Roy Orbison's Legacy To Be Celebrated Big-Time

02/22/06 8:00pm

by Allegra Shepherd (CHARTattack)

Sony BMG's Legacy Recordings label has started to release pretty much everything legendary singer/songwriter Roy Orbison recorded.

The February 7 reissue of Black & White Night — a 1987 HBO concert that featured Orbison performing with Bruce Springsteen, Elvis Costello and K.D. Lang, among others — was the first step in re-releasing Orbison's entire catalogue.

A two-disc compilation called The Essential Roy Orbison will hit stores on March 28. The 40-track collection includes classics like "Crying" and "Oh, Pretty Woman" as well as rare b-sides from the numerous labels that Orbison recorded for over his 33-year career.

Orbison's recordings for Sun and Monument will be reissued later this year, while those from other labels will follow down the road.

Though Orbison died of a heart attack 17 years ago, his influence can still be felt. An online petition to commemorate him on a U.S. postage stamp can be signed here, and the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in Cleveland will launch an exhibit in his honour on April 18 that features rare recordings, photographs and handwritten lyrics. Orbison was inducted into the hall in 1987. A much stranger way of paying tribute to Orbison, and clingfilm, can be found here.Here are what the Legacy braintrust believe are The Essential Roy Orbison songs:

Disc one:
"Ooby Dooby”
“Go! Go! Go!”
“Rock House”
“Uptown”
“Only The Lonely" "Blue Angel”
“I'm Hurtin'“
“Lana”
“Love Hurts”
“Crying”
“Candy Man”
“Dream Baby”
“The Crowd”
“Leah”
“Falling”
“Working For The Man”
“Mean Woman Blues”
“Blue Bayou”
“Pretty Paper”
“It's Over”
“Oh, Pretty Woman"

Disc two:
"You Got It”
“She's A Mystery To Me”
“California Blue”
“The Only One”
“Ride Away”
“Crawling Back”
“Best Friend”
“Communication Breakdown”
“Walk On”
“That Lovin' You Feelin' Again" (w/Emmylou Harris)"Running Scared”
“In Dreams”
“A Love So Beautiful”
“The Comedians" (w/Elvis Costello)"Claudette”
“I Drove All Night”
“Wild Hearts Run Out Of Time”
“Coming Home”
“Life Fades Away"