There Is Only One Roy Orbison Explained

There Is Only One Roy Orbison
Type:Album
Artist:Roy Orbison
Cover:Thereisonlyoneroyorbison.jpg
Released:August 1965
Recorded:July 2–9, 1965
Studio:RCA Studios. Nashville, Tennessee
Genre:Rock
Length:28:15
Label:MGM
Producer:Wesley Rose, Jim Vienneau
Prev Title:Early Orbison
Prev Year:1964
Next Title:Orbisongs
Next Year: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 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]

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 and No. 55 (No. 41 on Cash Box, while reaching the Top 30 on Record World) in the US. It was recorded at the RCA Studios in Nashville.

Track listing

Produced by Wesley Rose & Jim Vienneau

Notes and References

  1. Book: Orbison, Roy Jr.. The Authorized Roy Orbison. Center Street. Orbison, Wesley,, Orbison, Alex,, Slate, Jeff. 2017. 9781478976547. First. New York. 133. 1017566749.
  2. CashBox Record Reviews . August 14, 1965 . 72 . 2022-01-12 . Cash Box.