Introduction:
To speak of Roy Orbison is to conjure images of dark glasses, a soaring, almost operatic voice, and a profound mastery of the ballad. Among his most iconic and emotionally resonant compositions stands “Only the Lonely (Know the Way I Feel),” a pivotal song in his illustrious career. This extraordinary track, co-written by Orbison himself with Joe Melson, was released as a 45 rpm single in May 1960 on Monument Records. While it wasn’t immediately part of a studio album upon its single release, it later served as the cornerstone for his debut album for Monument, aptly titled “Lonely and Blue,” which was released in January 1961.
“Only the Lonely” defies easy categorization, though it is broadly considered rock with strong elements of pop and what some have termed “operatic rock balladry.” This was a sound that was, in its essence, unheard of at the time. It departed significantly from the straightforward rockabilly that had characterized much of Orbison’s earlier work. What made it revolutionary was its emotional depth and its departure from the typical verse-chorus structure of popular music. Instead, the song builds and falls to dramatic climaxes, mirroring the emotional intensity conveyed by Orbison’s voice. The New York Times notably described it as expressing “a clenched, driven urgency,” a sentiment that encapsulates its raw power.
The song’s achievements were immediate and significant, marking a turning point in Orbison’s career. It became his first major hit, reaching Number 2 on the United States Billboard Hot 100 pop music charts on July 25, 1960. Its success wasn’t limited to America; “Only the Lonely” soared to Number 1 in the United Kingdom, a position it held for two weeks in October 1960, out of a total of 24 weeks spent on the UK singles chart. It also hit Number 14 on the Billboard R&B charts, showcasing its broad appeal across different musical landscapes. Remarkably, “Only the Lonely” was the longest-charting single of Orbison’s entire career, a testament to its enduring resonance with listeners. Its profound impact was further recognized in 1999 when the 1960 recording was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame, cementing its place in musical history as a truly seminal work.
The song’s innovative sound was partly due to the production approach by Fred Foster and sound engineer Bill Porter, who experimented with close-miking the doo-wop backing singers (the Anita Kerr Singers) and building the mix from the top down, with the vocals in the foreground and the rhythm section subtly in the background. This, combined with Orbison’s incredible vocal range – capable of hitting a surprisingly powerful falsetto note – created his distinctive and melancholic sound that would become his trademark. “Only the Lonely” wasn’t just a hit; it was a defining moment that showcased Orbison’s unique artistry and paved the way for his future string of unforgettable ballads, cementing his legacy as “the King of Wimp Rock” or, more accurately, the master of the dramatic, emotional ballad.