Roy Orbison discography
Roy Orbison discography
Orbison in 1965. |
| Releases |
| ↙Studio albums |
23 |
| ↙Live albums |
4 |
| ↙Compilation albums |
24 |
| ↙Singles |
92 |
This is a discography for Roy Orbison (April 23, 1936 – December 6, 1988), a singer-songwriter who found the most success in early rock and roll from 1957 to 1964. During that time, 22 of Orbison's songs placed on the Billboard Top Forty.
Born and raised in Texas, Orbison got his start in a rockabilly band in high school. He broke into professional music under Sam Phillips at Sun Records, but found only marginal success there.[1] After a couple years writing for other musicians, Orbison recorded several songs at Monument Records under producer Fred Foster. With Foster, Orbison and songwriter Joe Melson tailored many of Orbison's songs for his unique voice; his most popular songs were dramatic ballads ending with emotional crescendos that showcased his powerful vocals. After his biggest hit in 1964, "Oh, Pretty Woman", Orbison continued to record, but not until 1987 did he find the success he had once known when his single "In Dreams" was used in David Lynch's film Blue Velvet. The next year, Orbison recorded with the supergroup Traveling Wilburys alongside Bob Dylan, Tom Petty, Jeff Lynne, and George Harrison.[2] Lynne produced Orbison's final album Mystery Girl, which was rising up the charts when Orbison died.
Albums
Studio albums
Live albums
| Year |
Album |
Chart positions |
Label |
| US |
CAN |
| 1989 |
A Black & White Night Live |
123 |
63 |
Virgin |
| 1998 |
Combo Concert: 1965 Holland |
— |
— |
Orbison |
| 1998 |
Live at the BBC |
— |
— |
Master Tone/BBC |
| 2010 |
The Last Concert (December 4, 1988) |
— |
— |
Eagle |
Compilations
| Year |
Album |
Chart positions |
Certifications |
Label |
| US |
US Country |
CAN |
US |
CAN |
| 1962 |
Roy Orbison's Greatest Hits |
13 |
— |
— |
Gold |
— |
Monument |
| 1964 |
More of Roy Orbison's Greatest Hits |
19 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
| Early Orbison |
101 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
| 1966 |
The Very Best of Roy Orbison |
94 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
| 1970 |
The Great Songs of Roy Orbison |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
MGM |
| 1975 |
The Living Legend of Roy Orbison |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
Columbia |
| 1977 |
All-Time Greatest Hits |
205 |
23 |
— |
Platinum |
— |
Monument |
| 1987 |
In Dreams: The Greatest Hits |
95 |
— |
— |
Gold |
— |
Virgin |
| 1988 |
For the Lonely: 18 Greatest Hits |
110 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
Rhino |
| 1989 |
The Legendary Roy Orbison
20 Original Hits/Original Recordings |
— |
— |
53 |
— |
Platinum |
PolyGram |
| 1989 |
Best Loved Standards |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
Monument |
| 1990 |
The Legendary Roy Orbison (box set) |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
CBS |
| 1995 |
Super Hits |
104 |
54 |
— |
Gold |
— |
Epic |
| 1996 |
The Very Best of Roy Orbison |
186 |
29 |
— |
— |
— |
Virgin |
| 1998 |
Oh, Pretty Woman: The Greatest Hits |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
Madacy |
| 1999 |
16 Biggest Hits |
— |
47 |
— |
Gold |
— |
Monument |
| 2000 |
20 Golden Hits |
— |
69 |
— |
— |
— |
TeeVee |
| 2003 |
The Best of Roy Orbison |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
EMI |
| 2006 |
The Essential Roy Orbison |
— |
62 |
— |
— |
— |
Monument |
| The Very Best of Roy Orbison |
— |
— |
33 |
— |
— |
Virgin |
| 2008 |
Playlist: The Very Best of Roy Orbison |
— |
50 |
— |
— |
— |
Legacy |
| 2011 |
The Monument Singles — A-Sides (1960–1964) |
— |
50 |
— |
— |
— |
| The Monument Singles Collection (1960–1964) |
— |
55 |
— |
— |
— |
| Opus Collection |
65 |
12 |
— |
— |
— |
Singles
| Year |
Single |
Peak chart positions |
Label |
| US |
US AC |
US Country |
AUS |
CAN |
CAN AC |
CAN Country |
NOR |
UK |
| 1956 |
"Trying to Get to You" |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
Je-Wel |
| "Ooby Dooby" |
56 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
Sun |
