Sony/Legacy Recordings has just released "The Monument Singles Collection" a 2 CD/1 DVD set of Roy Orbison's career defining recordings.
As a "Rock and Roll Hall of Fame" inductee and an influential singer-songwriter, Roy Orbison was never as cool as Elvis and The Beatles or as dangerous as Johnny Cash or The Rolling Stones. He didn't have to be. His distinctive voice and haunting delivery was all he needed to thrust him into the musical spotlight.
With 10 top-10 hits spanning 29 years, Roy Orbison has influenced everyone from Bruce Springsteen to k.d. lang and even Van Halen (who themselves had a huge hit with a cover of Roy's "(Oh) Pretty Woman" nearly 20 years after the original hit #1).
"The Monument Singles Collection" focuses on Roy's most famous and and best loved songs that recorded for the Monument Records label from 1960 - 1964. All the classics from "Only The Lonely," "Crying," "Dream Baby" and the aforementioned "(Oh) Pretty Woman" are here plus 35 more! The set also includes a DVD which features a classic concert from 1965.
As a side note… wake up Hollywood because the Roy Orbison story needs to be told on the big screen! His life was every bit as rich as Jerry Lee Lewis, Ray Charles, Loretta Lynn or Buddy Holly. Filled with with ups, downs, tragedy and 32 years after his first recording… a late 1980's comeback!! On a personal note … I would love to see who they cast to play Tom Petty, George Harrison, Jeff Lynne and Bob Dylan during the "Traveling Wilbury" years!
Now, are all the songs on this 39-track collection winners? No, they are not. But, if you don't own anything by "The Big O" then this is the perfect career retrospective to sink your ears into. And if you are an Orbison fan you'll love hearing these classics in all their remastered mono glory!
Drumroll please… 8 out of 10 drumsticks!
