The sweet, expressive voice of Roy Orbison is unmistakable. His albums and singles form one of the major artistic works of the first half of the 1960s. He sang sensitive, sorrowful tales of love lost that often culminated with operatic falsetto bursts of emotion.
Orbison fell out favor during the blues and psychedelic rock revolutions later in the decade, only to find renewed success in the ‘80s with Van Halen’s cover of “Oh, Pretty Woman”; the inclusion of “In Dreams” in David Lynch’s film Blue Velvet; and his contributions to the Traveling Wilburys, alongside George Harrison, Jeff Lynne, Tom Petty, and Bob Dylan. He died in 1988 of a heart attack not long after completing his final album, Mystery Girl, released the following month to great acclaim.
This playlist focuses on his 1960s heyday.
Cover Art Citation:
- In Dreams: Source, Discogs.com
Recent Comments