Roy Orbison discography

Roy Orbison (April 23, 1936 – December 6, 1988) was an American singer-songwriter who found the most success in the early rock and roll era from 1956[1] to 1964. He later enjoyed a resurgence in the late 1980s with chart success as a member of the Traveling Wilburys and with his Mystery Girl album, which included the posthumous hit single "You Got It".[2] At the height of his popularity, 22 of Orbison's songs placed on the US Billboard Top 40 chart, and six peaked in the top five, including two number-one hits. In the UK, Orbison scored ten top-10 hits between 1960 and 1966, including three number-one singles.

Roy Orbison discography
Orbison in 1965.
Studio albums23
Live albums4
Compilation albums24
Singles92

Born and raised in Texas, Orbison got his start in a rockabilly band in high school. According to The Authorized Roy Orbison, Orbison's first release was in March 1956 on the Je-Wel label.[3] He broke into professional music under Sam Phillips at Sun Records in the summer of 1956,[4] but he found only marginal success there.[5] After a couple years writing for other musicians (including "Claudette", recorded by The Everly Brothers), Orbison recorded several songs at Monument Records under producer Fred Foster starting in 1959. With Foster, Orbison and his frequent songwriting partners Joe Melson and Bill Dees 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 and chart intermittently in the UK and Australia,[1] but it was not until 1987 that he again found the level of popular worldwide success he had known in the early 1960s, when his original recording of "In Dreams" was used in David Lynch's film Blue Velvet.[1] The following year, Orbison co-founded the supergroup Traveling Wilburys with George Harrison, Jeff Lynne, Bob Dylan and Tom Petty.[6] Lynne produced Orbison's final album Mystery Girl, which was released posthumously in February 1989.

This discography shows main official U.S. and U.K. releases. According to the discography in The Authorized Roy Orbison,[7] there were numerous international single and album releases of importance (not released in the U.S. or U.K.) like the German "San Fernando" b/w "Mama" (London DL 20 726).[7]

Albums

Studio albums

TitleAlbum detailsPeak chart positionsCertifications
US
[8]
US
Country

[9]
AUS
[10][11]
CAN
[12]
GER
[13]
NED
[14]
NZ
[15]
NOR
[16]
SWE
[17]
UK
[18]
Lonely and Blue14
Roy Orbison at the Rock House
Crying
  • Released: January 1962
  • Label: Monument Records
2117
In Dreams
  • Released: JULY 1963
  • Label: Monument Records
356
Orbisongs
  • Released: October 1965
  • Label: Monument Records
13640
Oh, Pretty Woman

(non US)[1]

5
There Is Only One Roy Orbison5510
The Orbison Way
  • Released: January 1966
  • Label: MGM Records
12811
The Classic Roy Orbison
  • Released: July 1966
  • Label: MGM Records
12
Roy Orbison Sings Don Gibson
  • Released: January 1967
  • Label: MGM Records
The Fastest Guitar Alive
  • Released: July 1967
  • Label: MGM Records
Cry Softly Lonely One
  • Released: October 1967
  • Label: MGM Records
Roy Orbison's Many Moods
  • Released: August 1969
  • Label: MGM Records
Hank Williams the Roy Orbison Way
  • Released: August 1970
  • Label: MGM Records
The Big O

(non US)[1]

  • Released: March 1970
  • Label: London Records
Roy Orbison Sings
  • Released: May 1972
  • Label: MGM Records
Memphis
  • Released: November 1972
  • Label: MGM Records
Milestones
  • Released: September 24, 1973
  • Label: MGM Records
I'm Still in Love with You
Regeneration
  • Released: November 1976[1]
  • Label: Monument Records
Laminar Flow
In Dreams: The Greatest Hits
(studio re-recordings of older hits)
9524286
Mystery Girl
  • Released: February 7, 1989
  • Label: Virgin Records
51714417112
King of Hearts
  • Released: October 20, 1992
  • Label: Virgin Records
17925611823
Mystery Girl
(25th Anniversary Edition)
  • Released: 2014
  • Label: Virgin Records
3990
One of the Lonely Ones40
"—" denotes items that did not chart or were not released in that territory.

Collaboration albums

TitleAlbum detailsPeak chart positionsCertifications
US
[8]
US
Country

[9]
AUS
[10][11]
CAN
[12]
GER
[13]
NED
[14]
NZ
[15]
NOR
[16]
SWE
[17]
UK
[18]
Class of '55
(with Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis & Carl Perkins)
15
Traveling Wilburys Vol. 1
(As Traveling Wilburys)
  • Released: October 18, 1988
  • Label: Wilbury Records
313103322216
"—" denotes items that did not chart or were not released in that territory.

