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In 1988, Columbia Records released a four-disc Roy Orbison retrospective called The Legendary Roy Orbison. It contained 74 tracks. It was a great package except for one thing: it sounded terrible, as the mastering techniques in the first days of the CD were not what they are now. The Soul of Rock and Roll, issued by Sony Legacy in 2008, is an enormous improvement in the sonic arena, just for starters. This four-disc collection contains 107 tracks (33 more than the previous box) with selections from all the labels Orbison recorded for. There are 12 previously unreleased performances, including the last tune Orbison ever committed to tape (strangely, a live version of "It's Over," recorded a scant two days before his death in Akron, OH). It contains a very solid book with essays by his widow Barbara, producer Fred Foster, and Roy Jr., and numerous testimonials from fans and friends including Tom Waits, Glenn Danzig Eric Clapton, Bonnie Raitt, Bruce Springsteen, Joe Melson, Barry and Robin Gibb, and John Mellencamp, among others.
Because of his unique place in rock history, Orbison has long been worthy of this type of definitive career retrospective, one taking into account the creative and popular renaissance he enjoyed at the end of his life as a solo artist and as a member of the Traveling Wilburys. Orbison never quit working, even during the obscure 1970s when he briefly went back to Monument; cut an album for Elektra; and recorded the spotty Class of '55 with Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins, and Jerry Lee Lewis for Mercury. A great collection of the earliest years with the Teen Kings is here, as are the important Sun and Monument singles, carefully chosen album tracks, selections from the films Zabriskie Point and The Fastest Guitar Alive, and even "That Lovin' You Feelin' Again," a duet with Emmylou Harris from the film Roadie. There are some stellar live performances from Barbara Orbison's enormous archive, including an unreleased monster rave-up of Chris Kenner's "Land of 1000 Dances."
Disc four contains material from the posthumously released discs Mystery Girl and the better tracks from King of Hearts. The Wilburys are represented by "Not Alone Anymore" and the hit "You Got It," written by Orbison, Jeff Lynne, and Tom Petty. Soundtracks also figure: "In Dreams" from the Blue Velvet soundtrack; the hauntingly strange "You May Feel Me Crying" from Wim Wenders' film The End of Violence, which was overdubbed by Brian Eno in 1997; the Will Jennings and David Briggs-produced single "Wild Hearts (Run Out of Time)" from the soundtrack of the film Insignificance; and the Rick Rubin-produced "Life Fades Away" from the Less Than Zero soundtrack. "Crying," Orbison's now legendary duet with k.d. lang from Black & White Night, is also included. The most memorable thing here, however, is the unreleased demo of "Precious," recorded in either 1968 or 1969. It's just The Voice with his guitar. It's chilling. The only track really missing is "Southbound Jericho Parkway," from 1969, Orbison's singular moment of psychobilly and his seven-minute, darker-than-midnight answer to "MacArthur Park." This box is the first true compendium of popular and obscure Orbison resources. Bear Family's expensive seven-disc Orbison is an exhaustive collection documenting 1955-1965, but that's only part of the story. The major bits of the early years are here, and are lent weight and depth by the '70s and '80s recordings, making this one the compilation to beat.
© Thom Jurek /TiVo
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R. Orbison, Composer - R. Orbison, Lyricist - Producer not documented on available sources, Producer - Roy Orbison, Guitar - Roy Orbison, Performer - Roy Orbison, Vocal
(P) Originally recorded 1958. All rights reserved by Orbison Records, Inc.
J. Melson, Lyricist - J. Melson, Composer - R. Orbison, Lyricist - R. Orbison, Composer - Producer not documented on available sources, Producer - Joe Melson, Background Vocal - Roy Orbison, Performer - Roy Orbison, Vocal - Roy Orbison, Guitar
(P) Originally recorded 1959. All rights reserved by Orbison Records, Inc.
