The Telegraph: 50 Years of “OH, PRETTY WOMAN”
A driving beat. A twanging guitar. A jarring 3/4 time signature. Roy Orbison’s iconic breakthrough hit secures its classic status in the space of 10 seconds, before he’s even begun singing.
“OH, PRETTY WOMAN” Enters the Top 100 in 1964
On this day in 1964, “OH, PRETTY WOMAN,” written by Roy Orbison & Bill Dees (pictured here) broke the Billboard Hot 100 and landed at #51 for their second week on the chart.
Join us as we follow the historic, meteoric rise of “OH, PRETTY WOMAN” to #1 in celebration of the song’s 50th Anniversary over the coming weeks!
ROY ORBISON’S “OH, PRETTY WOMAN” CHART LAUNCH BEGAN 50 YEARS AGO…
ROY ORBISON’S “OH, PRETTY WOMAN” CHART LAUNCH BEGAN 50 YEARS AGO THIS WEEK BRITISH INVASION DISRUPTED BY MASSIVE SMASH ON BOTH SIDES OF THE ATLANTIC
Roy Orbison began making his mark on the music world in 1956 at Sun Records, which boasted a roster of unparalleled talent that also included Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Johnny Cash. However, it was during his years on Monument Records in the early-to-mid ’60s when Orbison’s commercial success reached stratospheric levels, the apex of which was “Oh, Pretty Woman,” a song co-written by Orbison and Bill Dees. The blockbuster hit, first appeared at #101 on Billboard’s “Bubbling Under” chart in the issue dated August 22, 1964. It would go on to spend three weeks at the top of the Billboard Hot 100 chart, with sales of 7 million copies. It also topped the British charts for three weeks, an unprecedented achievement for any American to have this kind of chart-topping power simultaneously on both sides of the Atlantic in the Beatles-dominated year of 1964.
Happy Birthday Jerry Kennedy!
Happy Birthday Jerry Kennedy!
Kennedy celebrated his birthday yesterday.
Signing his first recording contract at age 11, this prolific guitar player is one of the three guitar players (Wayne Moss and Billy Sanford are the other two!) heard with Roy Orbison on the #1 hit “OH, PRETTY WOMAN” that turns 50 this year!
Roy Orbison & Bill Dees 1964
50 years ago today, August 1, 1964, Roy Orbison’s smash hit “OH, PRETTY WOMAN” was recorded!
Released as Monument Single #851, it was a massive hit, breaking all previous sales & radio play records worldwide. The song was initially controversial, viewed as too sexual for public radio. The opening guitar riff was thought to be lascivious, the drums too aggressive. Censors especially didn’t like the line “come with me baby” and Roy had to change it for the Ed Sullivan show and other television appearances like musicians (Rolling Stones, The Doors) would have to change their lyrics for TV in the future.
Still considered by many to be the top Rock and Roll song of all time, it directly influenced many great rock riffs like The Rolling Stones’ “Satisfaction” and The Beatles’ “Daytripper,” both from 1965. It introduced the rock guitar riff used as a compositional element in song structure.
Here’s a photo of the song’s writers- Roy Orbison & Bill Dees- accepting an award for over 1 million sales in Canada! Mercy!!!!
Stay tuned in the coming weeks for our celebration of all things “OH, PRETTY WOMAN!”