Live albums

TitleAlbum detailsPeak chart positionsCertifications
US
[8][9]
AUS
[10][11]
CAN
[12]
NED
[14]
NZ
[15]
SWE
[17]
UK
[18]
A Black & White Night Live
  • Released: October 23, 1989
  • Label: Virgin Records
123286368144551
Combo Concert: 1965 Holland
  • Released: 1998
  • Label: Orbison
Live at the BBC
  • Released: 1998
  • Label: Mastertone/BBC
Authorized Bootleg Collection[35]
  • Released: 1999
  • Label: Orbison/Eagle
The Last Concert
(4 December 1988)
  • Released: 2010
  • Label: Eagle
A Black & White Night Live 30 [36]
  • Released: February 24, 2017
  • Label: Roy's Boys/Legacy
74
"—" denotes items that did not chart or were not released in that territory.

Compilation albums

There are hundreds of compilations and greatest hits of Roy Orbison released internationally. Below is a selection of all the compilation albums which have achieved global chart peaks. For a more complete list of compilation releases, see Discogs.[37]

TitleAlbum detailsPeak chart positionsCertifications / Sales
US
[8]
US
Country

[9]
AUS
[10][11]
CAN
[12]
GER
[13]
NED
[14]
NZ
[15]
NOR
[16]
SWE
[17]
UK
[18]
Roy Orbison's Greatest Hits
  • Released: August 1, 1962
  • Label: Monument Records
133140
More of Roy Orbison's Greatest Hits
  • Released: July 1, 1964
  • Label: Monument Records
19
Exciting Sounds of Roy Orbison17
Early Orbison
  • Released: October 1, 1964
  • Label: Monument Records
101
The Very Best of Roy Orbison (1966 release)
  • Released: 1966
  • Label: Monument Records
94
The All-Time Greatest Hits of Roy Orbison
  • Released: November 1972
  • Label: Monument Records
2339
The Best of Roy Orbison1
Golden Days: The Collection Of 20 All-Time Greats
  • Released: July 1981
  • Label: Monument Records
1763
The Very Best of Roy Orbison
  • Released: 1976
  • Label: Arcade Records
61
For the Lonely: 18 Greatest Hits
  • Released: 1988
  • Label: Rhino Records
110
The Collection
  • Released: 1989
  • Label: Arcade Records
7
The Legendary Roy Orbison
20 Original Hits/Recordings
  • Released: October 1988
  • Label: Polygram
531
The Very Best of Roy Orbison: You Got It
  • Released: 1989
  • Label: Virgin Records
2022
Blue Bayou—Seine
24 Schönsten Love-Songs
  • Released: 1989
  • Label: CBS Records
13
Ballads38
The Very Best of
(with Fats Domino)
  • Released: 1991
  • Label: Dino Music
18
Super Hits
  • Released: 1995
  • Label: Epic Records
10454
The Very Best of Roy Orbison (1996 release)
  • Released: November 4, 1996
  • Label: Virgin Records
18629237583318
16 Biggest Hits
  • Released: 1999
  • Label: Legacy Recordings
47
The Very Best of
(Various European Releases)
  • Released: 2000
  • Label: (Various Labels)
7741
Love Songs
  • Released: January 25, 2001
  • Label: Virgin Records
84
20 Golden Hits
  • Released: 2002
  • Label: TeeVee Records
69
The Platinum Collection
  • Released: August 2, 2004
  • Label: EMI Virgin
16
The Essential Roy Orbison
  • Released: 2006
  • Label: Monument Records
62393565
The Very Best of Roy Orbison (2006 release)
  • Released: October 16, 2006
  • Label: Monument Records
1133320
Playlist: The Very Best of Roy Orbison
  • Released: 2008
  • Label: Legacy Recordings
50
The Monument Singles
A-Sides (1960–1964)
  • Released: April 15, 2011
  • Label: Legacy Recordings
50263487
The Monument Singles
Collection (1960–1964)
  • Released: April 15, 2011
  • Label: Legacy Recordings
55
Opus Collection
  • Released: 2011
  • Label: Legacy Recordings
6512
The Ultimate Collection
  • Released: October 28, 2016
  • Label: Legacy Recordings
1210
A Love So Beautiful
(with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra)
  • Released: November 3, 2017
  • Label: Roy's Boys, Monument, Legacy, Sony Music
151992
Unchained Melodies
(with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra)
  • Released: November 16, 2018[41]
  • Label: Roy's Boys, Monument, Legacy, Sony Music
32
[42]
3
"—" denotes items that did not chart or were not released in that territory.

