Robert Ellis Orrall
Encyclopedia
Robert Ellis Orrall is an American singer, songwriter, and record producer. Signed to RCA Records in 1980, Orrall debuted that year with the album "Fixation". His first Top 40 single was "I Couldn't Say No", a duet with Carlene Carter
. By 1990, Orrall had found success as a songwriter, having penned Number One singles for Shenandoah
and Clay Walker
. He returned to RCA in 1991 and charted the singles "Boom! It Was Over" and "A Little Bit of Her Love", from his first country music
album, Flying Colors
. Orrall then joined frequent songwriting partner Curtis Wright
in the CMA-nominated duo Orrall & Wright
, recording one more album and charting two singles. They split up in 1994, however, and Orrall returned to his solo career, writing singles for Reba McEntire
, Taylor Swift
, and Lindsay Lohan
, as well as producing records for Swift, be your own PET
, and Love and Theft
. He also performs and records as an indie rock
musician in the band Monkey Bowl.
, Orrall got his musical start playing in various Boston, Massachusetts area clubs. He signed with RCA in 1980 as a rock artist. His three RCA albums, Fixation, Special Pain and Contain Yourself were supported by band mates Kook Lawry on guitar, Don Waldon on bass, David Stefanelli on drums and Brian Maes
on keys with tours opening for U2
, The Kinks
, and NRBQ
. Orrall's Special Pain also produced his first chart single in "I Couldn't Say No", a duet with Carlene Carter
(also her first chart hit) which peaked in the Top 40 on the Billboard Hot 100
. Carter, like Orrall, would eventually become a country music star in her own right.
, Lyle Lovett
, and Foster & Lloyd
. He then moved to Nashville, Tennessee
, intending to use his songwriting and record producing skills. One of his first cuts was Shenandoah
's "Next to You, Next to Me
", which Orrall co-wrote with Curtis Wright
.
Shortly after his song topped the charts, Orrall's publisher BMG Music urged him to perform his songs at The Bluebird Cafe in Nashville. He was then offered a second record deal with RCA. Titled Flying Colors
, Orrall's first country album produced three charting singles, including a Top 20 in "Boom! It Was Over", as well as "A Little Bit of Her Love" and "Every Day When I Get Home". In 1993, Clay Walker
reached Number One on the country charts with Orrall's "What's It to You
", another Wright co-write.
. They recorded one album for Giant Records. After charting two songs on the Billboard charts, "She Loves Me Like She Means It" and "If You Could Say What I'm Thinking", the duo was nominated for Duo of the Year by the Country Music Association
. Orrall & Wright split up in 1994, and Orrall moved on to developing and producing new artists.
, "Ultimate"" for Lindsay Lohan
, The Swing" for James Bonamy
, as well as many cuts by Michael Peterson
: the Number One hit "From Here to Eternity
". He also took up painting
, and holds one-man shows around Nashville. He is represented by Estel Gallery.
In 2002 Orrall and his two sons, Jake and Jamin, formed an independent label called Infinity Cat Recordings. One of the acts signed to that label is fictitious indie rock
group Monkey Bowl, in which Orrall assumes the pseudonym Bob Something. In 2004, the group achieved media attention for its song "Al Gore". Written by Orrall, the song features an appearance by former United states
vice president Al Gore
. Among the acts on the label are JEFF the Brotherhood
, which is composed of Orrall's sons, Jamin and Jake.
Orrall continued writing for other artists in the 2000s, including Martina McBride
's 2010 single "Wrong Baby Wrong" and Ashton Shepherd
's 2011 single "Look It Up
". He also co-produced Taylor Swift
's self-titled debut
and her 2008 extended play
Beautiful Eyes
, as well as Love and Theft
's 2009 album World Wide Open
. Overall, he has written more than 250 songs for other artists. He contributed the title track to the Victor/SonyBMG album "The Book Of Lies", described as the "first soundtrack for a book.". His most recent release is "Gravity", which comes packaged with a free copy of "Mistakes", his 1998 autobiographical album lauded by the Washington Post. His next release is another album from Monkey Bowl,"Space", this time on Plastic 350 Records.
Carlene Carter
Carlene Carter is an American country singer and songwriter. She is the daughter of June Carter and her first husband, Carl Smith....
