Recorded:

1956-64

Released:

January 7, 1989

Rating:

Genre:

early rock & roll

Quotable:

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Album Tracks:

1. Ooby Dooby
2. Rock House
3. Uptown
4. Only the Lonely
5. Blue Angel
6. I’m Hurtin’
7. Running Scared
8. Crying
9. Candy Man
10. Dream Baby (How Long Must I Dream)
11. Leah
12. Working for the Man
13. In Dreams
14. Mean Woman Blues
15. Blue Bayou
16. Pretty Paper
17. It’s Over
18. Oh, Pretty Woman

Sales (in millions):

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Peak:

110
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Singles/Hit Songs:

• Ooby Dooby (6/16/56) #59 US
• Uptown (1/18/60) #72 US
• Only the Lonely (6/6/60) #2 US, #1 UK, #14 RB, sales: 1.0 m, air: 2.0 m
• Blue Angel (9/19/60) #9 US, #11 UK, #23 RB
• I’m Hurtin’ (12/12/60) #27 US
• Running Scared (4/10/61) #1 US, #9 UK
• Crying (8/7/61) #2 US, #13 UK, air: 4.0 m
• Candy Man (8/7/61) #25 US
• Dream Baby (How Long Must I Dream) (2/17/62) #4 US, #2 UK, air: 2.0 m
• Working for the Man (9/22/62) #33 US, #50 UK
• Leah (10/6/62) #25 US
• In Dreams (2/9/63) #7 US, #6 UK, #19 RB, #3 AC, #75 CW
• Mean Woman Blues (9/7/63) #5 US, #8 RB
• Blue Bayou (9/7/63) #29 US, #3 UK, #26 RB, air: 4.0 m
• Pretty Paper (12/14/63) #15 US, #6 UK, #10 AC
• It’s Over (4/11/64) #9 US, #1 UK
• Oh, Pretty Woman (8/29/64) #1 US, #1 UK, #48 AC, #89 CW, air: 6.0 m

Awards:

Review:

“Appearing as it did just a few months before Roy Orbison’s death, this single CD best-of was incredibly fortuitous for Rhino Records. It was the first compilation to include both Orbison’s early successes on Sun Records along with his early-‘60s hits for Monument Records and, thus, was as definitive as most casual fans needed it to be. The sound is impeccable, as is the choice of material (which was not difficult to assemble). One gets only a somewhat sketchy overview of Orbison’s developing talent, ignoring the years between his Sun and Monument recordings, but that’s usually the purpose of a greatest-hits collection anyway.” ^BE

“For those who want more, The Legendary Roy Orbison gives a better overall account, but as a four-CD set is a lot more expensive; All-Time Greatest Hits gives a somewhat fuller account of the Monument years (and all of his Monument albums were available individually as well); and the out-of-print MGM best-of covers the music from the years following his departure from Monument. (The best of the latter doesn’t sound that different from the Monument material – Orbison’s post-Monument songs just never caught the public’s ear or managed to become hit records.) But For the Lonely is the best account of the music that everyone already recognizes and knows.” ^BE

Review Source(s):

• ^BE Bruce Eder, All Music Guide

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Last updated June 3, 2011.