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Roy Orbison — Oh, Pretty Woman
Album: Orbisongs
Avg rating:
8

Your rating:
Total ratings: 1476









Released: 1964
Length: 2:54
Plays (last 30 days): 0
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Pretty woman, walking down the street
Pretty woman, the kind I like to meet
Pretty woman
I don't believe you, you're not the truth
No one could look as good as you
Mercy

Pretty woman, won't you pardon me?
Pretty woman, I couldn't help but see
Pretty woman
That you look lovely as can be
Are you lonely just like me?
Wow

Pretty woman, stop a while
Pretty woman, talk a while
Pretty woman, give your smile to me
Pretty woman, yeah, yeah, yeah
Pretty woman, look my way
Pretty woman, say you'll stay with me

'Cause I need you
I'll treat you right
Come with me, baby
Be mine tonight

Pretty woman, don't walk on by
Pretty woman, don't make me cry
Pretty woman, don't walk away, hey, okay
If that's the way it must be, okay
I guess I'll go on home, it's late
There'll be tomorrow night, but wait
What do I see?

Is she walking back to me?
Yeah, she's walking back to me
Oh, oh, pretty woman
Comments (87)add comment
 siqbal wrote:
That GRRROWL at precisely the 1.00" mark: I melt 

MERCY!!  
Posted 7 months ago by joejennings    [ Reply ]
That GRRROWL at precisely the 1.00" mark: I melt 
Posted 1 year ago by siqbal    [ Reply ]
What a fantastic, timeless recording this is. Nearly sixty years old and still sounds fresh.
Posted 2 years ago by Edweirdo    [ Reply ]
Damn! I always thought he was an old man when he died. I was  a teenager at the time, and it seemed like he was ancient. I am the same age now as he was when he passed. <SIGH> 
Posted 2 years ago by MilidelEubanks    [ Reply ]
GODLIKE!!! ICONIC!!!
Posted 2 years ago by eileenomurphy    [ Reply ]
So was he:
lookin' back to see if you were lookin' back at me To see me lookin' back at you


Posted 3 years ago by stevesaw    [ Reply ]
 Skydog wrote:
Lacking the photogenic looks of many of his rock and roll contemporaries, Orbison eventually developed a persona that did not reflect his personality. He had no publicist in the early 1960s, no presence in fan magazines, and his single sleeves did not feature his picture. Life magazine called him an "anonymous celebrity". After leaving his thick eyeglasses on an airplane in 1962 or 1963, Orbison was forced to wear his prescription Wayfarer sunglasses on stage and found that he preferred them. His biographers suggest that although he had a good sense of humor and was never morose, Orbison was very shy and suffered from severe stage fright; wearing sunglasses helped him hide somewhat from the attention. The ever-present sunglasses led some people to assume, then and now, that the stationary performer was blind. The black clothes and desperation in his songs led to an aura of mystery and introversion. Years later Orbison said, "I wasn't trying to be weird, you know? I didn't have a manager who told me to dress or how to present myself or anything. But the image developed of a man of mystery and a quiet man in black somewhat of a recluse, although I never was, really."
.
{#Arrowd} 
 

<3 <3 <3

Touching
Posted 3 years ago by ExploitingChaos    [ Reply ]
There's no denying his talent and class.
Posted 3 years ago by ejuttner    [ Reply ]
 Sam_Hill wrote:

Yes but I never seem to get tired of it. The "Rowrrr!" alone is worth the price of admission.
 
at the opening chords, I am always disappointed that it isn't the BoxTops' The Letter...a/k/a Give Me A Ticket for an Aeroplane - oldie but goodie and I am more a child of the 60s. [Mercy!]
Posted 4 years ago by xcranky_yankee    [ Reply ]
 ebanzai wrote:
Good song, but sadly it's been overplayed way, way too much. : /
 
Yes but I never seem to get tired of it. The "Rowrrr!" alone is worth the price of admission.
Posted 5 years ago by Sam_Hill    [ Reply ]
What a voice!
Posted 6 years ago by meatmike    [ Reply ]
I like this classic tune a lot, enough to stand firm w/ my 9 rating.  And yet another example of FLAC files yielding something 'new' to hear in a song I've heard hundreds of times....in this case it's the piano parts that I've never heard so clearly until now.  Thanks as always, BnR...and LONG LIVE RP!!
Posted 6 years ago by lizardking    [ Reply ]
Good song, but sadly it's been overplayed way, way too much. : /
Posted 6 years ago by ebanzai    [ Reply ]
 Webfoot wrote:
Ardent wood??
 