. By 1990, Orrall had found success as a songwriter, having penned Number One singles for Shenandoah
Shenandoah (band)
Shenandoah is an American country music group founded in Muscle Shoals, Alabama in 1984 by Marty Raybon , Ralph Ezell , Stan Thorn , Jim Seales , and Mike McGuire...
and Clay Walker
Clay Walker
Ernest Clayton "Clay" Walker Jr. is an American country music artist. He made his debut in 1993 with the single "What's It to You," which reached Number One on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks charts, as did its follow-up, 1994's "Live Until I Die." Both singles were included on...
. He returned to RCA in 1991 and charted the singles "Boom! It Was Over" and "A Little Bit of Her Love", from his first country music
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
album, Flying Colors
Flying Colors (Robert Ellis Orrall album)
Flying Colors is a studio album, released in 1992, by American country music artist Robert Ellis Orrall. Although it was his fourth studio album overall, it was his first and only solo album of mainstream country music, as opposed to his more rock-oriented albums in the 1980s...
. Orrall then joined frequent songwriting partner Curtis Wright
Curtis Wright
Curtis Blaine Wright is an American country music artist. He made his debut in 1989 with the single "She's Got a Man on her Mind" on a branch of MCA Records, before recording a solo album in 1992 on Liberty Records...
in the CMA-nominated duo Orrall & Wright
Orrall & Wright
-Track listing:#"She Loves Me Like She Means It" – 2:44#"The Last Time I Loved Like That" – 3:50#"I'm Outta Here" -Track listing:#"She Loves Me Like She Means It" (Angelo Petraglia, Robert Ellis Orrall, Billy Spencer) – 2:44#"The Last Time I Loved Like That" (Orrall, Curtis Wright) – 3:50#"I'm...
, recording one more album and charting two singles. They split up in 1994, however, and Orrall returned to his solo career, writing singles for Reba McEntire
Reba McEntire
Reba Nell McEntire is an American country music artist and actress. She began her career in the music industry as a high school student singing in the Kiowa High School band , on local radio shows with her siblings, and at rodeos. As a solo act, she was invited to perform at a rodeo in Oklahoma...
, Taylor Swift
Taylor Swift
Taylor Alison Swift is an American country pop singer-songwriter, musician and actress.In 2006, she released her debut single "Tim McGraw", then her self-titled debut album, which was subsequently certified multi-platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America...
, and Lindsay Lohan
Lindsay Lohan
Lindsay Lohan is an American actress, pop singer and model. She began her career as a child fashion model before making her motion picture debut in Disney's 1998 remake of The Parent Trap at the age of 11...
, as well as producing records for Swift, be your own PET
Be your own PET
Be Your Own Pet was a four-piece punk/garage rock group from Nashville, Tennessee, USA.-Members:* Jemina Pearl – vocals* Nathan Vasquez – bass, backing vocals* Jonas Stein – guitar, backing vocals* John Eatherly – drums...
, and Love and Theft
Love and Theft (band)
Love and Theft, an American country music duo, is composed of Stephen Barker Liles and Eric Gunderson, both of whom sing lead vocals and play guitar. Love and Theft originally formed as a trio, along with Brian Bandas , in Nashville, Tennessee, in 2006...
. He also performs and records as an indie rock
Indie rock
Indie rock is a genre of alternative rock that originated in the United Kingdom and the United States in the 1980s. Indie rock is extremely diverse, with sub-genres that include lo-fi, post-rock, math rock, indie pop, dream pop, noise rock, space rock, sadcore, riot grrrl and emo, among others...
musician in the band Monkey Bowl.
Beginnings
Born in Winthrop, MassachusettsWinthrop, Massachusetts
The Town of Winthrop is a municipality in Suffolk County, Massachusetts, United States. The population of Winthrop was 17,497 at the 2010 U.S. Census. It is an oceanside suburban community in Greater Boston situated at the north entrance to Boston Harbor and is very close to Logan International...
, Orrall got his musical start playing in various Boston, Massachusetts area clubs. He signed with RCA in 1980 as a rock artist. His three RCA albums, Fixation, Special Pain and Contain Yourself were supported by band mates Kook Lawry on guitar, Don Waldon on bass, David Stefanelli on drums and Brian Maes
Brian Maes
Brian Maes is a musician who was born in Lynn, Massachusetts on August 8, 1956. He graduated from Lynn Classical High School in 1974 and from Berklee College of Music in 1979.-Early days:...
on keys with tours opening for U2
U2
U2 are an Irish rock band from Dublin. Formed in 1976, the group consists of Bono , The Edge , Adam Clayton , and Larry Mullen, Jr. . U2's early sound was rooted in post-punk but eventually grew to incorporate influences from many genres of popular music...
