The Smiley Smile Message Board

I find it odd that I have never heard Brian or the Beach Boys mention him. I discovered him a couple years ago on a PBS special (the one with Elvis Costello, Tom Petty, etc). I think he is better then Elvis. Has anyone ever heard any of the Beach Boys thoughts on Roy Orbison?

Well...They (including Brian) toured Australia and New Zealand with him in January 1964. Probably hung out with him a fair amount-on planes, hotels, etc-though Murry was there to spoil things

I would think Brian would be a fan of that voice.  And those tunes of longing they have in common.

I guess that the group liked him. They were touring with him on the same bill as recently as 1988. My parents saw them in 1988, and Roy Orbison was the opening act. It was one of the last show's he ever played.

Actually, I think I was listening to an Extended Party mix, or it coulda been the album itself, I can't remember....But I do remember hearing Al play a couple of chords and sing: 'i was alright, for a while, I could smile for awhile,' from Crying. It was in between songs.

I have a recording somewhere of Roy Orbison performing "Help Me Rhonda" during the 1960's. 

Here's a recording:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r1xJSUMVRR8

Roy Orbison was a genius.  I totally loved the guy and his music.  I thought it was great that he was part of the original Wilbury's.

he even performed a semi bb style song on his last cd. Its called windsurfer

I think I've heard Jeff Foskett do "Cryin'"

That's really cool-I love Roy O.

Somewhere in the BBs-picture-thread I posted a shot from the '64-tour of Roy and some of the boys in the background.

Roy was great ! But one thing that kinda bothers me is that he wasn't really comfortable singing harder rock songs. Sometimes he sounded a little lost imho. But his 60s-ballads and uptempo songs are awesome !

It's funny I like when he did harder rock. I know I am in the minority but I love his Sun stuff.

Oh, I love that too, but I just think his voice wasn't that much suited to that style. I'd rather hear CCR's "Ooby dooby" than the original. But that's just me...

I just thought a little more about Roy and the BBs. In my view Roy is kinda the direct connection the BBs have to the very early rock'n'roll as we know it. First of course on a personal level, as most people probably know Roy was one of the artists on Sun Records with Cash, Carl Perkins and Jerry Lee Lewis (I don't think he was on there during Elvis' time, right MBE?). But also musicaly as I have often felt that Roy's songs during the early sixties have not only the feel of rock'n'roll but also show some of the beauty, complexity and aso pure quality that Brian and the Beach Boys were heading for with "Today" and "Summer days..." right into "Pet sounds". "Crying" sounds in one way like a teenage-popsong but on the other hand is in every way as beautiful as "God only knows" (there, I said it!)


I don't know if "Windsurfer" is really in the BB's style. I also thought that, much more after knowing about they're connection. But the falsetto was always part of Orbison's style and there isn't that much more BBs-thing in the song. But well, maybe I just don't understand. Haen't listened to it for a long time.

Yes, Al sang some lines of "Crying" during the Party!-sessions. Just imagine a Beach Boys' version of that song. Wether Al or Carl singing.... could've been great. On the other hand, as Elvis said "You can't improve a Orbison song"

I believe Mike and Bruce used some runs of the "Pretty woman"-riff in the last years when the cheerleaders came on stage

Actually at some Mike and Bruce shows I think Pretty Woman was even sung. You are right Roy was not on Sun with Elvis.

Here's the picture:

(http://www.abc.net.au/arts/rocksnaps/photos/img/uz2830.jpg)


Are there any pictures of the '88-period?

The BBs were doing the pretty woman riff at least as early as 1988 to introduce de cheerleaders

Imagine Roy singing Guess I'm Dumb!

Nice

And, of course, Glen Campbell has recorded and performed "Crying"....

Hey John, I've heard him sing it as well...I saw it posted on youtube, it was a live recording...anyone know what happend to that vid?

I wonder what would've happened if Roy Orbison replaced Brian on stage. Of course, I'm not sure he would've bought into Smile either.