Video albums

TitleDetailsCertification
12 of His Greatest Hits
  • Released: 1986
  • Label: Simitar
Black & White Night
  • Released: 1988
  • Label: HBO Video
  • ARIA: 11× Platinum[43]
  • BPI: Platinum[44]
Live Texas 86
  • Released: 1989
  • Label: Stadium Records
The Anthology
  • Released: 1999
  • Label: White Star
Live At Austin City Limits August 5, 1982
  • Released: 2000
  • Label: Orbison
  • ARIA: 2× Platinum[45]
In Dreams - The Roy Orbison Story
  • Released: 2001
  • Label: Wienerworld Presentation
Greatest Hits
  • Released: 2003
  • Label: Eagle Vision
1973 Live from Australia
  • Released: 2005
  • Label: Image Entertainment
Running Scared
  • Released: 2006
  • Label: All Stars

Singles

YearSingle/B-sidePeak chart positionsCertificationsAlbum
(Main Title)
Uncharted b-sides in smaller fontHot
100

[8]
Adult
Con.

[9]
Hot
Country

[9]
AUS
[47]
BEL
[48]
CAN
[49]
IRL
[50]
NED
[51]
NOR
[52]
UK
[53]
1956"Tryin' to Get You"
/"Ooby Dooby"
(as a member of The Teen Kings)


(Single release only)[1]
"Ooby Dooby"
/"Go! Go! Go!"
59

Roy Orbison at the Rock House[1]
"Rock House"
/"You're My Baby"


1957"Sweet and Easy to Love"
/"Devil Doll"


(Single releases only)
"Chicken Hearted"
/"I Like Love"


1958"Seems to Me"
/"Sweet and Innocent"


Special Delivery
(Various Artists)
"Almost 18"
/"Jolie"


1959"Paper Boy"
/"With the Bug"


(Single release only)
"Up Town"
/"Pretty One"
72

Roy Orbison's Greatest Hits
1960"Only the Lonely (Know the Way I Feel)"
/"Here Comes That Song Again"
2
562741
Lonely and Blue
"Blue Angel"
/"Today's Teardrops"
9
281411
"I'm Hurtin'"
/"I Can't Stop Loving You"
27
27
1961"Running Scared"/
"Love Hurts"
1


5
5

1



9
Crying
"Crying"/
"Candy Man"
2
25


1
1

3
3



25
1962"Dream Baby (How Long Must I Dream)"
/"The Actress"
4
28952Roy Orbison's Greatest Hits
"The Crowd"
/"Mama"
26
252540
"Evergreen"[7]
/"Love Star"
(Australia only)
100
"Working for the Man"/
"Leah"
33
25


1
1

19
19



50
More of Roy Orbison's Greatest Hits
1963"In Dreams"
/"Shahdaroba"
7
317716 [a]
In Dreams
"Falling"/
"Distant Drums"
22
7

3
3
8
29
8


9
"Blue Bayou"/
"Mean Woman Blues"
29
5


1
1
3
14
14
1

10
3
"Pretty Paper"
/"Beautiful Dreamer"
15
10496
1964"Borne on the Wind"/
"What'd I Say"



8
8


9


15
More of Roy Orbison's Greatest Hits
"It's Over"/
"Indian Wedding"
9
1

9
9
4
29
1
4
10
1
"Oh, Pretty Woman"
/"Yo te Amo María"
1
1111111
Orbisongs
1965"Goodnight"
/"Only with You"
21
625514
"(Say) You're My Girl"
/"Sleepy Hollow"
39
815171023
"Ride Away"
/"Wondering"
25
1513134
There Is Only One Roy Orbison
"Crawling Back"
/"If You Can't Say Something Nice"
46
1420219
The Orbison Way
"Breakin' Up Is Breakin' My Heart"
/"Wait"
31
199222
1966"Let the Good Times Roll"
/"Distant Drums"
81

Orbisongs
"Twinkle Toes"
/"Where Is Tomorrow"
39
13142529
The Classic Roy Orbison
"Lana"
b/w "Our Summer Song" [56]

4181915
Crying
"Too Soon to Know"
/"You'll Never Be Sixteen Again"
68
2057143
Roy Orbison Sings Don Gibson
"There Won't Be Many Coming Home"
b/w "City Life" (AUS)
b/w "Going Back to Gloria" (UK)
[7]


1212
The Fastest Guitar Alive
"Communication Breakdown"
b/w "Going Back to Gloria"
60
864[57]
Cry Softly Lonely One
1967"So Good"
/"Memories"
132
2832
(Single release only)
"Cry Softly Lonely One"
/"Pistolero"
52
1029Cry Softly Lonely One
"She"
/"Here Comes the Rain Baby"
119
2352
1968"Born to Be Loved by You"
/"Shy Away"

