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Post by H2IZCOOL on Jan 7, 2010 21:53:37 GMT -5
I had to do one for my favorite male vocalist. Especially when I found a Youtube version of my favorite song by him. Back when I did my top 250 about 5 years ago (or was it 6?) my #3 favorite song of all time was also my #1 favorite by Roy Orbison. It's a fairly obscure song that got some airplay back in 1962, although it never made the Hot 100. It's called "Our Summer Song" This is what I said when I was doing the Top 250 countdown:
"3. Our Summer Song – Roy Orbison (1962, unranked) (I’ve also seen this titled just ‘Summer Song’, ‘Our Summersong’ and ‘Summersong’ – and no, it’s definitely NOT the Chad and Jeremy song.) I remember having one or two dates with this girl from out of town (I think she was somebody’s cousin). She was a HUGE Roy Orbison fan – loved Only The Lonely, Crying, etc. I remember telling her about this new Orbison song that had just come out in Boston and was fantastic. She had never heard of Our Summer Song. Then, an hour or so later, it comes on the radio, and she kinda shrugs her shoulders as if to say ‘no big deal.’ The heck with her. I loved the song, and then it dropped off the playlists. I didn’t hear it again for years (except one time as a cover by The Johnny Mann Singers, on a juke box – ugh!) but thought of it often – not the girl, though. Finally about ten years ago I ran across the 45 at a record show. Turns out it was the flip side of ‘Lana’ and I never knew it. Well needless to say, I bought the record (at a premium – one of only two times I can remember doing that) and since then, I can hear it any time I want. A beautiful song with a lot of nearly big-band quality to it, featuring a super clarinet solo and of course Roy’s booming voice. So, this song went from mystery song to a permanent fixture in my top 10."
The song was included in Roy's "Crying" Album from 1961. And -- I have now found it on YouTube. Actually its part of an 8-plus minute medley of three early and somewhat obscure Roy Orbison Songs. It's there together with "Yo Te Amo Maria" (the B side of Oh Pretty Woman) and "Wedding Day" (also from the Crying Album.) Our Summer Song is the last of the three. It's starts at 5:27 on the YouTube link
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Post by Dawn on Jan 7, 2010 22:58:32 GMT -5
I was thinking it had been 6, but wasn't sure, so I went back and checked to see...and the original post dates from September 2004. Wow, where does the time go? I vividly remember when you were posting that countdown.
"Our Summer Song" is very nice, and I'm surprised it wasn't used as an A-side. I liked all three of the songs in the medley. "Yo Te Amo Maria" sounds familiar, although I'm not sure where I would have heard it.
For my own Roy favorite, I'd have to go with "Oh Pretty Woman." Admittedly kind of a stereotypical choice, and it is overplayed, but it holds some sentimental value for me. My parents had one of his greatest hits LPs when I was growing up - looking at his discography, I'm thinking it was the 1966 Very Best of, as I remember it was on the Monument label and "Oh Pretty Woman" was the first song on the side. Anyway, I used to play that song the most, and always enjoyed Roy's growl near the middle of the song.
Not far behind would be "Crying" and "Dream Baby."