, The Kinks
The Kinks
The Kinks were an English rock band formed in Muswell Hill, North London, by brothers Ray and Dave Davies in 1964. Categorised in the United States as a British Invasion band, The Kinks are recognised as one of the most important and influential rock acts of the era. Their music was influenced by a...
, and NRBQ
NRBQ
NRBQ is an American rock band founded in 1967. It is known for its live performances, containing a high degree of spontaneity and levity, and blending rock, pop, jazz, blues and Tin Pan Alley styles. Its best known line-up is the 1974–1994 quartet of pianist Terry Adams, bassist Joey Spampinato,...
. Orrall's Special Pain also produced his first chart single in "I Couldn't Say No", a duet with Carlene Carter
Carlene Carter
Carlene Carter is an American country singer and songwriter. She is the daughter of June Carter and her first husband, Carl Smith....
(also her first chart hit) which peaked in the Top 40 on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
. Carter, like Orrall, would eventually become a country music star in her own right.
Nashville
Orrall eventually gained an interest in country music through such acts as Steve EarleSteve Earle
Stephen Fain "Steve" Earle is an American singer-songwriter known for his rock and Texas Country as well as his political views. He is also a producer, author, a political activist, and an actor, and has written and directed a play....
, Lyle Lovett
Lyle Lovett
Lyle Pearce Lovett is an American singer-songwriter and actor. Active since 1980, he has recorded thirteen albums and released 21 singles to date, including his highest entry, the number 10 chart hit on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, "Cowboy Man"...
, and Foster & Lloyd
Foster & Lloyd
Foster & Lloyd is an American country music duo consisting of singer-songwriters Radney Foster and Bill Lloyd . Founded in 1986, the duo recorded three albums for RCA Records, in addition to charting nine singles on the Billboard country charts. The highest-peaking of these was their debut single...
. He then moved to Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
, intending to use his songwriting and record producing skills. One of his first cuts was Shenandoah
Shenandoah (band)
Shenandoah is an American country music group founded in Muscle Shoals, Alabama in 1984 by Marty Raybon , Ralph Ezell , Stan Thorn , Jim Seales , and Mike McGuire...
's "Next to You, Next to Me
Next to You, Next to Me
"Next to You, Next to Me" is the title of a song written by Robert Ellis Orrall and Curtis Wright, and recorded by country music group Shenandoah. It was released in June 1990 as the lead-off single to their 1990 album Extra Mile...
", which Orrall co-wrote with Curtis Wright
Curtis Wright
Curtis Blaine Wright is an American country music artist. He made his debut in 1989 with the single "She's Got a Man on her Mind" on a branch of MCA Records, before recording a solo album in 1992 on Liberty Records...
.
Shortly after his song topped the charts, Orrall's publisher BMG Music urged him to perform his songs at The Bluebird Cafe in Nashville. He was then offered a second record deal with RCA. Titled Flying Colors
Flying Colors (Robert Ellis Orrall album)
Flying Colors is a studio album, released in 1992, by American country music artist Robert Ellis Orrall. Although it was his fourth studio album overall, it was his first and only solo album of mainstream country music, as opposed to his more rock-oriented albums in the 1980s...
, Orrall's first country album produced three charting singles, including a Top 20 in "Boom! It Was Over", as well as "A Little Bit of Her Love" and "Every Day When I Get Home". In 1993, Clay Walker
Clay Walker
Ernest Clayton "Clay" Walker Jr. is an American country music artist. He made his debut in 1993 with the single "What's It to You," which reached Number One on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks charts, as did its follow-up, 1994's "Live Until I Die." Both singles were included on...
reached Number One on the country charts with Orrall's "What's It to You
What's It to You
"What's It To You" is the debut single of American country music singer Clay Walker that reached the top of the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart. Released as the lead-off single from his self-titled debut album, it was also Walker's first Number One single...
", another Wright co-write.
Orrall & Wright
Orrall and Wright paired up in 1994, forming a duo known as Orrall & WrightOrrall & Wright
-Track listing:#"She Loves Me Like She Means It" – 2:44#"The Last Time I Loved Like That" – 3:50#"I'm Outta Here" -Track listing:#"She Loves Me Like She Means It" (Angelo Petraglia, Robert Ellis Orrall, Billy Spencer) – 2:44#"The Last Time I Loved Like That" (Orrall, Curtis Wright) – 3:50#"I'm...