25
(Single release only)
"Walk On"
/"Flowers"
121
5391[58]39
Roy Orbison's Many Moods
"Heartache"
/"Sugar Man"
104
5788[59]44
1969"My Friend"/
"Southbound Jericho Parkway"




99





35
The Great Songs of Roy Orbison
"Penny Arcade"
/"Tennessee Owns My Soul"
133
127
The Big O
"Break My Mind"
/"How Do You Start Over"

26
1970"She Cheats on Me"
b/w "How Do You Start Over"


(Single releases only)
"So Young"
b/w "If I Had a Woman Like You"
122
82
1971"(Love Me Like You Did It) Last Night"
b/w "Close Again"


1972"God Love You"
b/w "Changes"


Roy Orbison Sings
"Remember the Good"
b/w "Harlem Woman"


"Memphis, Tennessee"
b/w "I Can Read Between the Lines"

84
Memphis
1973"Blue Rain (Coming Down)"
b/w "Sooner or Later"


Milestones
"I Wanna Live"
b/w "You Lay Easy on My Mind"


1974"Sweet Mama Blue"
b/w "Heartache"


I'm Still in Love with You
1975"Hung Up on You"
b/w "Spanish Nights"


"Still" [7]
b/w "It's Lonely"
(Australia only)

56
1976"Belinda"
b/w "No Chain at All"


Regeneration
"I'm a Southern Man"
b/w "Born to Love Me"


1977"Drifting Away"
b/w "Under Suspicion"


(Single release only)
1979"Easy Way Out"
b/w "Tears"
109

Laminar Flow
"Poor Baby"
b/w "Lay It Down"


1980"That Lovin' You Feelin' Again" (with Emmylou Harris)
b/w "Lola" (Emmylou Harris solo)
5510697
Roadie
(Soundtrack)
1985"Wild Hearts (...Time)"
b/w "Wild Hearts (instrumental)"

76
Insignificance
(Soundtrack)
1987"In Dreams" (1987 re-recording)
b/w "Leah" (1985 re-recording)

75
In Dreams: The Greatest Hits
"Crying" (duet re-recording with k.d. lang)
b/w "Falling"

28422[60]
King of Hearts
1988"Handle with Care"
b/w "Margarita"
(as a member of Traveling Wilburys)
45
39312[61]2421
Traveling Wilburys Vol. 1
1989"You Got It"
b/w "The Only One"
9
173312433
Mystery Girl
"End of the Line"
b/w "Congratulations"
(as a member of Traveling Wilburys)
63
12391114[61]5052
Traveling Wilburys Vol. 1
"She's a Mystery to Me"
b/w "Dream Baby"

23171213[63]51927
Mystery Girl
"California Blue"
b/w "In Dreams"

44516525752377
"Oh Pretty Woman" (live; single edit)
/"Claudette" (live)

488911230
A Black & White Night Live
1992"I Drove All Night"
b/w "Forever Friends"

13274[64]67[b]
King of Hearts
"Crying" (reissue; duet re-recording with k.d. lang)
b/w "Falling"

4071913
"Heartbreak Radio"
/"Crying"

3136
1996"Ooby Dooby" (1987 version)
b/w "Ooby Dooby" (1955 version)
(The Netherlands only)[65]










(Non-album single)
2011"Only the Lonely" (Mono)
b/w "Oh, Pretty Woman" (live)
(United States and Europe only; limited-edition Record Store Day release)[65]










(Non-album single)[65]
2017"I Drove All Night" (promo single)
(featuring Ward Thomas, with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra)[65]










A Love So Beautiful (with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra)[65]
"Oh, Pretty Woman"
b/w "Crying"
(with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra)[65]









[c]
"—" denotes items that did not chart or were not released in that territory.

Billboard Year-End performances

YearSongYear-End
Position
1960"Only the Lonely"20
1961"Crying"4
"Running Scared"13
1962"Dream Baby (How Long Must I Dream)"65
1963"In Dreams"49
"Mean Woman Blues"53
1964"Oh, Pretty Woman"4
"It's Over"74

Music videos

YearTitleDirector
1964"Oh, Pretty Woman"
1966"There Won't Be Many More Comin' Home"
1968"Walk On"
1985"Wild Hearts Run Out of Time"
1989"You Got It"
"She's a Mystery to Me"
1992"I Drove All Night"
"Crying"
"Heartbreak Radio"
1999"Oh, Pretty Woman"
"Home Alone"
2014"The Way Is Love"

Collaborations and guest appearances

Notes

Citations

References

External links