Roy Orbison at the Rock House
Encyclopedia
Roy Orbison at the Rock House is the first album
by Roy Orbison
. It was released in 1961 by Sun Records
at a time when Orbison had already moved to the Monument
label but had not yet put out an album. Sun Records owner Sam Phillips
had a collection of songs Orbison had recorded at Sun between 1956 and '58. Phillips capitalized on the national recognition Orbison had achieved at Monument through three major hit singles
in 1960 and '61 that had gone to the top of the Billboard charts.
Most of the songs on Roy Orbison at the Rock House were written by Orbison but the songwriting credits were assigned to Sam Phillips, and are in the traditional rockabilly
style the Sun label was known for. Notable exceptions are compositions by other Sun artists Harold Jenkins (better known as "Conway Twitty") and Johnny Cash
. "Rock House" was written by Orbison and Twitty.
, except where indicated.
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
by Roy Orbison
Roy Orbison
Roy Kelton Orbison was an American singer-songwriter, well known for his distinctive, powerful voice, complex compositions, and dark emotional ballads. Orbison grew up in Texas and began singing in a rockabilly/country & western band in high school until he was signed by Sun Records in Memphis...
. It was released in 1961 by Sun Records
Sun Records
Sun Records is a record label founded in Memphis, Tennessee, starting operations on March 27, 1952.Founded by Sam Phillips, Sun Records was known for giving notable musicians such as Elvis Presley , Carl Perkins, Roy Orbison, and Johnny Cash...
at a time when Orbison had already moved to the Monument
Monument Records
Monument Records was an American record label, Washington, D.C. named for the Washington Monument, founded in 1958, by Fred Foster and Buddy Deane . Buddy Deane soon left the company, and in the early 60's bought KOTN in Pine Bluff, Arkansas where he retired to until his death...
label but had not yet put out an album. Sun Records owner Sam Phillips
Sam Phillips
Samuel Cornelius Phillips , better known as Sam Phillips, was an American businessman, record executive, record producer and DJ who played an important role in the emergence of rock and roll as the major form of popular music in the 1950s...
had a collection of songs Orbison had recorded at Sun between 1956 and '58. Phillips capitalized on the national recognition Orbison had achieved at Monument through three major hit singles
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
in 1960 and '61 that had gone to the top of the Billboard charts.
Most of the songs on Roy Orbison at the Rock House were written by Orbison but the songwriting credits were assigned to Sam Phillips, and are in the traditional rockabilly
Rockabilly
Rockabilly is one of the earliest styles of rock and roll music, dating to the early 1950s.The term rockabilly is a portmanteau of rock and hillbilly, the latter a reference to the country music that contributed strongly to the style's development...
style the Sun label was known for. Notable exceptions are compositions by other Sun artists Harold Jenkins (better known as "Conway Twitty") and Johnny Cash
Johnny Cash
John R. "Johnny" Cash was an American singer-songwriter, actor, and author, who has been called one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century...
. "Rock House" was written by Orbison and Twitty.
Track listing
All tracks composed by Roy Orbison, assigned to Sam PhillipsSam Phillips
Samuel Cornelius Phillips , better known as Sam Phillips, was an American businessman, record executive, record producer and DJ who played an important role in the emergence of rock and roll as the major form of popular music in the 1950s...
, except where indicated.
- "This Kind of Love"
- "Devil Doll"
- "You're My Baby" (Johnny CashJohnny CashJohn R. "Johnny" Cash was an American singer-songwriter, actor, and author, who has been called one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century...
) - "Rock House" (Phillips, Harold Jenkins)
- "You're Gonna Cry"
- "I Never Knew"
- "Sweet and Easy to Love"
- "Mean Little Mama"
- "Ooby Dooby" (Wade Moore, Dick PennerDick PennerDick Penner is a retired professor of English, who, while in college in 1955, co-composed, with Wade Lee Moore , Ooby Dooby, Roy Orbison's rockabilly classic. Penner also had been a singer, guitar player, and recording artist.In 1957, Penner switched from country music to rock & roll...
) - "Problem Child" (Roy Orbison)