charted Number 2 b/w Candy Man – Charted Number 28 Billboard Hot 100 – Released July, 1961

45 – Monument 456 – Dream Baby (How Long Must I Dream) – Charted Number 4 Billboard Hot 100 – b/w The Actress – Released February, 1962

45 – Monument 461 – The Crowd – Charted Number 26 Billboard Hot 100 – b/w Mama – Released June, 1962

45 – Monument 467 – Leah – Charted Number 25 b/w Workin’ For the Man – Charted Number 33 – Billboard Hot 100 – Released September, 1962

33 1/3 EP – Monument 003 No 1 – In Dreams Selections From His Hit Album – Released 1963

33 1/3 EP – Monument 003 No. 2 – In Dreams Selections From His Hit Album – Released 1963

45 – Monument 806 – In Dreams – Charted Number 7 Billboard Hot 100 – Number 19 R&B – b/w Shahdaroba – Released January, 1963

45 – Monument 815 – Falling – Charted Number 22 Billboard Hot 100 – b/w Distant Drums – Released May, 1963

45 – Monument 824 – Mean Woman Blues – Charted Number 5 Hot 100 & Number 8 R&B b/w Blue Bayou – Charted Number 29 Hot 100 & Number 26 R&B – Released August, 1963

45 – Monument 830 – Pretty Paper – Charted Number 15 Billboard Hot 100 – b/w Beautiful Dreamer – Released Number November 15, 1963

45 – Monument 837 – It’s Over – Charted Number 9 Billboard Hot 100 b/w Indian Wedding – Released March, 1964

45 – Monument 851 – Pretty Woman – Charted Number 1 for 3 Weeks Billboard Hot 100 b/w Yo Te Amo Maria – Released August 29th, 1964

45 – Monument 873 – Goodnight – Charted Number 21 Billboard Hot 100 b/w Only With You – Released January 25th, 1965

45 – Monument 891 – (Say) You’re My Girl – Charted Number 39 Billboard Hot 100 b/w Sleepy Hollow – Released June, 1965

45 – MGM K 13386 – Ride Away – Charted Number 25 Billboard Hot 100 b/w Wondering – Released August 2nd, 1965

45 – MGM K 13410 – Crawling Back – Charted Number 46 Billboard Hot 100 b/w If You Can’t Say Something Nice – Released October 11th, 1965

45 – Monument 45-906 – Let the Good Times Roll – Charted Number 81 Billboard Hot 100 b/w Distant Drums – Released November, 1965

45 EP – Coca Cola – Let’s Swing The Jingle For Coke (Orbison and others) – Released 1965

45 – MGM K-13446 – Breakin’ Up Is Breakin’ My Heart – Charted Number 31 Billboard Hot 100 b/w Wait – Released January 22nd, 1966

45 – MGM K-13498  Twinkle Toes – Charted Number 39 Billboard Hot 100 b/w Where Is Tomorrow – Released April, 1966

45 EP – MGM SLM-4379 – The Classic Roy Orbison – Released April, 1966 (with jukebox strip)

45 – Monument 45-939 – Lana b/w Our Summer Song – Released May, 1966

45 – MGM K-13549 – Too Soon To Know – Charted Number 68 Billboard Hot 100 b/w You’ll Never Be Sixteen Again – Released July, 1966

45 – MGM K-13634 – Communication Breakdown – Charted Number 60 Billboard Hot 100 b/w Going Back to Gloria – Released November, 1966

45 EP – Coca Cola – Swing The Jingle (Roy Orbison with Others) – Released 1966

45 – MGM K-13685 – So Good – Charted Number 132 Bubbling Under Charts b/w Memories – Released February, 1967

45 Box Set – MGM CS-9-5 – MGM Celebrity Scene – Released June, 1967

Five Box Set Included the Following 45’s:

45- MGM K-13756 – Ride Away b/w Crawlin’ Back

45 – MGM K-13757 – Breakin’ Up Is Breakin’ My Heart b/w It’s Too Soon To Know

45 – MGM K-13758 – Twinkle Toes b/w Communication Breakdown

45 – MGM K-13759 – Sweet Dreams b/w Going Back to Gloria

45 – MGM K-13760 – There Won’t Be Many Coming Home b/w You’ll Never Be Sixteen Again

