Maps of Music

Lonely and Blue (1961)

Where the lyrics of Lonely and Blue take you, and where it was really made.

The vocal figure of 'Only the Lonely' came from 'Come Back to Me (My Love)' on this album, not the other way around.

Key places

Recording at RCA Studio B (1961)

Recording site RCA Studio B — The album was recorded at RCA Studio B using two- and three-track tape machines. The track listing gives 15–17 September 1960 as the recording dates, except where indicated. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Album story

Overview

• Lonely and Blue: debut studio album by Roy Orbison
• Released on Monument Records in January 1961
• Available in both stereo and mono
• Track listing gives 15–17 September 1960 as the recording dates, except where indicated
• Entered the UK albums chart on 30 June 1963
• Spent eight weeks on the UK chart, peaking at number 14

Background

• Orbison spent two years at Sun Records
• He then signed with RCA Records in 1958 and left after two singles
• In early 1959, manager Wesley Rose asked producer and owner Fred Foster about signing Orbison to Monument Records
• Foster agreed, which set up the Monument deal

Recording

• Recorded at RCA Studio B in Nashville, Tennessee
• Sessions used two- and three-track tape machines
• 'Come Back to Me (My Love)' has an intro almost identical to 'Only the Lonely'
• The vocal figure of 'Only the Lonely' originated in 'Come Back to Me (My Love)'
• The album also includes covers of songs by Don Gibson, The Everly Brothers, Gene Pitney, and Johnnie Ray

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Tracklist

Sources: musicbrainz.org

Artist

Formation

• Roy Kelton Orbison (born April 23, 1936, Vernon, Texas; died December 6, 1988) was an American singer, songwriter and guitarist.
• He began singing in a country-and-western band as a teenager in Wink, Texas, formed the Wink Westerners in 1949 and later the Teen Kings.
• He was signed to Sun Records by Sam Phillips in 1956.

Career

• Known for a distinctive, powerful voice, complex song structures and dark, emotional ballads.
• Signed to Monument Records; from 1960 to 1966, 22 of his singles reached the Billboard top 40.
• Wrote or co-wrote almost all of his own top-10 hits, including "Only the Lonely", "Running Scared", "Crying" and "Oh, Pretty Woman".
• Suffered personal tragedies after the mid-1960s, including the deaths of his first wife Claudette and two sons, and his career faltered.
• Revived in the late 1980s after cover versions of his songs; co-founded the Traveling Wilburys with George Harrison, Bob Dylan, Tom Petty and Jeff Lynne in 1988.
• Died of a heart attack in December 1988 at age 52.
• Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987; received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Reception

At release

• Billboard: named a 'Spotlight Winner of the Week' in its January 1961 review, calling the album 'a Spinnable Album'
• Cashbox: praised the effort, saying good material and a striking delivery made strong merchandise
• Variety: noted that earlier singles 'Only The Lonely', 'Blue Angel', and 'I'm Hurtin'' were included, along with other Nashville-originated songs

Reappraisal

• AllMusic (Bruce Eder): called the album packed with great moments and different permutations of its sound
• Eder cited the powerful lead vocal and the Boots Randolph sax break on 'I'll Say It's My Fault'
• Eder singled out 'Come Back to Me (My Love)', sung with operatic depth over a light rock and roll beat
• Eder also highlighted Don Gibson's 'I'd Be a Legend in My Time' and 'I Can't Stop Loving You'

Records

• UK albums chart entry: 30 June 1963
• UK peak: number 14, eight weeks on the chart

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Trivia

• 'Come Back to Me (My Love)' has an intro almost identical to 'Only the Lonely', because the vocal figure of 'Only the Lonely' came from it.
• The album covers songs by Don Gibson, The Everly Brothers, Gene Pitney, and Johnnie Ray.
• Orbison recorded 'Bye Bye Love' on Lonely & Blue in 1960 as a thank-you to The Everly Brothers.
• Variety noted that earlier singles 'Only The Lonely', 'Blue Angel', and 'I'm Hurtin'' were included on the album.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org · pt.wikipedia.org

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