| "Rock House" |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
| 1957 |
"Sweet and Easy to Love" |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
| "Chicken Hearted" |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
| 1958 |
"Seems to Me" |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
RCA |
| "Almost 18" |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
| 1959 |
"Paper Boy" |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
Monument |
| "Up Town" |
72 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
| 1960 |
"Only the Lonely (Know the Way I Feel)" |
2 |
— |
— |
5 |
2 |
— |
— |
4 |
1 |
| "Blue Angel" |
9 |
— |
— |
28 |
14 |
— |
— |
— |
11 |
| "I'm Hurtin'" |
27 |
— |
— |
— |
27 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
| 1961 |
"Running Scared" |
1 |
— |
— |
5 |
1 |
— |
— |
— |
9 |
| "Love Hurts" |
— |
— |
— |
5 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
| "Crying" |
2 |
— |
— |
1 |
3 |
— |
— |
— |
25 |
| "Candy Man" |
25 |
— |
— |
1 |
3 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
| 1962 |
"Dream Baby (How Long Must I Dream)" |
4 |
— |
— |
2 |
8 |
— |
— |
5 |
2 |
| "The Crowd" |
26 |
— |
— |
25 |
25 |
— |
— |
— |
40 |
| "Evergreen" |
— |
— |
— |
100 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
| "Working for the Man" |
33 |
— |
— |
1 |
19 |
— |
— |
— |
50 |
| "Leah" |
25 |
— |
— |
1 |
19 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
| 1963 |
"In Dreams" |
7 |
3 |
— |
1 |
7 |
— |
— |
— |
6 |
| "Falling" |
22 |
7 |
— |
3 |
29 |
— |
— |
— |
9 |
| " Distant Drums" |
— |
— |
— |
3 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
| "Blue Bayou" |
29 |
— |
— |
1 |
14 |
— |
— |
10 |
3 |
| "Mean Woman Blues" |
5 |
— |
— |
1 |
14 |
— |
— |
— |
3 |
| "Pretty Paper" |
15 |
10 |
— |
4 |
9 |
— |
— |
— |
6 |
| "Beautiful Dreamer" |
— |
— |
— |
4 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
| 1964 |
"Borne on the Wind" |
— |
— |
— |
8 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
15 |
| "What'd I Say" |
— |
— |
— |
8 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
| "It's Over" |
9 |
1 |
— |
9 |
29 |
— |
— |
10 |
1 |
| "Indian Wedding" |
— |
— |
— |
9 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
| "Oh, Pretty Woman" |
1 |
— |
— |
1 |
1 |
— |
— |
1 |
1 |
| "She Wears My Ring" |
— |
— |
— |
68 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
| 1965 |
"Goodnight" |
21 |
— |
— |
6 |
5 |
— |
— |
— |
14 |
| "(Say) You're My Girl" |
39 |
— |
— |
8 |
17 |
— |
— |
— |
23 |
| "Ride Away" |
25 |
— |
— |
15 |
1 |
— |
— |
— |
34 |
MGM |
| "Crawling Back" |
46 |
— |
— |
14 |
2 |
— |
— |
— |
19 |
| "Breakin' Up Is Breakin' My Heart" |
31 |
— |
— |
19 |
2 |
— |
— |
— |
22 |
| 1966 |
"Let the Good Times Roll" |
81 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
Monument |
| "Twinkle Toes" |
39 |
— |
— |
13 |
25 |
— |
— |
— |
29 |
MGM |
| "Lana" |
— |
— |
— |
4 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
15 |
Monument |
| "Too Soon to Know" |
68 |
— |
— |
20 |
71 |
— |
— |
— |
3 |
MGM |
| "There Won't Be Many Coming Home" |
— |
— |
— |
12 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
12 |
| "Communication Breakdown" |
60 |
— |
— |
8 |
75 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
| 1967 |
"So Good" |
132 |
— |
— |
28 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
32 |
| "Cry Softly Lonely One" |
52 |
— |
— |
10 |
29 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
| "She" |
119 |
— |
— |
23 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
| 1968 |
"Born to Be Loved by You" |
— |
— |
— |
25 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
| "Shy Away" |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
| "Walk On" |
121 |
— |
— |
53 |
93 |
— |
— |
— |
39 |
| "Flowers" |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
| "Heartache" |
104 |
— |
— |
57 |
89 |
— |
— |
— |
44 |
| "Sugar Man" |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
| 1969 |
"My Friend" |
— |
— |
— |
99 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
35 |
| "Southbound Jericho Parkway" |
— |
— |
— |
99 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
| "Penny Arcade" |
