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InterMedia Arts Center 2/2/08
Huntington, NY
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Roy Orbison
Charted: #2 in June 1960
Although Roy Orbison is frequently associated with Sun Records, the truth is that he never reached the Top 40 until two-and-a-half years after he left that label. His one minor hit for Sun was a trite rockabilly number called “Ooby Dooby,” which was later covered by Creedence Clearwater Revival. Part of the problem at Sun was that Orbison recorded halfhearted rock-and-roll and novelty songs. His writing potential and extraordinary voice were grossly underutilized, and Orbison’s frustration at being unable to record anything other than silly rockers like “Devil Doll,” “I Like Love,” and “Chicken Hearted” led to his departure. After a brief and unsuccessful year with RCA, he signed with Monument Records, a small independent label based in Washington, D.C.
Orbison started a songwriting partnership with fellow Texan Joe Melson, and their first collaboration, “Uptown,” gave Orbison his biggest hit since “Ooby Dooby.” Encouraged by their newfound success, they carefully constructed their follow-up single. “Only the Lonely” was truly a well-crafted song, and it stood apart from the standard rock and roll of its time. The melody was adventurous, and Orbison’s voice caused it to soar. On his previous recordings, he usually sang timidly. When high notes were required, he would switch to a breathy falsetto that made his singing voice seem quite ordinary. When he needs to reach a note on “Only the Lonely,” he belts it out effortlessly. Finally, Orbison was recognized as a singer with a powerful voice and an extended range. The strength of his voice was further exaggerated by the background vocalists, who quietly supported the rhythmic melody, singing the remarkably “dum” but effective phrase, “Dum dum dum dooby doo-wah, oh yay yay yay yeah,” etc. Then again, maybe it isn’t so terribly dumb to offer a wordless commentary on the state of sublime solitude. Nobody had previously been capable of embodying such a morose state in song and still retain his sense of dignity. Orbison had arrived, bringing his newfound style of classy rock and roll with him.
 
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