45 – MGM K-13764 – Cry Softly Lonely One – Charted Number 52 Billboard Hot 100 b/w Pistolero – Released July, 1967

45 – MGM K-13817 – She – Charted Number 119 Bubbling Under Charts b/w Here Comes The Rain Baby – Released October, 1967

45 – MGM K-13889 – Born To Be Loved By You b/w Shy Away – Released January 15th, 1968

45 – MGM K-13950 – Walk On – Charted Number 121 Bubbling Under Charts b/w Flowers – Released June, 1968

45  MGM K-13991 – Heartache – Charted Number 104 Bubbling Under Charts b/w Sugar Man – Released October, 1968

45 – MGM K-14039 – Southbound Jericho Parkway b/w My Friend – Released March 3rd, 1969

45 – MGM K-14079 – Penny Arcade – Charted Number 133 Bubbling Under Charts b/w Tennessee Owns My Soul – Released August 4th, 1969

45 – MGM K-14105 – She Cheats On Me b/w How Do You Start Over – Released January, 1970

45 – MGM K-14121 – So Young (Love Theme From Zabriskie Point) – Charted Number 122 Bubbling Under Charts b/w If I Had A Woman Like You – Released April, 1970

45 – MGM K–14293 – (Love Me Like You Did It) Last Night b/w Close Again – Released August 16th, 1971

45 – MGM K-14413 – Remember The Good b/w If Only For A While – Released January, 1972

45 – MGM K-14358 – God Love You b/w Changes – Released February 1st, 1972

45 – MGM K-14413 – Remember the Good b/w Harlem Woman – Released June, 1972

45 – MGM K-14441 – Memphis, Tennessee b/w I Can Read Between The Lines – Released September, 1972

45 – MGM K-14552 – Blue Rain (Coming Down) b/w Sooner Or Later – Released May 30th, 1973

45 – MGM K-14626 – I Wanna Live b/w You Lay Easy On My Mind – Released September 23rd, 1973

45 – Mercury 73610 – Sweet Mama Blue b/w Heartache – Released August, 1974

45 – Mercury 73652 – Spanish Nights b/w Hung Up On You – Released February, 1975

45 – Mercury 73705 – It’s Lonely b/w Still – Released October, 1975

45 – Monument 8690 – Belinda b/w No Chain At All – Released March, 1976

45 – Monument 45-200 – (I’m A) Southern Man b/w Born To Love Me – Released October, 1976

45 – Monument 45-215 – Drifting Away b/w Under Suspicion – Released April, 1977

45 – Asylum 46048 – Easy Way Out – Charted Number 109 Bubbling Under Charts b/w Tears – Released May, 1979

45 – Asylum 46541 – Poor Baby b/w Lay It Down – Released October, 1979

45 – Warner Bros. 49262 – That Lovin’ You Feelin’ Again (with Emmylou Harris) – Charted Number 55 Billboard Hot 100 – b/w Lola (by Craig Hundley) – Released May 21st, 1980

45 – America 884-760 – Rock and Roll (Fais Do Do) (with Jerry Lee Lewis) – b/w Birth of Rock and Roll (by Carl Perkins) – Released May, 1986

45 – Virgin 7-99434 – In Dreams – Charted Number 75 Country Charts b/w Leah – Released August, 1987

45 – Virgin 7-99388 – Crying (with k.d lang) – Charted Number 42 Country Charts b/w Falling – Released November, 1987

45 – Wilbury 7-27732 – (The Travelling Wilburys) Handle With Care – Charted Number 45 Billboard Hot 100 b/w Margaria – Released October 17th, 1988

45 – Wilbury 7-27637 – End Of the Line – Charted Number 63 Billboard Hot 100 b/w Congratulations – Released January 23rd, 1989

45 – Southern Tracks 2010 – Leah (with Bertie Higgins) b/w Key Largo (by Bertie Higgins) – Released 1989

45 – Virgin 7-99245 – You Got It b/w Crying – Released January, 1989

45 – Virgin 7-99245 – You Got It – Charted Number 9 Billboard Hot 100 & Number 7 Country b/w The Only One – Released January 30th, 1989