The best kind.
Posted 6 years ago by gmichaelt    [ Reply ]
 lasker98 wrote:
Maybe just me but that picture could easily be of kd lang.

 .....
 

Hilarious.  Thankfully looks do not always count in the contemporary pop music world.
Posted 7 years ago by westslope    [ Reply ]
 kcar wrote:
head shot of Roy Orbison, looking a little dorkier than usual


Mer-cy! 
Would love to know how long it took him to perfect that growl. Conan O'Brien must be green with envy. 

What gets me about Roy is that he was a star even though he just didn't look like a rock 'n roll star. Buddy Holly wasn't exactly eye candy either but he had a geeky wholesomeness. All the pictures I've seen of Roy, even in his heyday, make me wonder whether he wasn't a record company executive who kept the guy actually singing locked away while Roy lived out some mid-life fantasy.

 
He wasn't really considered a "rock 'n' roll star" the same way as many of his contemporaries were; he was more of a rockabilly balladeer.  He was only around 20 years old when he signed to Sun Records (the first company to also record Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Johnny Cash) and his biggest hits (with his next label) were all before he was thirty years old - not really "mid-life".  It seems he eventually went to wearing dark glasses all the time - maybe to add an air of mystery or something - but he wasn't as visually marketable as his contemporaries were.
Posted 7 years ago by Proclivities    [ Reply ]
Maybe just me but that picture could easily be of kd lang.

 kcar wrote:
head shot of Roy Orbison, looking a little dorkier than usual

 


Posted 7 years ago by lasker98    [ Reply ]
Trying to listen to this like I was hearing it for the first time, without any baggage.
Posted 7 years ago by mdnlsn    [ Reply ]
Lacking the photogenic looks of many of his rock and roll contemporaries, Orbison eventually developed a persona that did not reflect his personality. He had no publicist in the early 1960s, no presence in fan magazines, and his single sleeves did not feature his picture. Life magazine called him an "anonymous celebrity". After leaving his thick eyeglasses on an airplane in 1962 or 1963, Orbison was forced to wear his prescription Wayfarer sunglasses on stage and found that he preferred them. His biographers suggest that although he had a good sense of humor and was never morose, Orbison was very shy and suffered from severe stage fright; wearing sunglasses helped him hide somewhat from the attention. The ever-present sunglasses led some people to assume, then and now, that the stationary performer was blind. The black clothes and desperation in his songs led to an aura of mystery and introversion. Years later Orbison said, "I wasn't trying to be weird, you know? I didn't have a manager who told me to dress or how to present myself or anything. But the image developed of a man of mystery and a quiet man in black somewhat of a recluse, although I never was, really."
.
{#Arrowd} 
Posted 7 years ago by Skydog    [ Reply ]
 car wrote:Ha Ha !!!
head shot of Roy Orbison, looking a little dorkier than usual


Mer-cy! 
Would love to know how long it took him to perfect that growl. Conan O'Brien must be green with envy. 

What gets me about Roy is that he was a star even though he just didn't look like a rock 'n roll star. Buddy Holly wasn't exactly eye candy either but he had a geeky wholesomeness. All the pictures I've seen of Roy, even in his heyday, make me wonder whether he wasn't a record company executive who kept the guy actually singing locked away while Roy lived out some mid-life fantasy.

 


Posted 8 years ago by bm.deavenport613    [ Reply ]
10!
Posted 8 years ago by AbileneTexas    [ Reply ]
Big O!!
Posted 8 years ago by Angry_Old_Man    [ Reply ]
Mercyyyyyy! Rowwwwwr!
Posted 8 years ago by TerryS    [ Reply ]
damn Sam{#Tongue-out}
Posted 8 years ago by Skydog    [ Reply ]
         I know why they said  ' exceptions proves the rule'.
Oh, pretty Woman, she's  really scared stiff of rolling thunders.
Posted 8 years ago by twoplain2sea    [ Reply ]
 Lazarus wrote:

The voice of an angel...
 

 
MERCY!!! {#Bananajam}
Posted 8 years ago by gregskrtic    [ Reply ]
 Webfoot wrote:

Ardent wood??

