Roy Orbison's website has launched the game Six Degrees of Roy Orbison, where you can enter any artist's name and find their connection to the "Pretty Woman" singer.Entering "Bob Dylan" provided the obvious response that he "performed with Roy Orbison in the Traveling Wilburys, saying that Roy 'transcended all genres' and that 'he sang like a professional criminal." So next I tried something a ...
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OK, another lengthy read but, for the music historian, well worth the time.Roy Kelton Orbison was born on April 23, 1936 at 3:30 pm, in Vernon, Texas. Nadine, his mother, was a nurse. Orbie Lee, his father, a worker. Roy was their second child. For his sixth birthday, Roy asked for a harmonica, but fortunately his daddy gave him a guitar. Orbie Lee is generally credited with teaching Roy to pla...
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[Roy Orbison - Pretty Paper - 2:39]O dear fellow Mogger and amiable Visitor, if only I could slip this as a note on silken paper in your pocket for you to take along your day.Do you remember the delicate touch of paper under your palm as you scribble a billet? In these digitised times of ours, who still uses paper for writing? Our fingers are accustomed to the plastic touch of keyboards and hav...
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Xmas gift problems resolved; this year's essential box set All the bases are covered, as you might expect. Orbison's country and rockabilly beginnings, the formidable 1960s hits and his late '80s star-assisted renaissance share equal billing across the 107 tracks on this box, but a handful of less celebrated and alternate recordings offer just as much of a clue to the man's place in popular music
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I was channel surfing one evening and landed on a PBS special of the Roy Orbison concert, Black and White Night. I wouldn't say I was a huge Orbison fan up to that point, but the PBS special changed that in one sitting.I now have the DVD in my collection, and again, I believe it's a must have. Consider that not only did he perform, but he had the following people as BACKUP and special guests:Ja...
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In honor of the Traveling Wilburys box set coming out in a week or two (mine's already on order), I wanted to dig out this gem for those who might not have heard it.Jeff Lynne was heavily involved in one of Roy Orbison's last albums, Mystery Girl. On that LP is one standout track, written by Lynne, which is absolutely gorgeous - one of the most beautiful melodies he's ever written (and that is ...
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The MOG-O-SPHERE is weird today. So to keep myself and others who like the following Rock 'n' Roll heavyweights happy I'm posting the video of Roy Orbison, Bruce Springsteen, Jackson Browne, Elvis Costello, Tom Waits, T. Bone Burnett & J.D. Souther - Oh Pretty Woman (live, 1987). Again. I love this.What is to happen about the vetoing for the MOG 501?
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At number 20 Roy Orbison - Pretty PaperThis slow Christmas tune was written and also sung by Willie Nelson. A beggar sits lonely and unnoticed while crowds of people shop for gifts to wrap in beautiful paper, blue ribbons, pretzels and other decorations.
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When your opening act is the Beatles, you've gotta be good. Elvis called him the greatest singer in the world, and Barry Gibb of the Bee Gees referred to him as the "Voice of God." It's perhaps because his label didn't market him as cleverly or because his looks weren't astronomical, his talent was underrated. But when the summer in Philadelphia starts getting unbearably stickily hot like it...
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Roy OrbisonI had to escape , the city was sticky and cruelMaybe I should have called you firstBut I was dying to get to youI was dreaming while I droveThe long straight road aheadUh-huh, yeahCould taste your sweet kisses, your arms open wideThis fever for you was just burning me up insideI drove all night to get to youIs that all right?I drove all night, crept in your roomWoke you from your sle...
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