45 – Virgin 7-99227 – She’s A Mystery To Me b/w Dream Baby – Released March, 1989

45 – Virgin 7-99159 – California Blue – Charted Number 51 Country Charts b/w In Dreams – Released June, 1989

45 – Virgin 7-99159 – Oh Pretty Woman – Charted Number 89 Country Charts b/w Claudette – Released November, 1989

45 – Norton 846 – Domino b/w Everybody’s Trying To Kiss My Baby – Released 2001

Roy Orbison Long Play U.S. Discography

LP – Sun 1260 – At The Rock House – Released 1961

LP – Monument 4002 – Lonely and Blue – Released January, 1961

LP – Monument 4007 – Crying – Charted Number 21 Billboard LP Charts – Released January, 1962

LP – Monument 4009 – Roy Orbison’s Greatest Hits – Charted Number 13 Billboard LP Charts – Released August, 1962

LP – Monument 8003 – In Dreams – Charted Number 35 Billboard LP Charts – Released July, 1963

LP – Monument 8024 – More Of Roy Orbison’s Greatest Hits – Charted Number 19 Billboard LP Charts – Released July 1st, 1964

LP – Monument 18023 – Early Orbison – Charted Number 101 Billboard LP Charts – Released October, 1964

LP – MGM 4308 – There Is Only One Roy Orbison – Charted Number 55 Billboard LP Charts – Released July, 1965

LP – Monument 8035 – Orbisongs – Charted Number 136 Billboard LP Charts – Released October, 1965

LP – MGM 4322 – The Orbison Way – Charted Number 128 Billboard LP Charts – Released January, 1966

LP – Monument 8045 – The Very Best of Roy Orbison – Charted Number 94 Billboard LP Charts – Released June, 1966

LP MGM 4379 – The Classic Roy Orbison – Released August, 1966

LP – MGM 4424 – Roy Orbison Sings Don Gibson – Released January, 1967

LP – MGM 4475 – Soundtrack – The Fastest Guitar Alive – Released July, 1967

LP – MGM 4514 – Cry Softly Lonely One – Released October, 1967

LP – MGM 4636 – Roy Orbison’s Many Moods – Released May, 1969

LP – MGM 4659 – The Great Songs Of Roy Orbison – Released February, 1970

LP – Monument 31484 – The All-Time Greatest Hits of Roy Orbison – Released 1972

LP – MGM 4835 – Roy Orbison Sings – Released May, 1972

LP – MGM 4867 – Memphis – Released November, 1972

LP – MGM 4934 – Milestones – Released September 24th, 1973

LP – Columbia Special Products 12946 – The Living Legend of Roy Orbison – Released 1975

LP – Mercury 1045 – I’m Still In Love With You – Released September 15th. 1975

LP – Monument 8600 – The All-Time Greatest Hits of Roy Orbison – Released 1976

LP – Monument 7600 – Regeneration – Released November, 1976

LP – Asylum 198 – Laminar Flow – Released May 16th, 1979

LP – Accord 7150 – Ooby Dooby – Released 1981

LP – America Smash 422 830 002 – The Class of’55 – Charted Number 87 Billboard LP Charts – Released May 26th, 1986

LP – Virgin 90604 – In Dreams – Charted Number 95 Billboard LP Charts – Released May, 1987

LP – Rhino 71493 – For The Lonely” A Roy Orbison Anthology, 1956-1965 – Charted Number 110 Billboard LP Charts – Released 1988

LP – Rhino 70711 – The Classic Roy Orbison (1965-1968) – Released 1989

LP – Virgin 91058 – Mystery Girl – Charted Number 5 Billboard LP Charts – Released February 7th, 1989

LP – Virgin 91295 – Roy Orbison & Friends – A Black and White Night Live – Charted Number 123 Billboard LP Charts – Released December, 1989

LP CD – Virgin 86520 – King Of Hearts – Charted Number 179 Billboard LP Charts – Released December, 1992

LP – Monument 44348 – The All-Time Greatest Hits of Roy Orbison Volume 1 – Charted Number 48 Billboard LP Charts – Released January, 1993

