Studio albums 23 Compilation albums 24 | Live albums 4 Singles 92 | |
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The discography of Roy Orbison (April 23, 1936 – December 6, 1988), a singer-songwriter who found the most success in the early rock and roll era from 1957 to 1964. He later enjoyed success as a member of the Traveling Wilburys and a brief resurgence in the 1980s. At the height of his popularity, 22 of Orbison's songs placed on the US Billboard Top 40 chart, and six peaked in the Top Five, including two Number Ones. In the U.K., Orbison scored ten Top 10 hits between 1960 and 1966, including three No. 1 singles.
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Born and raised in Texas, Orbison got his start in a rockabilly band in high school. He broke into professional music under Sam Phillips at Sun Records, but found only marginal success there. After a couple years writing for other musicians, Orbison recorded several songs at Monument Records under producer Fred Foster. With Foster, Orbison and his frequent songwriting partners Joe Melson and Bill Dees tailored many of Orbison's songs for his unique voice; his most popular songs were dramatic ballads ending with emotional crescendos that showcased his powerful vocals. After his biggest hit in 1964, "Oh, Pretty Woman", Orbison continued to record, but it was not until 1987 that he again found the level of popular success he had known in the early-'sixties, when his single "In Dreams" was used in David Lynch's film Blue Velvet. The next year, Orbison recorded with the supergroup Traveling Wilburys alongside Bob Dylan, Tom Petty, Jeff Lynne, and George Harrison. Lynne produced Orbison's final album Mystery Girl, which was released posthumously in February 1989.
Compilation albums
There are hundreds of compilations and greatest hits of Roy Orbison released internationally. Below is a selection of all the compilation albums which have achieved global chart peaks. For a more complete list of compilation releases, see link.