. They recorded one album for Giant Records. After charting two songs on the Billboard charts, "She Loves Me Like She Means It" and "If You Could Say What I'm Thinking", the duo was nominated for Duo of the Year by the Country Music Association
Country Music Association
The Country Music Association was founded in 1958 in Nashville, Tennessee. It originally consisted of only 233 members and was the first trade organization formed to promote a music genre...
. Orrall & Wright split up in 1994, and Orrall moved on to developing and producing new artists.
Late 1990s and 2000s
Orrall continued to write songs and produce records for other artists, including "What If It's You" for Reba McEntireReba McEntire
Reba Nell McEntire is an American country music artist and actress. She began her career in the music industry as a high school student singing in the Kiowa High School band , on local radio shows with her siblings, and at rodeos. As a solo act, she was invited to perform at a rodeo in Oklahoma...
, "Ultimate"" for Lindsay Lohan
Lindsay Lohan
Lindsay Lohan is an American actress, pop singer and model. She began her career as a child fashion model before making her motion picture debut in Disney's 1998 remake of The Parent Trap at the age of 11...
, The Swing" for James Bonamy
James Bonamy
James Michael Bonamy is an American country music artist. He released two studio albums James Michael Bonamy (born April 29, 1972) is an American country music artist. He released two studio albums James Michael Bonamy (born April 29, 1972) is an American country music artist. He released two...
, as well as many cuts by Michael Peterson
Michael Peterson (singer)
Michael James Peterson is an American country music artist. He made his debut on the country music scene in 1997 with his self-titled debut album, which produced five Top 40 hits on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks charts, including the Number One hit "From Here to Eternity"...
: the Number One hit "From Here to Eternity
From Here to Eternity (Michael Peterson song)
"From Here to Eternity" is the title of a song recorded by American country music artist Michael Peterson, who co-wrote the song with Robert Ellis Orrall...
". He also took up painting
Painting
Painting is the practice of applying paint, pigment, color or other medium to a surface . The application of the medium is commonly applied to the base with a brush but other objects can be used. In art, the term painting describes both the act and the result of the action. However, painting is...
, and holds one-man shows around Nashville. He is represented by Estel Gallery.
In 2002 Orrall and his two sons, Jake and Jamin, formed an independent label called Infinity Cat Recordings. One of the acts signed to that label is fictitious indie rock
Indie rock
Indie rock is a genre of alternative rock that originated in the United Kingdom and the United States in the 1980s. Indie rock is extremely diverse, with sub-genres that include lo-fi, post-rock, math rock, indie pop, dream pop, noise rock, space rock, sadcore, riot grrrl and emo, among others...
group Monkey Bowl, in which Orrall assumes the pseudonym Bob Something. In 2004, the group achieved media attention for its song "Al Gore". Written by Orrall, the song features an appearance by former United states
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
vice president Al Gore
Al Gore
Albert Arnold "Al" Gore, Jr. served as the 45th Vice President of the United States , under President Bill Clinton. He was the Democratic Party's nominee for President in the 2000 U.S. presidential election....
. Among the acts on the label are JEFF the Brotherhood
JEFF the Brotherhood
JEFF the Brotherhood is a two-piece rock band consisting of brothers Jake and Jamin Orrall, hailing form Nashville, Tennessee. Their style has been described by music writers as containing elements of psychedelic rock, garage rock, punk and pop...
, which is composed of Orrall's sons, Jamin and Jake.
Orrall continued writing for other artists in the 2000s, including Martina McBride
Martina McBride
Martina McBride is an American country music singer and songwriter. McBride has been called the "Céline Dion of Country Music" for her big-voiced ballads and soprano range....
's 2010 single "Wrong Baby Wrong" and Ashton Shepherd
Ashton Shepherd
Ashton Delilah Shepherd is an American country music singer-songwriter. She was first signed to Universal Music Group Nashville's MCA Nashville division in April 2007. Her 2008 debut album Sounds So Good produced two top 40 hits on the Hot Country Songs charts: "Takin' Off This Pain" and the title...
's 2011 single "Look It Up
Look It Up
"Look It Up" is the title of a song recorded by American country artist Ashton Shepherd. It was released in January 2011 as the lead-off single to her second studio album, Where Country Grows. The song was originally recorded by Australian country artist Jasmine Rae in 2008.-Content:"Look It Up" is...
". He also co-produced Taylor Swift
Taylor Swift
Taylor Alison Swift is an American country pop singer-songwriter, musician and actress.In 2006, she released her debut single "Tim McGraw", then her self-titled debut album, which was subsequently certified multi-platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America...
's self-titled debut
Taylor Swift (album)
Taylor Swift is the eponymous debut studio album by American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift. The album was released on October 24, 2006 by Big Machine Records. Swift wrote songs for the album during her freshman year of high school and has writing credits on all of the albums' songs including those...
and her 2008 extended play
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
Beautiful Eyes
Beautiful Eyes
Beautiful Eyes is the second extended play by American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift. The EP was released on July 15, 2008 by Big Machine Records exclusively to Wal-Mart stores in the United States and online...
, as well as Love and Theft
Love and Theft (band)
Love and Theft, an American country music duo, is composed of Stephen Barker Liles and Eric Gunderson, both of whom sing lead vocals and play guitar. Love and Theft originally formed as a trio, along with Brian Bandas , in Nashville, Tennessee, in 2006...
's 2009 album World Wide Open
World Wide Open
-Love and Theft:*Brian Bandas – vocals, piano, acoustic guitar, electric guitar*Eric Gunderson – vocals, acoustic guitar, bass guitar*Stephen Barker Liles – vocals-Additional musicians:*Mike Brignardello – bass guitar*Tom Bukovac – electric guitar...
. Overall, he has written more than 250 songs for other artists. He contributed the title track to the Victor/SonyBMG album "The Book Of Lies", described as the "first soundtrack for a book.". His most recent release is "Gravity", which comes packaged with a free copy of "Mistakes", his 1998 autobiographical album lauded by the Washington Post. His next release is another album from Monkey Bowl,"Space", this time on Plastic 350 Records.
Albums
- Sweet Nothing (REO)
- Big 12 Inch Single (Sail)
- Fixation (1981) (RCA)
- Special Pain (1983) (RCA)
- Contain Yourself (1984) (RCA)
- Flying ColorsFlying Colors (Robert Ellis Orrall album)Flying Colors is a studio album, released in 1992, by American country music artist Robert Ellis Orrall. Although it was his fourth studio album overall, it was his first and only solo album of mainstream country music, as opposed to his more rock-oriented albums in the 1980s...
(1993) (RCA) - Plastic 350 (2004) (Infinity Cat) as Monkey Bowl
- "Soon To Be A Major Motion Picture" (2005) (Infinity Cat) as Steffle/Flanders
- "Art Circus" (2006) (Infinity Cat) as Art Circus
- Ultimate (2008) (Infinity Cat) as Monkey Bowl
- The Book Of Lies (2008) (Victor/SonyBMG)
- Mistakes/Gravity" (2010) (Plastic350)
Singles
| Year | Single | Peak chart positions | Album | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Country Hot Country Songs Hot Country Songs is a chart published weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States.This 60-position chart lists the most popular country music songs, calculated weekly mostly by airplay and occasionally commercial sales... |
US Billboard Hot 100 The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday... |
CAN Country RPM (magazine) RPM was a Canadian music industry publication that featured song and album charts for Canada. The publication was founded by Walt Grealis in February 1964, supported through its existence by record label owner Stan Klees. RPM ceased publication in November 2000.RPM stood for "Records, Promotion,... |
|||
| 1983 | "I Couldn't Say No" (with Carlene Carter Carlene Carter Carlene Carter is an American country singer and songwriter. She is the daughter of June Carter and her first husband, Carl Smith.... ) |
— | 32 | — | Special Pain |
| 1993 | "Boom It Was Over" | 19 | — | 39 | Flying Colors |
| "A Little Bit of Her Love" | 31 | — | 36 | ||
| "Every Day When I Get Home" | 64 | — | 68 | ||
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart | |||||
Music videos
| Year | Video | Director |
|---|---|---|
| 1981 | "Actually" | |
| 1983 | "I Couldn't Say No" | |
| "Tell Me If It Hurts" | ||
| 1992 | "Boom It Was Over" | chris rogers |
| 1993 | "A Little Bit of Her Love" | Alan Chebot |
| "Every Day When I Get Home" |