LP CD – Virgin 42350 – The Very Best of Roy Orbison – Charted Number 186 Billboard LP Charts – Released April, 1997

LP – Monument 69738 – 16 Biggest Hits – Charted Number 186 Billboard LP Charts – Released February, 2003

LP – Monument 88883761091 – The Monument Vinyl Box – Released November 29th, 2013 (4 LP Box Set)

Roy Orbison Composing for Others – Discography

Mainly charting singles with a few exceptions

45 – Sun 268 – So Long. I’m Gone – Charted Number 72 Billboard Hot 100 – Released April 15th, 1957

45 – Cadence 1348 – Claudette – Charted Number 2 Billboard Hot 100 – Released April 7th, 1958

45 – Monument 448 – The Velvets – Laugh – Charted Number 90 Billboard Hot 100 b/w Lana – Released August, 1961

45 – Monument 518 – Jerry Byrd – Memories of Maria – Charted Number 74 Billboard Hot 100 – Released March 17th, 1962

45 – United Artists UA 640 – Gene Thomas – Charted Number 84 Billboard Hot 100 b/w Stand By Love – Released November, 1963

(This is “Gene” of “Gene & Debbie” of “Playboy” fame)

45 – Coral UK 72472 – Buddy Holly & The Crickets – You’ve Got Love – Charted Number 42 UK Charts b/w An Empty Cup – Released May, 1964

45 United Artists 50016 – Jay and the Americans – Crying – Charted Number 25 Billboard Hot 100 – Released May, 1966

45 – Capitol 2370 – Sonny James – Only The Lonely – Charted Number 92 Billboard Hot 100 – Number 1 Country – Released December, 1968

45 – Columbia 45203 – Johnny Cash – See Ruby Fall – Charted Number 8 Billboard Hot 100 – Number 13 Country – Released October, 1969

45 – Columbia 4-45016 – Arlene Harden – My Friend – Charted Number 63 Billboard Country Charts – b/w Baby – Released October 21st, 1969

(Arlene was a member of the Harden Trio of “Tippy Toeing” fame)

45 – Columbia 4-45120 – Arlene Harden – Lovin’ Man (Oh Pretty Woman) – Charted Number 13 Billboard Country – Released March, 1970

45 – Columbia 4-45203 – Arlene Harden – Crying – Charted Number 28 Billboard Country b/w It’s Over – Released July, 1970

45 – Dot 17427 – The Compton Brothers – Claudette – Charted Number 41 Billboard Hot 100 – Released August, 1972

45 – Epic 50247 – How Do You Start Over – Charted Number 89 Billboard Country Charts – Released August, 1976

45 – Asylum 45431 – Linda Ronstadt – Blue Bayou – Charted Number 3 Billboard Hot 100 & Number 2 Country – Released September, 1977

45 – Warner Bros. 49146 – Stephanie Winslow – Crying – Charted Number 13 Billboard Country Charts – Released January, 1980

45 – Millenium 11799 – Don McLean – Crying – Charted Number 5 Billboard Hot 100 & Number 6 Country – Released January, 1981

45 – EMI America 8072 – The Fools – Running Scared – Charted Number 50 Billboard Hot 100 – Released February, 1981

45 – Warner 5003 – Van Halen – Pretty Woman – Charted Number 12 Billboard Hot 100 Charts & Number 1 Rock Charts – Released February, 1982

45 – Columbia 04225 – Mike Campbell – Sweet & Easy To Love – Charted Number 57 Billboard Country Charts – Released December, 1983

45 – Columbia 74360 – Rodney Crowell – What Kind Of Love – Charted Number 11 Billboard Country Charts – Released July, 1992

45 – Arista 12600 – Expose – As Long As I Can Dream – Charted Number 55 Billboard Hot 100 Charts – Released October, 1993

45 – Arista 12795 – Bonnie Raitt – You Got It – Charted Number 33 Billboard Hot 100 Charts b/w

CD – Columbia 662709 – Michael Bolton – A Love So Beautiful – Charted Number 19 Adult Contemporary – December, 1995

CD LP Track – Dwight Yoakam – Claudette – Charted Number 47 Billboard Country Charts – Released July, 1997