Customer Reviews

The All-Time Greatest Hits of Roy Orbison, Vols. 1 & 2

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

There are few surprises here: This 20 track, 2 volume in one CD is a first rate compilation of Roy's golden years with Monument records in the early to mid 1960s. Naming favorite tracks is highly subjective, for each of us has our pet choices. Roy had so many hits and most were done his unique triple octave voice that led up to climactic fadeouts or endings. (This reviewer does not actually know what a "triple octave" voice is but I have heard it used often in referring to Roy). The best goldies from this viewpoint are "It's Over" and the ultimate climax song "In Dreams". Who else could hit that high note? Who else would dare attempt it? This reviewer also liked "Blue Bayou" and "I'm Hurtin". And yes, "Pretty Woman" is here too. Some amazon friends have complained that none of Roy's selections from his later years are included but those are beyond the scope of this CD. It is vital to note that amazon has an extensive (!) selection of Roy CDs. I don't know of any that match the value of this particular one. Why keep scrolling down? Why wait? Hit the "add to shopping cart" button. It's difficult to end a positive review on a negative note but the skimpy and thinly written informational jacket insert is truly pathetic! Surely Roy derves more respect!

Roy Orbison is still curiously underrarted and under-appreciated. I was ecstatic when he went through a revival in the late 80's, but it was tragically cut short when Roy died, then his reputation again fell by the wayside. His voice remains the purest instrument in popular music in the last fifty years. Listening to these remastered recordings is an absolute joy because I'm accustomed to listening to these treasures on vinyl, with the typical pops, buzzes and surface scratches. All of that has been eliminated on this disc. The sound quality is exceptional throughout.

Included are all of Orbison's signature hits, from the classic "Pretty Woman" to the haunting "Crying" with the poignant tenor cry at the conclusion. My personal favorite Orbison song has always been "Running Scared," a sort of mini-opera, replete with the soaring, rather syrupy arrangements his songs are noted for. I admit many of these arrangements sound dated, but the voice is the primary instrument anyway, and the only one you'll care about. If Elvis was blessed with a gorgeous set of pipes, Roy was in another league entirely and his gift never diminished. If you are an old Orbison die-hard fan, or a newbie to this incredible man, this collection will do you nicely.

As a kid, I went on vacation every summer with my aunt, uncle and cousins to a little town called Boulder Creek. Boulder Creek is a small resort town in the redwood forests a few miles inland from Santa Cruz on the California coast. Many hours were spent basking in the sun (or seeking shade) at the local swimming pool. The setting was idyllic, and one particular summer a popular tune on the juke box was "Only The Lonely".

I've never been a huge Roy Orbison fan (the orchestrated ballads that he often recorded aren't really my style), but he had some great hits, of which "Only The Lonely" has long been a personal favorite. It probably has something to do with those hot afternoons spent at the pool in those beautiful green mountains. This CD has "Only The Lonely", as well as Orbison's other big hits, along with some other good tunes that you may not have heard if you're not a fan. If you've got a favorite Orbison song, or if you're just interested in seminal pop/rock music, this is a CD you want to own. Roy Orbison was a great singer and a major pop/rock artist. This is a great collection of songs. You might find youself listening to it more than you expected. I recommend it highly.

It tells you something about the artist in question when, in over 30 reviews, just two award this volume less than the 5-star maximum. Obviously, when it comes to Roy Orbison it takes a real nit-picker to find fault with any of the volumes covering his fabulous career.

This involved 32 Billboard Top 100 singles from 1956 to 1992 (two of them posthumous and 3 of them double-sided hits), 10 Adult Contemporary crossovers, and over a half dozen on each of the R&B and Country charts. Not to mention the millions in EP/LP sales.

If I was to engage in nit-picking I would point out that tracks 13 and 14 were not, themselves, hits in the true sense of the word, Love Hurts being the B-side of Running Scared, and Shahadaroba the flip of In Dreams. This being his best while at Monument, perhaps these could have been replaced by the 1965 hits Goodnight [# 21] and (Say) You're My Girl [# 39]. Also, the liner notes by Boudleaux Bryant are rather skimpy for such an important artist.

Even so, those shortcomings are not enough for even this noted nit-picker to assign less than 5 stars.

Roy Orbison. This man had one of the best voices in rock and roll history, and for his whole life, up until his death in 1988, he created a number of pop-rock masterpieces. And like any fairly popular musician, Roy has had a number of hits compilations. How does The All-Time Greatest Hits Of Roy Orbison measure up? Read on, and you shall see.

PROS:
-If you're a casual fan of Roy's, and you're seeking big hits like Dream Baby, Oh Pretty Woman, and Only The Lonely, you've come to the right place.
-The album also gives you a number of underrated masterpieces.
-It's an inexpensive compilation.
-You get twenty songs on one compact disc!

CONS:
-This compilation makes the same mistake all other Roy Orbison hits compilations make - You Got It isn't on here. WHY!?
-There aren't any Traveling Wilburys songs! Damn it!
-Tracks aren't in chronological order.

OVERALL:
Despite minor shortcomings, this is a very good hits compilation. If you're a casual Roy Orbison fan, it's very likely that this compilation will satisfy you.

As a lifelong Orbison fan, even although I am a mere 24 years of age, I can only add to the praise bestowed on this CD. However, I'm getting pretty frustrated by the fact that, as the years since his death roll on, these tunes are fast becoming the only tunes readily available. These hits, all recorded for Monument between 1960 and 1965 are great, personaly however I have always favored Roy's POST-MONUMENT records, the great albums het cut between 1965 and 1973 for MGM. MGM itself is not re-releasing any of those, the only two worthwhile compilations covering this area are the now out of print MGM Singles Collection 1965-1973, Polydor 1990, and Classic R.O. 1965-1968. Of course, the Orbison estate was so kind as to release their own version of Orbison's MGM singles, which basically is the exact same CD as Polydor's album, but, to lure the completists, one... yes, one... previously unreleased song. And they pull this off ALL THE TIME. "Say No More", hurriedly buried in yet another Greatest Hit package. Come on.. you cannot keep Roy's legacy alive by constantly rereleasing Greatest Hits comps and throw in a nugget every now and then.

FIND the Polydor Singles Collection... it has great detailed liner notes by Colin Escott who interviewed Bill Dees, the MGM club et al. Roy's MGM music - again - was the best he ever recorded, but it will be lost soon, because neither MGM nor the orbison estate are willing to release them.

On another note, Roy recorded over a 100 songs for MGM which are not released, but are readily gatherin dust in the vaults at Orbison estate. Keep Orbison alive, keep his music fresh, don't rip off the fans.

LES MEILLEURS DE ROY,JE CONNAISAIT LE PRODUIT,SI TU VEUX UN SEUL CD DE ROY ORBISON,C EST CELUI-LA,. MERCI.