Cry Softly Lonely One

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Cry Softly Lonely One
Studio album by
ReleasedOctober 1967
GenreRock
Length24:18
LabelMGM
ProducerWesley Rose, Jim Vienneau
Roy Orbison chronology
The Fastest Guitar Alive

(1967)
Cry Softly Lonely One
(1967)
Roy Orbison's Many Moods
(1969)
Singles from Cry Softly Lonely One
  1. "Communication Breakdown"
    Released: November 1966[1]
  2. "Cry Softly Lonely One"
    Released: July 1967[1]
  3. "She"
    Released: October 1967[1]

Cry Softly Lonely One is the twelfth music album recorded by Roy Orbison, and his sixth for MGM Records. The album was released in October 1967 and included two singles: "Communication Breakdown" and the title tune, both of which were minor hits in the States early that year. "Communication Breakdown" did much better in Australia, where it reached No. 9 in February. According to the official Roy Orbison biography, the London Records release (non U.S.) of this album featured the extra track "Just One Time".[2]

The album was released on compact disc by Diablo Records on October 5, 2004, as tracks 12 through 24 on a pairing of two albums on one CD with tracks 1 through 12 consisting of Orbison's 1966 album, The Classic Roy Orbison.[3] Cry Softly Lonely One was included in a box set entitled The MGM Years 1965-1973 - Roy Orbison, which contains 12 of his MGM studio albums, 1 compilation, and was released on December 4, 2015.[4]

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic
[5]
Record Mirror[6]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music[7]

William Ruhlmann of AllMusic wrote that this album "was an anachronism (the other irony is that, had it come out 18 months later, it might have ridden the same roots rock wave as Elvis Presley's Memphis albums, or Joe South, to success). Some of it, such as "That's a No No," was a true throwback to an earlier pop/rock era, but most of what was here was a great showcase for Orbison's classic sound as it had evolved, oblivious to the musical trends around him"[5]

Variety states "Orbison's supple tenor pipers get an excellent workout in this set of new ballads."[8]

Record Mirror felt that "His voice tackles this collection of mostly gentle songs well, but it is a pity that several 'teen' songs are included, seemingly from the chewing-gum blue jeans era."[6]

Track listing

Side one
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."She"Roy Orbison, Bill Dees2:38
2."Communication Breakdown"Roy Orbison, Bill Dees2:57
3."Cry Softly, Lonely One"Don Gant, Joe Melson2:52
4."Girl Like Mine"Mark Mathis2:20
5."It Takes One (To Know One)"Roy Orbison, Bill Dees2:56
6."Just Let Me Make Believe"Ronald Blackwell2:23
Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Here Comes The Rain, Baby"
London Records
release only)
Don Gibson2:14

Charts

Singles

Year Title U.S.
Hot 100[9][10]
U.S. Cashbox[11] AUS[14]
1966 "Communication Breakdown" 60 70 64 8
1967 "Cry Softly Lonely One" 52 45 29 10
"She" 119 118 - 23

Production

  • Tracks 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 10 arranged by Jim Hall
  • Tracks 6, 11, 12 arranged by Bill McElhiney
  • Jack Anesh – cover design
  • Murray Laden – cover photography

References

  1. ^ .
  2. .
  3. ^ "Roy Orbison 1965-1973, Vol. 2 (The Classic Roy Orbison/Cry Softly, Lonely One)". AllMusic. Retrieved September 16, 2024.
  4. ^ "The MGM Years 1965-1973 - Roy Orbison". AllMusic. Retrieved September 16, 2024.
  5. ^ a b Ruhlmann, William. "Roy Orbison – Cry Softly, Lonely One: Album Review". AllMusic. Retrieved July 18, 2024.
  6. ^
    New Record Mirror
    . No. 369. p. 8. Retrieved August 9, 2024.
  7. . Retrieved August 29, 2024.
  8. ^ "Record Reviews: Monkees, Makba, Johnny Mathis, Elvis, Lovecraft, Live For Life, Orbison, Hobbits Top New LPs". Variety. Vol. 249, no. 1. November 22, 1967. p. 44.
  9. .
  10. .
  11. .
  12. ^ "Canadian Singles". RPM magazine. July 17, 2013. Retrieved June 13, 2016.
  13. ^ "RPM Top 100 Singles - February 4, 1967" (PDF).
  14. ^ Australian chart peaks: