Roy Orbison

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“DRIFT AWAY” by Roy Orbison

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“DRIFT AWAY” by Roy Orbison

Written by Mentor Williams and probably best known as Dobie Gray’s 1973 single,  “DRIFT AWAY” was recorded by Roy Orbison on June 22, 1973 for Roy’s MGM Records album MILESTONES.

Here’s a rare live version of “DRIFT AWAY” performed by Roy in England in 1975-

MILESTONES

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Roy Orbison’s final MGM Records album, MILESTONES, was released on September 24, 1973, but much of the recording was done in June of that same year.

Side One

  1. “I Wanna Live” (John D. Loudermilk)
  2. “You Don’t Know Me” (Cindy Walker, Eddy Arnold)
  3. “California Sunshine Girl” (Letha Purdom)
  4. “Words” (Barry Gibb, Robin Gibb, Maurice Gibb)
  5. “Blue Rain (Coming Down)” (Roy Orbison, Joe Melson)

Side Two

  1. “Drift Away” (Mentor Williams)
  2. “You Lay So Easy on My Mind” (Donald L. Riis, Bobby G. Rice, Charles W. Fields)
  3. “The World You Live In” (J. Melson, Suzie Melson)
  4. “Sweet Caroline” (Neil Diamond)
  5. “I’ve Been Loving You Too Long” (Otis Redding, Jerry Butler)
  6. “The Morning After” (Al Kasha, Joel Hirschhorn)

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“BLUE RAIN” by Roy Orbison

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“BLUE RAIN” by Roy Orbison

Recorded on this day in 1973, “BLUE RAIN” was written by Roy Orbison and Joe Melson for Roy’s MILESTONES album released by MGM Records in 1973.  Orbison and Melson wrote many songs together including such hits as “Only the Lonely,” “Uptown,” “Crying,” and “Blue Bayou.”