One more symptom of a low-rent culture that confuses fame with achievement is that just about any artist can get a box set. There was a time a career-spanning box set meant that you, well, had a career that had spanned something; it meant that you'd accomplished something. That's not exactly the case anymore.
Hearing that Sony BMG is set to release a Roy Orbison box set made me think about that because his is a career actually worthy of encapsulation.
Roy Oribison's The Soul of Rock and Roll will be released September 23 and will include 107 tracks spread over four discs, including 12 tracks never before released. Among the rarities and previously unreleased material will be a song from the final concert Orbison gave before his passing. Orbison passed away in 1988 at the age of 52.
The set will feature early material such as an early version of "Ooby Dooby" and a demo of "Claudette" and will also feature material from his work with The Traveling Wilburys and his "comeback" album Mystery Girl. Mystery Girl put Orbison back on the pop music map with the massive hit "You Got It," which Orbison co-wrote with fellow Wilburys Tom Petty and Jeff Lynne.
As part of the package, Bruce Springsteen, Elvis Costello, Neil Diamond, Tom Waits, Dolly Parton, Lemmy Kilmister, Tom Petty, and Bonnie Raitt have all written tributes to the icon for the set's liner notes.
I actually don't own any of Orbison's solo records. All I have are the Traveling Wilbury records and every time I listen to one of them I think about how I should remedy that. There are a lot of unique voices in rock and roll and Orbison is clearly one of them. His voice is almost too pure and too pretty sometimes. I get chills when I hear him sing. The man had an incredible gift. I hope The Soul of Rock and Roll is able to present that gift in a befitting matter.
Article comments
1 - Bo Jönsson
What can I say! Very nice words on Roy Orbison!
I think many fans would have liked more unreleased songs in The Soul of Rock and Roll. But I think it is too little, and too late for that now. Barbara Orbison should have done this (and more) 20 years ago.
It is a shame when you look at how the people behind Johnny Cash and Elvis for that sake, have done the job!
2 - Josh Hathaway
People thought it was too late and then Mystery Girl happened and returned him to the top of the charts. It's never too late to honor and recognize greatness.
3 - Tom Johnson
As a big Tom Petty fan, you really owe it to yourself to pick up a copy of Mystery Girl, Josh. The Heartbreakers back him on a bunch of it (and Tom, occasionally,) not to mention the inclusion of many other notable names (who don't actually ruin the proceedings - they only make it even better.) A really great album - and it can be found cheap (starting at 41 cents according to Amazon!)
4 - Josh Hathaway
I read a little about that last night. Bono and Edge apparently wrote a great song for him on it and of course Petty, Lynne, and The Heartbreakers are all over it. I might have to give it a spin.
5 - Tom Johnson
Yep, "She's a Mystery To Me," and it's beautiful. The Edge plays on it, too. I think Bono has sung this occasionally during U2 shows when he goes off, as he is wont to do.
6 - Emma
I am such an ‘Oh, Pretty Woman’ fan, which is what first got me hooked to Roy. My mother bought me the box set for my birthday (today) and it’s been playing around my house all day. Disk three is my favorite so far with ‘Mean Woman Blues’, ‘Unchained Melody’, the live version of ‘Land of 1000 Dances’, and of course, ‘Oh, Pretty Woman’!
7 - Marion Sun
I must say that it is so very obvious that the Orbison family put A LOT of time and effort into this box set. Everything about it is exceptional. I don’t think Roy would have had or wanted it any other way. Although all of the musical content is nothing short of fulfilling, it is the booklet inside that will urge me to tell every Orbison fan to go out now, and get this set!
8 - Josh Hathaway
It is a special collection and a loving tribute.