Producer not documented on available sources, Producer - Orbison, Lyricist - Orbison, Composer - Roy Orbison, Guitar - Roy Orbison, Performer - Roy Orbison, Vocal
(P) Originally recorded 1958. All rights reserved by Orbison Records, Inc.
R. Orbison, Lyricist - R. Orbison, Composer - Producer not documented on available sources, Producer - J. Wilson, Composer - J. Wilson, Lyricist - Roy Orbison, Performer - Roy Orbison, Vocal - Roy Orbison, Guitar
(P) Originally recorded 1958. All rights reserved by Orbison Records, Inc.
J. Melson, Lyricist - J. Melson, Composer - R. Orbison, Lyricist - R. Orbison, Composer - Producer not documented on available sources, Producer - Joe Melson, Vocal - Roy Orbison, Performer - Roy Orbison, Vocal - Roy Orbison, Guitar
(P) Originally recorded 1959. All rights reserved by Orbison Records, Inc.
Orbison, Lyricist - Orbison, Composer - Producer not documented on available sources, Producer - Roy Orbison, Guitar - Roy Orbison, Performer - Roy Orbison, Vocal
(P) Originally recorded 1958. All rights reserved by Orbison Records, Inc.
J. Melson, Lyricist - J. Melson, Composer - R. Orbison, Lyricist - R. Orbison, Composer - Producer not documented on available sources, Producer - Roy Orbison, Performer - Roy Orbison, Vocal - Roy Orbison, Guitar
(P) Originally recorded 1959. All rights reserved by Orbison Records, Inc.
Chet Atkins, Producer - Floyd Cramer, Piano - Roy Orbison, Composer - Roy Orbison, Lyricist - Roy Orbison, Vocal
(P) Originally Recorded Prior to 1972. All Rights Reserved by Sony Music Entertainment
Ken Robertson, Re-Mastering Engineer - Roy Orbison, Composer - Roy Orbison, Performer - Roy Orbison, Lyricist - Fred Foster, Producer
(P) Originally Released 1959 Monument Records
Grady Martin, Guitar - Brenton Banks, Violin - Roy Orbison, Lyricist - Roy Orbison, Composer - Roy Orbison, Performer - Roy Orbison, Vocal - George Binkley, Violin - Various, Guitar - Various, Violin - Various, Viola - Fred Foster, Producer - The Anita Kerr Singers, Background Vocal - Boots Randolph, Saxophone - Solie Isaac Fott, Violin - Murray M. "Buddy" Harman, Jr., Drums - Jerry Byrd, Steel Guitar - Harold Bradley, Guitar - Bob Moore, Bass - Joe Melson, Background Vocal
Originally Released 1960 Monument Records
DISC 2
Joe Melson, Composer - Joe Melson, Lyricist - Roy Orbison, Performer - Roy Orbison, Composer - Roy Orbison, Lyricist - Fred Foster, Producer
Originally released 1960. All rights reserved by Sony Music Entertainment.
Joe Melson, Composer - Joe Melson, Lyricist - Roy Orbison, Vocal - Roy Orbison, Performer - Roy Orbison, Lyricist - Roy Orbison, Composer - Fred Foster, Producer
Originally released 1960. All rights reserved by Sony Music Entertainment
J. Melson, Composer - J. Melson, Lyricist - R. Orbison, Composer - R. Orbison, Lyricist - Roy Orbison, Vocal - Roy Orbison, Performer - Fred Foster, Producer
Originally released 1960. All rights reserved by Sony Music Entertainment
Fred Carter Jr., Guitar - Bob Moore, Bass - Vernal Richardson, Violin - Charlie McCoy, Harmonica - Boots Randolph, Saxophone - Howard Carpenter, Viola - Raymond Edenton, Guitar - Cecil Brower, Violin - Roy Orbison, Lyricist - Roy Orbison, Composer - Roy Orbison, Performer - Roy Orbison, Vocal - Wayne Moss, Guitar - Roby Story, Violin - Lillian Hunt, Violin - Joseph W. Tanner, Guitar - Floyd Cramer, Piano - Fred Foster, Producer - George Binkley III, Violin - Dorothy Walker, Violin - Michael Semanitsky, Violin - Wilda Tinsley, Violin - Jerry Kennedy, Guitar - Murray M. "Buddy" Harman, Jr., Drums - Hank Garland, Guitar - Bill Pursell, Piano - Brenton Banks, Violin - Solie Fott, Violin - Suzanne Parker, Violin - Harold Bradley, Guitar - Scotty Moore, Guitar
Originally released 1963. All rights reserved by Sony Music Entertainment
Joe Melson, Composer - Joe Melson, Lyricist - Roy Orbison, Vocal - Roy Orbison, Performer - Roy Orbison, Lyricist - Roy Orbison, Composer - Fred Foster, Producer
Originally released 1961. All rights reserved by Sony Music Entertainment.
