Supplied note - not independently verified
Orbison and co-writer Joe Melson were inspired by Orbison's own feelings of loneliness and heartbreak.
View background statusRoy Orbison
9 catalog entries, grouped by year.
ARTIST ESSENTIALS
Explore Artist EssentialsRoy Orbison: a curated listening guide
Twenty-five original performances connect the Monument singles with deeper album choices and the later Mystery Girl and King of Hearts programs.
25 selections with release evidence; 17 beyond the yearly lists.
About Roy Orbison
Roy Orbison grew up in Texas and began recording rock and roll for Sun before finding his most distinctive setting at Monument. His singing could move from a restrained, intimate delivery to an unusually expansive dramatic climax. Songs such as Only the Lonely, Crying and In Dreams established that approach in the early 1960s. A later return to public attention included collaboration with the Traveling Wilburys. The 1989 album Mystery Girl appeared after his death and brought another set of solo recordings to a broad audience.
Artist background sources
Roy Orbison - official career biography
The estate biography supports Orbison's Texas roots, early Sun recordings, the Monument period, the dramatic singing style, the later Traveling Wilburys collaboration, and the posthumous 1989 Mystery Girl release. Current promotional activity and sweeping commercial claims are omitted. | Retrieved 2026-10-19
Profile reviewed: 2026-10-19. Artist background does not establish a song's creative origin or release date.
1960
1961
Supplied note - not independently verified
Orbison's personal experiences with heartbreak
View background statusSupplied note - not independently verified
The fear of losing a loved one
View background status1962
Supplied note - not independently verified
Written by Cindy Walker, the song showcased Orbison's unique vocal style.
View background statusSupplied note - not independently verified
Written by Orbison and Joe Melson, drawing on Orbison's experiences working in the oil fields.
View background status1963
Supplied note - not independently verified
Orbison wrote this song about finding solace in dreams after losing a loved one.
View background statusSupplied note - not independently verified
This cover of an Elvis Presley song expressed frustration with a difficult romantic partner.
View background status1964
Artist background available
Roy Orbison grew up in Texas and began recording rock and roll for Sun before finding his most distinctive setting at Monument. His singing could move from a restrained, intimate delivery to an unusually expansive...
View background statusSupplied note - not independently verified
Co-written by Orbison and Bill Dees, inspired by Orbison's wife Claudette.
View background statusALL 66 ANNUAL COLLECTIONS
Browse by year
1960-2025. Each year contains 150 selections.