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"Running Scared"
Single by Roy Orbison
from the album Crying
B-side"Love Hurts"
PublishedApril 10, 1961 (1961-04-10) Acuff-Rose Publications, Inc.[1]
ReleasedMarch 1961
RecordedFebruary 27, 1961[2]
StudioRCA Victor Studio B, Nashville[2]
GenreOrchestral pop, Rock
Length2:10
LabelMonument 438
Songwriter(s)"Running Scared":
Roy Orbison, Joe Melson
"Love Hurts":
Boudleaux Bryant
Producer(s)Fred Foster
Roy Orbison singles chronology
"I'm Hurtin'"
(1960) 		"Running Scared"
(1961) 		"Crying"
(1961)
Audio sample
"Running Scared"

"Running Scared" is a song written by Roy Orbison and Joe Melson and sung by Orbison. An operatic rock ballad,[3] the recording of the song was overseen by audio engineer Bill Porter and released as a 45 rpm single by Monument Records in March 1961 and went to number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. "Running Scared" also reached No.9 in the UK Singles Chart. It sold over one million copies in the US alone.[4] The song was included on Orbison's 1962 album Crying as the final track on the album.

Background

Noted for being a song written without a chorus, the song builds in the lyrics, arrangement, and vocals to a climax that, without vibrato, demonstrates the power of Orbison's clear, full voice. It is written in the bolero style; Orbison is credited with bringing this to the rock genre. Fred Foster, producer of the session and of Monument Records, did not want the powerful high note that ends the song to end in falsetto but in full or natural voice. According to Foster, the last note that ends the song is G above (G5) High C (C5) in full natural voice. The note is actually tenor high A (A4), over Middle C (C4).[5]

While "Running Scared" was an international hit, the B-side "Love Hurts" also picked up significant airplay in Australia. Consequently, chart figures for Australia show "Running Scared"/"Love Hurts" as a double A-side, both sides peaking at number five. This makes Orbison's recording of "Love Hurts" the first version to be a hit. "Love Hurts" later became better known in a version by rock band Nazareth, who had an international hit with it in 1975.[6]

Charts

Chart (1961) Peak
position
UK Singles (OCC)[7] 9
US Billboard Hot 100[8] 1

Covers and popular culture

See also

References

  1. ^ Library of Congress. Copyright Office. (1961). Catalog of Copyright Entries 1961 Music Jan-June 3D Ser Vol 15 Pt 5. United States Copyright Office. U.S. Govt. Print. Off.
  2. ^ a b Weize, Richard (2001). Orbison 1955-1965 (7-CD Deluxe Box Set) (booklet). Bear Family Records. BCD16423. Retrieved 2021-10-11.
  3. ^ "Show 11 - Tennessee Firebird. [Part 3], Big Rock Candy Mountain. [Part 1] : UNT Digital Library". Digital.library.unt.edu. 2016-09-22. Retrieved 2016-09-26.
  4. ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 408. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  5. ^ DeCurtis, Anthony (1992). Henke, James (ed.). The Rolling Stone Illustrated History of Rock & Roll (3rd ed.). Random House. ISBN 978-0679737285.
  6. ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 388. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  7. ^ "Roy Orbison: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 27, 2018.
  8. ^ "Roy Orbison Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved January 27, 2018.
  9. ^ "Glen Travis Campbell - Glen Campbell | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 2016-09-26.
  10. ^ Joe Viglione. "Heavy Mental - The Fools | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 2016-09-26.
  11. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2013). Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles, 14th Edition: 1955-2012. Record Research. p. 308.
  12. ^ Ned Raggett (1986-08-18). "Kicking Against the Pricks - Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds, Nick Cave | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 2016-09-26.
  13. ^ Kieran McCarthy (2001-01-23). "Morse Code in the Modern Age: Across the Americas - Brokeback | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 2016-09-26.
  14. ^ Stephen Thomas Erlewine (2012-10-09). "Long Wave - Jeff Lynne | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 2016-09-26.
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