133 |
— |
— |
1 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
27 |
| "Tennessee Owns My Soul" |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
| "Break My Mind" |
— |
— |
— |
26 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
| 1970 |
"She Cheats on Me" |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
| "How Do You Start Over Again" |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
| "So Young" |
122 |
— |
— |
82 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
| "If I Had A Woman Like You" |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
| 1971 |
"(Love Me Like You Did) Last Night" |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
| "Close Again" |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
| 1972 |
"God Love You" |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
| "Changes" |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
| "Remember the Good" |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
| "Harlem Woman" |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
| "Memphis, Tennessee" |
— |
— |
— |
84 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
| "I Can Read Between The Lines" |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
| 1973 |
"Blue Rain (Coming Down)" |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
| "Sooner or Later" |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
| "I Wanna Live" |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
| 1974 |
"Sweet Mama Blue" |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
Mercury |
| 1975 |
"Hung Up on You" |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
| "Still" |
— |
— |
— |
56 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
| 1976 |
"Belinda" |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
Monument |
| "I'm a Southern Man" |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
| 1977 |
"Drifting Away" |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
| 1979 |
"Easy Way Out" |
109 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
Asylum |
| "Poor Baby" |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
| 1980 |
"That Lovin' You Feelin' Again" (with Emmylou Harris) |
55 |
10 |
6 |
97 |
— |
31 |
3 |
— |
— |
Warner |
| 1985 |
"Wild Hearts" |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
76 |
ZTT/Island |
| 1987 |
"In Dreams" |
— |
— |
75 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
Virgin |
| "Crying" (with k.d. lang) |
— |
28 |
42 |
— |
2 |
10 |
25 |
— |
— |
| 1988 |
"Handle with Care" (Traveling Wilburys) |
45 |
— |
— |
3 |
3 |
— |
— |
— |
21 |
Wilbury/WB |
| 1989 |
"You Got It" |
9 |
1 |
7 |
3 |
1 |
— |
3 |
3 |
3 |
Virgin |
| "End of the Line" (Traveling Wilburys) |
63 |
— |
— |
12 |
11 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
Wilbury/WB |
| "California Blue" |
— |
44 |
51 |
61 |
75 |
— |
58 |
— |
77 |
Virgin |
| "She's a Mystery to Me" |
— |
23 |
— |
17 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
27 |
| 1990 |
"Oh Pretty Woman" (live) |
— |
48 |
89 |
— |
— |
— |
80 |
— |
— |
| 1992 |
"I Drove All Night" |
— |
— |
— |
— |
22 |
31 |
— |
— |
7 |
MCA |
| "Crying" (re-issue with k.d. lang) |
— |
40 |
— |
71 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
13 |
Virgin |
| "Heartbreak Radio" |
— |
— |
— |
— |
31 |
37 |
— |
— |
36 |
MCA |
Collaborations and guest appearances
Citations
- ^ Colin Escott, pg.150
- ^ Ellis Amburn, pg.214.
References
- Amburn, Ellis (1990). Dark Star: The Roy Orbison Story, Carol Publishing Group. ISBN 081840518X
- Escott, CE. (1992). Good Rockin' Tonight: Sun Records and the Birth of Rock 'n' Roll. New York, N.Y.: St.Martin's Press. ISBN 0312081995
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| Studio albums |
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| Compilations |
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| Collaborations |
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| Soundtrack appearances |
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| Live |
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| Related articles |
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