Grady Martin, Guitar - Brenton Banks, Violin - Roy Orbison, Performer - Roy Orbison, Vocal - Roy Orbison, Lyricist - Roy Orbison, Composer - George Binkley, Violin - Various, Guitar - Various, Violin - Various, Viola - Fred Foster, Producer - The Anita Kerr Singers, Background Vocal - Boots Randolph, Saxophone - Solie Isaac Fott, Violin - Murray M. "Buddy" Harman, Jr., Drums - Jerry Byrd, Steel Guitar - Harold Bradley, Guitar - Bob Moore, Bass - Joe Melson, Composer - Joe Melson, Background Vocal - Joe Melson, Lyricist
Originally released 1960. All rights reserved by Sony Music Entertainment
Roy Orbison, Performer - D. Gibson, Composer - D. Gibson, Lyricist
Originally released 1963. All rights reserved by Sony Music Entertainment.
Fred Carter Jr., Guitar - Bob Moore, Bass - Cam Mullins, Trumpet - Boots Randolph, Saxophone - Harry Johnson, Saxophone - Cecil Brower, Violin - Boudleaux Bryant, Guitar - Roy Orbison, Performer - Roy Orbison, Vocal - BOUDLEAUX BRYANT, Lyricist - BOUDLEAUX BRYANT, Composer - Floyd Cramer, Piano - John Greubel, Drums - Fred Foster, Producer - Grady Martin, Guitar - Various, Guitar - Various, Violin - Various, Viola - George Binkley III, Violin - Carl Garvin, Trumpet - Byron Bach, Acoustic Cello - Joe Tanner, Guitar - Murray M. "Buddy" Harman, Jr., Drums - Solie Isaac Fott, Violin - Hank Garland, Guitar - Bill Pursell, Piano - Ray Edenton, Guitar
Originally released 1962. All rights reserved by Sony Music Entertainment
J. Melson, Composer - J. Melson, Lyricist - R. Orbison, Composer - R. Orbison, Lyricist - Roy Orbison, Vocal - Roy Orbison, Performer - Fred Foster, Producer
Originally released 1962. All rights reserved by Sony Music Entertainment
Joe Melson, Composer - Joe Melson, Lyricist - Roy Orbison, Vocal - Roy Orbison, Performer - Roy Orbison, Lyricist - Roy Orbison, Composer - Fred Foster, Producer
Originally released 1962. All rights reserved by Sony Music Entertainment
Fred Neil, Lyricist - Fred Neil, Composer - Roy Orbison, Performer - Fred Foster, Producer - Beverly Ross, Composer - Beverly Ross, Lyricist
Originally released 1961. All rights reserved by Sony Music Entertainment.
