This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.Find sources: "The Big O" album – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (July 2018) (Learn how and when to remove this template message)
Big O
Studio album by
Roy Orbison
Released1970
RecordedJune - September 1969
GenreRock and roll
LabelLondon (HAU 8406)
ProducerRon Randall
Roy Orbison chronology
Roy Orbison's Many Moods
(1969) 		Big O
(1970) 		The Great Songs of Roy Orbison
(1970)

The Big O is the fifteenth music album recorded by Roy Orbison, and according to the authorised Roy Orbison biography,[1] his second for London Records in the United Kingdom. The music and backing vocals were provided by English group, the Art Movement on all tracks except for "Penny Arcade", which was a studio recording and was released as a single in 1969, peaking at #27 in the UK and would be Orbison's last UK chart success during his lifetime. "Penny Arcade" was also his biggest hit in Australia, spending four weeks at Number One around Christmas, 1969. The second single, "Break My Mind", was Orbison's last Australian chart success during his lifetime, reaching #24 in March 1970. The album was released in Europe in early 1970.

History

In May 1969,[2] Roy Orbison had plans for a live album while he was on tour in the UK. The project was to be called Roy Orbison Live in England. MGM Records were not happy with his plan, however, and Orbison had to compromise. Orbison and the Art Movement turned the Batley Variety Club in West Yorkshire, England into a recording studio. This was done by calling in a mobile studio truck that had all the gear in it and running the cords into the area in which they wanted to record in. Using this technique Orbison was able to achieve the polished studio sound his record label preferred in the most live sounding way possible. The orchestra was overdubbed in Nashville over the stereo two-track mix. While MGM chose not to release the album in North America, London-Decca opted to release it elsewhere in early 1970.

Track listing

Side one
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Break My Mind"John D. Loudermilk3:14
2."Help Me, Rhonda"Brian Wilson2:55
3."Only You"Buck Ram2:40
4."Down the Line"Roy Orbison2:25
5."Money"Berry Gordy, Jr., Janie Bradford3:00
6."When I Stop Dreaming"Ira Louvin, Charlie Louvin2:31
Side
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Loving Touch"Terry Widlake2:48
2."Land of a Thousand Dances"Chris Kenner, Fats Domino3:12
3."Scarlet Ribbons (For Her Hair)"Evelyn Danzig, Jack Segal2:59
4."She Won't Hang Her Love Out (On the Line)"Bill Dees, Mark Mathis2:11
5."Casting My Spell on You"Edwin Johnson, Alvin Johnson2:04
6."Penny Arcade"Sammy King3:07

All produced by Ron Randall, except for "Penny Arcade" (produced by Wesley Rose) arranged by Jim Hall

Personnel

The Art Movement

References

  1. ^ Orbison, Roy Jr. (2017). The authorized Roy Orbison. Orbison, Wesley,, Orbison, Alex,, Slate, Jeff (Second ed.). New York: Center Street. pp. 250, 251. ISBN 9781478976547. OCLC 1017566749.
  2. ^ Orbison, Roy Jr. (2017). The Authorized Roy Orbison. Orbison, Wesley,, Orbison, Alex,, Slate, Jeff (First ed.). New York. ISBN 9781478976547. OCLC 1017566749.((cite book)): CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
Categories