Only the Lonely
:''
The Motels' song was under the
same title, but with different lyrics and tune.
"
Only the Lonely" is a 1960
American song written by
Roy Orbison and
Joe Melson. Sung by Orbison, it became his first major hit. As an
operatic rock ballad, it was a sound unheard of at the time and is seen as a seminal event in the evolution of
Rock and Roll. Released as a
45rpm single by
Monument Records in May 1960, "Only The Lonely" went to No. 2 on the United States
Billboard pop music charts and to
No. 1 in the
United Kingdom.
The song also appears on Orbison's 1962
album,
Roy Orbison's Greatest Hits, and his 1989 posthumous album
A Black & White Night Live from the 1988
HBO television special.
In 1969, singer
Sonny James recorded the song and had a Number One hit on the Billboard
country music charts.
In 1999, "Only The Lonely" was honored with a
Grammy Hall of Fame Award. In 2004,
Rolling Stone Magazine named it as one of the "
500 Greatest Songs of All Time."
*Orbison's version of his song has been used in
motion pictures including:
*
The Love Letter (1999)
*
Only the Lonely (1991)
Only the Lonely is the title of a book about Roy Orbison by
Alan Clayson, published 1989,
St. Martin's Press,
New York City.
Only The Lonely - The Roy Orbison Story - is a
stage musical that toured
Europe.
*The song is referenced by
Bruce Springsteen in his song "
Thunder Road" from the hit album
Born to Run.