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Post by jpkansas on Jan 8, 2010 4:26:51 GMT -5
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Post by H2IZCOOL on Jan 8, 2010 9:43:30 GMT -5
I was thinking it had been 6, but wasn't sure, so I went back and checked to see...and the original post dates from September 2004. Wow, where does the time go? I vividly remember when you were posting that countdown. "Our Summer Song" is very nice, and I'm surprised it wasn't used as an A-side. I liked all three of the songs in the medley. "Yo Te Amo Maria" sounds familiar, although I'm not sure where I would have heard it. For my own Roy favorite, I'd have to go with "Oh Pretty Woman." Admittedly kind of a stereotypical choice, and it is overplayed, but it holds some sentimental value for me. My parents had one of his greatest hits LPs when I was growing up - looking at his discography, I'm thinking it was the 1966 Very Best of, as I remember it was on the Monument label and "Oh Pretty Woman" was the first song on the side. Anyway, I used to play that song the most, and always enjoyed Roy's growl near the middle of the song. Not far behind would be "Crying" and "Dream Baby." I remember when I was doing my top 250, Adam was doing his Insane List, and DJ Dave was doing his Crazy List (his first one; not the one with 100,000 songs that he started by posting lists of his "bottom" songs 200 at a time - songs that included ones he had never even heard.  But the other thing I remember about those lists were the surprises where two of us would list some relatively obscure songs quite high, totally by coincidence. The one I remember distinctly is the Bee Gees "I Can't See Nobody." It was #26 on my list, and I know Adam had it somewhere pretty high also. I think I've mentioned my own feelings about "Oh, Pretty Woman" and how overplay ruined it for me. The funny thing is, now that I basically never listen to regular Oldies stations (only XM) I don't hear it much at all - only if I choose to play it; I'm beginning to like it again!  I know that Roy used that growl in other songs also. He does it on a Traveling Wilbury's song - I believe it's "Dirty World." Here's a link to a clip I found showing Roy discussing the growl. www.thoughtequity.com/video/clip/5110171AA3033_070.doAs I was researching some of this, I also came upon some interesting history in the writing of Oh, Pretty Woman" attributed to Bill Dees, who was Roy's songwriting partner: Roy Orbison was writing with his songwriting partner Bill Dees at his house when he told Dees to get started writing by playing anything that came to mind. Orbison's wife Claudette came in and said she was going to go into town to buy something. Orbison asked if she needed any money, and Dees cracked, "Pretty woman never needs any money." Inspired, Orbison started singing, "Pretty woman walking down the street." Bill Dees recalls in 1000 UK #1 Hits by Jon Kutner and Spencer Leigh: "He sang it while I was banging my hand down on the table and by the time she returned we had the song. I love the song. From the moment that the rhythm started, I could hear the heels clicking on the pavement, click, click, the pretty woman walking down the street, in a yellow skirt and red shoes. We wrote Oh Pretty Woman on a Friday, the next Friday we recorded it, and the next Friday it was out. It was the fastest thing I ever saw." |
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Post by Ken on Jan 8, 2010 12:29:39 GMT -5
Always loved this one!  |
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Post by Dawn on Jan 8, 2010 12:30:54 GMT -5
I was thinking it had been 6, but wasn't sure, so I went back and checked to see...and the original post dates from September 2004. Wow, where does the time go? I vividly remember when you were posting that countdown. "Our Summer Song" is very nice, and I'm surprised it wasn't used as an A-side. I liked all three of the songs in the medley. "Yo Te Amo Maria" sounds familiar, although I'm not sure where I would have heard it. For my own Roy favorite, I'd have to go with "Oh Pretty Woman." Admittedly kind of a stereotypical choice, and it is overplayed, but it holds some sentimental value for me. My parents had one of his greatest hits LPs when I was growing up - looking at his discography, I'm thinking it was the 1966 Very Best of, as I remember it was on the Monument label and "Oh Pretty Woman" was the first song on the side. Anyway, I used to play that song the most, and always enjoyed Roy's growl near the middle of the song. Not far behind would be "Crying" and "Dream Baby." I remember when I was doing my top 250, Adam was doing his Insane List, and DJ Dave was doing his Crazy List (his first one; not the one with 100,000 songs that he started by posting lists of his "bottom" songs 200 at a time - songs that included ones he had never even heard. But the other thing I remember about those lists were the surprises where two of us would list some relatively obscure songs quite high, totally by coincidence. The one I remember distinctly is the Bee Gees "I Can't See Nobody." It was #26 on my list, and I know Adam had it somewhere pretty high also. I think I've mentioned my own feelings about "Oh, Pretty Woman" and how overplay ruined it for me. The funny thing is, now that I basically never listen to regular Oldies stations (only XM) I don't hear it much at all - only if I choose to play it; I'm beginning