Fred Carter Jr., Guitar - Bob Moore, Bass - Cam Mullins, Trumpet - Boots Randolph, Saxophone - Harry Johnson, Saxophone - Cecil Brower, Violin - Boudleaux Bryant, Guitar - Roy Orbison, Performer - Roy Orbison, Vocal - J. Melson, Composer - J. Melson, Lyricist - Floyd Cramer, Piano - John Greubel, Drums - Fred Foster, Producer - Grady Martin, Guitar - Various, Guitar - Various, Violin - Various, Viola - George Binkley III, Violin - Carl Garvin, Trumpet - Byron Bach, Acoustic Cello - R. Orbison, Composer - R. Orbison, Lyricist - Joe Tanner, Guitar - Murray M. "Buddy" Harman, Jr., Drums - Solie Isaac Fott, Violin - Hank Garland, Guitar - Bill Pursell, Piano - Ray Edenton, Guitar
Originally released 1962. All rights reserved by Sony Music Entertainment
Fred Carter Jr., Guitar - Bob Moore, Bass - Charlie McCoy, Harmonica - Boots Randolph, Saxophone - Howard Carpenter, Viola - Cecil Brower, Violin - Roy Orbison, Performer - Roy Orbison, Vocal - Wayne Moss, Guitar - J. Melson, Composer - J. Melson, Lyricist - Floyd Cramer, Piano - Fred Foster, Producer - Various, Guitar - Various, Violin - George Binkley III, Violin - R. Orbison, Composer - R. Orbison, Lyricist - Jerry Kennedy, Guitar - Murray M. "Buddy" Harman, Jr., Drums - Hank Garland, Guitar - Bill Pursell, Piano - Solie Fott, Violin - Harold Bradley, Guitar - Scotty Moore, Guitar
Originally released 1963. All rights reserved by Sony Music Entertainment
Fred Carter Jr., Guitar - Bob Moore, Bass - Cam Mullins, Trumpet - Boots Randolph, Saxophone - Harry Johnson, Saxophone - Cecil Brower, Violin - Boudleaux Bryant, Guitar - Roy Orbison, Performer - Roy Orbison, Vocal - L. LEE, Composer - L. LEE, Lyricist - Floyd Cramer, Piano - John Greubel, Drums - Fred Foster, Producer - Grady Martin, Guitar - Various, Guitar - Various, Violin - Various, Viola - George Binkley III, Violin - Carl Garvin, Trumpet - Byron Bach, Acoustic Cello - Joe Tanner, Guitar - Murray M. "Buddy" Harman, Jr., Drums - Solie Isaac Fott, Violin - Hank Garland, Guitar - Bill Pursell, Piano - Ray Edenton, Guitar - S. Goodman, Composer - S. Goodman, Lyricist
Originally released 1965 Monument Records. All rights reserved by Sony Music Entertainment
Joe Melson, Composer - Joe Melson, Lyricist - Roy Orbison, Vocal - Roy Orbison, Performer - Roy Orbison, Lyricist - Roy Orbison, Composer - Fred Foster, Producer
Originally released 1963. All rights reserved by Sony Music Entertainment
Fred Carter Jr., Guitar - Bob Moore, Bass - Cam Mullins, Trumpet - Boots Randolph, Saxophone - Harry Johnson, Saxophone - Cecil Brower, Violin - Boudleaux Bryant, Guitar - Roy Orbison, Performer - Roy Orbison, Vocal - J. Melson, Composer - J. Melson, Lyricist - Floyd Cramer, Piano - John Greubel, Drums - Fred Foster, Producer - Grady Martin, Guitar - Various, Guitar - Various, Violin - Various, Viola - George Binkley III, Violin - Carl Garvin, Trumpet - Byron Bach, Acoustic Cello - R. Orbison, Composer - R. Orbison, Lyricist - Joe Tanner, Guitar - Murray M. "Buddy" Harman, Jr., Drums - Solie Isaac Fott, Violin - Hank Garland, Guitar - Bill Pursell, Piano - Ray Edenton, Guitar
Originally released 1962. All rights reserved by Sony Music Entertainment
C. Walker, Composer - C. Walker, Lyricist - Roy Orbison, Performer - Roy Orbison, Vocal - Fred Foster, Producer
(P) 1962 Sony Music Entertainment
Joseph Tanner, Composer - Joseph Tanner, Lyricist - Ken Robertson, Mastering Engineer - Ken Robertson, Re-Mixer - Roy Orbison, Performer - Fred Foster, Producer
Originally released 1963. All rights reserved by Sony Music Entertainment
Album review
