Song:Mean Woman Blues
Album:The Essential Roy Orbison
Though Roy Orbison started out at Sun records with Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash & Carl Perkins, he brought a very unique look and sound that has proven to be very durable and influential. He was born Apr. 23, 1936 in Vernon, TX. Orbison's band The Wink Westerners had a regular radio slot in Texas. Johnny Cash was a guest on the show and suggested the band go to Memphis and see Sun Records owner Sam Phillips. Orbison recorded his first single Ooby Dooby for Norman Petty in New Mexico in 1956 and Phillips signed him when he heard the song. Orbison wasn't very successful at Sun and he didn't do any better at RCA. But Monument Records owner Fred Foster signed him in 1960 and Orbison had his first #1 hit with Runnin' Scared in 1961. Mean Woman Blues was one of several hits from that period. It reached #5 on the pop singles chart in 1963. The song was originally recorded by Elvis Presley in the 1957 film Loving You but Orbison did much better with it. He continued to have hits until he signed with MGM in 1965 and things went downhill from there. Of course Roy Orbison's legendary status led to a career resurgence in the 80s. This Sony Legacy 2CD comp covers his Monument recordings and some later material as well. Roy Orbison was still recording and touring when he died of a heart attack on Dec. 6, 1988 at age 52. Here's Roy Orbison performing Mean Woman Blues on the Black & White Night TV show.
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