13CD or 14LP box set: The MGM Years 1965-1973.
Orbison’s career was flying along when MGM made him an offer he couldn’t refuse in 1965. The previous year, he’d had a global smash with Oh, Pretty Woman, and was almost singlehandedly holding the fort for American artists at the top of the charts against the Stateside invasion of British bands such asThe Beatles, The Who and The Rolling Stones. But the promise of a starring role in an MGM film was a key factor in Orbison’s decision to leave his friend/producer Fred Foster at Monument Records… that and a deal worth a reported million dollars – very big bucks at the time.
‘The Big O’ went on to release 27 singles – including 11 worldwide Top 40 hits – and 11 studio albums in a highly productive eight-year spell under the auspices of MGM. And while commercial success continued, Orbison wasn’t afraid to experiment with an eclectic mix of musical styles, as well as returning to his country roots with tribute albums such as Hank Williams The Roy Orbison Way