to like it again! I know that Roy used that growl in other songs also. He does it on a Traveling Wilbury's song - I believe it's "Dirty World." Here's a link to a clip I found showing Roy discussing the growl. www.thoughtequity.com/video/clip/5110171AA3033_070.doAs I was researching some of this, I also came upon some interesting history in the writing of Oh, Pretty Woman" attributed to Bill Dees, who was Roy's songwriting partner: Roy Orbison was writing with his songwriting partner Bill Dees at his house when he told Dees to get started writing by playing anything that came to mind. Orbison's wife Claudette came in and said she was going to go into town to buy something. Orbison asked if she needed any money, and Dees cracked, "Pretty woman never needs any money." Inspired, Orbison started singing, "Pretty woman walking down the street." Bill Dees recalls in 1000 UK #1 Hits by Jon Kutner and Spencer Leigh: "He sang it while I was banging my hand down on the table and by the time she returned we had the song. I love the song. From the moment that the rhythm started, I could hear the heels clicking on the pavement, click, click, the pretty woman walking down the street, in a yellow skirt and red shoes. We wrote Oh Pretty Woman on a Friday, the next Friday we recorded it, and the next Friday it was out. It was the fastest thing I ever saw."Oh yes, I remember that. I recall Dave's list leaning more to the bigger hits (didn't he factor in Billboard rankings somehow?), while your and Adam's included more of the lesser-known songs. But I do remember several occasions where the same song would appear on at least two of the lists in a similar ranking. Yes, I can relate to songs losing their appeal due to overplay, and how sometimes giving them a rest for a while can rekindle the interest. There was a time not long ago that I was really sick of Aretha Franklin's "Respect" from hearing it so much, but now that I don't hear it constantly, I'm beginning to like it again. What a cool story about the writing of "Oh Pretty Woman" - I hadn't known that! I always enjoy hearing about the stories behind the songs, and it's amazing how the most seemingly mundane events can inspire the writing of a classic. |
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Post by m c dornan on Jan 8, 2010 16:49:20 GMT -5
My fave is "Crying" (tried to link it but it didn't work). "Pretty Woman" was so overplayed I just can't listen to it anymore.
Every pledge week on PBS locally, they run the Orbison in Black & White concert. A must-see!
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Post by Jughead on Jan 8, 2010 19:54:40 GMT -5
The year Roy Orbison died, which was 1988, I believe, I was seven, and I had been in the hospital recovering from an asthma attack. They allowed me to have a radio in my hospital room, and that year, all I heard was The Travelling Wilburys who were HUGE that year. I also heard this song by Roy Orbison, which was likely his last hit.
Kind of a weird association, but it sticks out as being a song I heard a lot when I was recuperating in the hospital.
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Post by H2IZCOOL on Jan 8, 2010 20:44:00 GMT -5
The year Roy Orbison died, which was 1988, I believe, I was seven, and I had been in the hospital recovering from an asthma attack. They allowed me to have a radio in my hospital room, and that year, all I heard was The Travelling Wilburys who were HUGE that year. I also heard this song by Roy Orbison, which was likely his last hit. Kind of a weird association, but it sticks out as being a song I heard a lot when I was recuperating in the hospital. Man, Jug! Asthma Attack? ..... Bone Spur ...... Gall Bladder .... It seems like your life can be defined by ailments ;D Tough way to keep on the charts! You Got It is a great song. Right to the end, Roy never lost that voice! |
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Post by H2IZCOOL on Jan 8, 2010 21:52:07 GMT -5
Actually, the Wilburys song that Roy did that growl on was not Dirty World; it was Rattled.
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Post by Jughead on Jan 8, 2010 22:30:17 GMT -5
The year Roy Orbison died, which was 1988, I believe, I was seven, and I had been in the hospital recovering from an asthma attack. They allowed me to have a radio in my hospital room, and that year, all I heard was The Travelling Wilburys who were HUGE that year. I also heard this song by Roy Orbison, which was likely his last hit. Kind of a weird association, but it sticks out as being a song I heard a lot when I was recuperating in the hospital. Man, Jug! Asthma Attack? ..... Bone Spur ...... Gall Bladder .... It seems like your life can be defined by ailments ;D Tough way to keep on the charts! You Got It is a great song. Right to the end, Roy never lost that voice! Yeah, I was a sickly child from the childhood asthma, to the fact that I couldn't walk flat-footed until I was eleven due to undeveloped arches in my feet. LOL! My health has never been better though, especially in the past year. |
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But the other thing I remember about those lists were the surprises where two of us would list some relatively obscure songs quite high, totally by coincidence. The one I remember distinctly is the Bee Gees "I Can't See Nobody." It was #26 on my list, and I know Adam had it somewhere pretty high also.
