Crying
Roy Orbison · 1962
30 min · 12 tracks · country music
Melancholic ballads interwoven with Orbison's soaring vocals create an emotional landscape of heartbreak and longing.
Top tracks — play these first
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Crying Start here — This poignant title track showcases Orbison's extraordinary vocal range and emotional depth, encapsulating the album's themes of heartache and despair.
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Love Hurts — Orbison's rendition transforms this classic into a haunting exploration of love's pain, blending rock elements with country sensibilities for a timeless appeal.
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Running Scared — This track features a dramatic narrative and complex arrangement, highlighting Orbison's ability to convey vulnerability through powerful lyricism and dynamic singing.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
Orbison's soaring vocals and emotional ballads create a distinctive sound that resonates across the album.
What we noticed
- The first track, 'Crying', features a slow tempo with orchestral backing that sets a melancholic tone for the album.
- Several tracks, like 'Love Hurts' and 'She Wears My Ring', utilize a verse-chorus structure that emphasizes Orbison's vocal range and emotional delivery.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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8/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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8/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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7/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Significant within its genre. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- short, emotional listening sessions
- introspective late-night vibes
- melancholic storytelling focus
- hauntingly beautiful melodies
Where this album fits
- In the catalog
- Breakthrough — This album solidified Orbison's national recognition following 'Only the Lonely'.
- Themes
- heartbreak ballads· small-town longing· 1950s romantic despair
- Career context
- Released in 1962, 'Crying' is Roy Orbison's follow-up to his groundbreaking album 'Only the Lonely'. At this point in his career, Orbison was transitioning from regional success into national stardom, propelled by his unique blend of rockabilly and pop influences.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Chris Isaak· Gene Pitney· The Righteous Brothers
Tracklist
- 1 Crying Start here 2:47
- 2 The Great Pretender 3:02
- 3 Love Hurts 2:29
- 4 She Wears My Ring 2:31
- 5 Wedding Day 2:07
- 6 Summer Song 2:46
- 7 Dance 2:46
- 8 Lana 2:18
- 9 Loneliness 2:29
- 10 Let’s Make a Memory 2:19
- 11 Nite Life 2:34
- 12 Running Scared 2:10
If this landed
Records by other artists that run on the same instinct.
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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