Roy Orbison
Mystery Girl

THE REVIEW

Quick, because if you need to have Roy Orbison explained to you, it might already be too late.
Quick if a country singer from Texas is going to become a star, but to look at him you'd never believe it because he looks like an insurance agent, a traveling salesman, a used car dealer (also true for his friend Buddy Holly). In 1958, he switched to rock and roll and, like Little Richard, wrote his own songs, played the guitar with a certain twang scent that he would never lose, and like Johnny Cash had a dark and tragic edge that was very perceptible, both in fast songs and unmistakable ballads. The dark glasses glued on for life due to a concert mishap did the rest, the legend ran on vinyl, and "Pretty Woman" became a classic in 1964. In the meantime, Elvis Presley (not just anybody) declared around that the best singer in the world was Roy Orbison, and well, these are things that make you feel good.
Years pass quickly, and like all the pioneers of rock, Roy is somewhat sidelined, his beloved wife Claudette dies while they are traveling across America on a motorcycle, and two sons lose their lives in a house fire. Roy Orbison becomes mute and grim, performing just an occasional concert, then at the end of the eighties, a series of chance encounters put him back in the studio with friends George Harrison, Bob Dylan, and Jeff Lynne: he is drawn in the face and fifty years old, but he challenges himself again and America rediscovers his legendary three-octave voice in all its stellar grace.
The newfound fame brings celebration: Roy enters the Walk of Fame, and in December 1987, he is on stage with Elvis Presley's band (the amazing James Burton) plus Springsteen and Costello on rhythm guitars, T-Bone Burnett on lead, Tom Waits on piano, and Jackson Browne on backing vocals (and these are satisfactions). Right after, Jeff Lynne convinces him to get back in the recording studio, arranges a handful of excellent tracks, and this "Mystery Girl" is ready to release in January 1989. A wonderful lead single, "You Got It," announces the comeback to the world, and everything seems ready for the party.

The vinyl indeed comes out in January and is a huge hit, platinum records abound, Lynne has done an exceptional job, and Orbison's old-fashioned music is dressed in modern and convincing sounds, the voice is intact, and the dark charm is all there. It's a pity the singer can't enjoy the success: on December 7, a heart attack stopped the heart of a man weakened by too many losses, and half the world discovers, or rediscovers, Roy Orbison too late to applaud him once more as he deserves.
"Mystery Girl" is the beautiful gift that Roy just managed to leave us in time, and it's worth having in your collection, balancing between nostalgia and real music, music that with a few chords could make your heart soar.
Today no young person knows who Roy Orbison was.