In 1988, Columbia Records released a four-disc Roy Orbison retrospective called The Legendary Roy Orbison. It contained 74 tracks. It was a great package except for one thing: it sounded terrible, as the mastering techniques in the first days of the CD were not what they are now. The Soul of Rock and Roll, issued by Sony Legacy in 2008, is an enormous improvement in the sonic arena, just for starters. This four-disc collection contains 107 tracks (33 more than the previous box) with selections from all the labels Orbison recorded for. There are 12 previously unreleased performances, including the last tune Orbison ever committed to tape (strangely, a live version of "It's Over," recorded a scant two days before his death in Akron, OH). It contains a very solid book with essays by his widow Barbara, producer Fred Foster, and Roy Jr., and numerous testimonials from fans and friends including Tom Waits, Glenn Danzig Eric Clapton, Bonnie Raitt, Bruce Springsteen, Joe Melson, Barry and Robin Gibb, and John Mellencamp, among others.
Because of his unique place in rock history, Orbison has long been worthy of this type of definitive career retrospective, one taking into account the creative and popular renaissance he enjoyed at the end of his life as a solo artist and as a member of the Traveling Wilburys. Orbison never quit working, even during the obscure 1970s when he briefly went back to Monument; cut an album for Elektra; and recorded the spotty Class of '55 with Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins, and Jerry Lee Lewis for Mercury. A great collection of the earliest years with the Teen Kings is here, as are the important Sun and Monument singles, carefully chosen album tracks, selections from the films Zabriskie Point and The Fastest Guitar Alive, and even "That Lovin' You Feelin' Again," a duet with Emmylou Harris from the film Roadie. There are some stellar live performances from Barbara Orbison's enormous archive, including an unreleased monster rave-up of Chris Kenner's "Land of 1000 Dances."
Disc four contains material from the posthumously released discs Mystery Girl and the better tracks from King of Hearts. The Wilburys are represented by "Not Alone Anymore" and the hit "You Got It," written by Orbison, Jeff Lynne, and Tom Petty. Soundtracks also figure: "In Dreams" from the Blue Velvet soundtrack; the hauntingly strange "You May Feel Me Crying" from Wim Wenders' film The End of Violence, which was overdubbed by Brian Eno in 1997; the Will Jennings and David Briggs-produced single "Wild Hearts (Run Out of Time)" from the soundtrack of the film Insignificance; and the Rick Rubin-produced "Life Fades Away" from the Less Than Zero soundtrack. "Crying," Orbison's now legendary duet with k.d. lang from Black & White Night, is also included. The most memorable thing here, however, is the unreleased demo of "Precious," recorded in either 1968 or 1969. It's just The Voice with his guitar. It's chilling. The only track really missing is "Southbound Jericho Parkway," from 1969, Orbison's singular moment of psychobilly and his seven-minute, darker-than-midnight answer to "MacArthur Park." This box is the first true compendium of popular and obscure Orbison resources. Bear Family's expensive seven-disc Orbison is an exhaustive collection documenting 1955-1965, but that's only part of the story. The major bits of the early years are here, and are lent weight and depth by the '70s and '80s recordings, making this one the compilation to beat.
© Thom Jurek /TiVo
About the album
- 4 disc(s) - 107 track(s)
- Total length: 05:01:46
- Main artists: Roy Orbison
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: Monument - Orbison Records - Legacy
- Genre: Pop/Rock Rock
(P) Compilation 2008 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
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