 
I'm guessing she meant "wooed", but 'Ardent Wood' could make a good band name.
Posted 8 years ago by Proclivities    [ Reply ]
Okay.....
Posted 9 years ago by helgigermany    [ Reply ]
Timeless classic!  :-)
Posted 9 years ago by grahamdillabough    [ Reply ]
Classic..........always , just always 
Posted 9 years ago by lutonrover    [ Reply ]
 helenofjoy wrote:
I was wood most ardently with this recording when I was a fresh lass of 20.

 
Ardent wood??
Posted 9 years ago by Webfoot    [ Reply ]
I'm listening to this on Shoutcast and it just gives the title as "Oh" {#Lol}
Posted 10 years ago by cayenne    [ Reply ]
 ckcotton wrote:
If I NEVER hear his again it will be too soon!

 
Amen!
Posted 10 years ago by FluorideFreeMN    [ Reply ]
Hard to replace Mr O and I don't mean el presidente!
Posted 10 years ago by marty88210    [ Reply ]
I was wood most ardently with this recording when I was a fresh lass of 20.
Posted 10 years ago by helenofjoy    [ Reply ]
The. Voice.  
Posted 11 years ago by hencini    [ Reply ]
If I NEVER hear his again it will be too soon!
Posted 11 years ago by ckcotton    [ Reply ]
head shot of Roy Orbison, looking a little dorkier than usual


Mer-cy! 
Would love to know how long it took him to perfect that growl. Conan O'Brien must be green with envy. 

What gets me about Roy is that he was a star even though he just didn't look like a rock 'n roll star. Buddy Holly wasn't exactly eye candy either but he had a geeky wholesomeness. All the pictures I've seen of Roy, even in his heyday, make me wonder whether he wasn't a record company executive who kept the guy actually singing locked away while Roy lived out some mid-life fantasy.
Posted 11 years ago by kcar    [ Reply ]

The voice of an angel...
 
Posted 11 years ago by Lazarus    [ Reply ]
 johnjconn wrote:
hey Bill
Somethings wrong with your equipment.  That hardly sounds like Van Halen
 

I grew up with that version.  I can remember one or two VH songs that were not so bad.  Now, I am going to Youtube to listen to Love Comes Walking In, from the "Van Hagar" era.  There are some really nice aspects to that song.  A brilliant hook.
Posted 11 years ago by rdo    [ Reply ]
 johnjconn wrote:
hey Bill
Somethings wrong with your equipment.  That hardly sounds like Van Halen
 
Won't you be surprised if he segues into VH...
Posted 12 years ago by ScottFromWyoming    [ Reply ]
Amazing delivery of a truly great song.
Posted 12 years ago by lemmoth    [ Reply ]
Mercy! This is why I love RP.
Posted 12 years ago by d-don    [ Reply ]
I want his sunglasses.
Posted 13 years ago by unclehud    [ Reply ]
First time I ever heard this was as a kid when he was on the Dukes of Hazzard.  My dad's like, "You know who that is?". I'm like, "Err... no." {#Tongue-out}

Posted 13 years ago by abbey_normal    [ Reply ]
GOD I hate this.....

VOLUME OFF

 
Posted 13 years ago by ckcotton    [ Reply ]
OMG——-10!
Posted 13 years ago by 2cats    [ Reply ]
Ahh..Jukebox memories !{#Smile}
Posted 14 years ago by HazzeSwede    [ Reply ]

Bruce Springsteen and John Fogerty - Pretty Woman, Live (2009) 

25th ANNIVERSARY ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME CONCERT
Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band w. John Fogerty - Pretty Woman - Madison Square Garden, NYC - 2009/10/29&30


Posted 14 years ago by calypsus_1    [ Reply ]
 drtjdel wrote:
 Hannio wrote:
That's a freakishly skinny right leg he's got, there.

Edit:  Maybe it's not his leg.
Real nice.  Roy had polio. You insensitive bastards.
 
that's very funny, but it's not true. (You are joking, right? Right.)

Posted 14 years ago by apd    [ Reply ]
Classic tune, of course, but I'm not sure this is the "right" version for my memory.  Roy re-recorded all his hits two or three times. . .
Posted 14 years ago by JGM    [ Reply ]
He said RrrrRrrr! )))
Posted 14 years ago by Netto    [ Reply ]
 Shaker wrote:
When I was younger and would drive passed  my sister walking, I  would sing 'pretty women' to her. I just called her {#Angel}

 

Kind of sad, of all the women in the world you sing it to your sister... {#Neutral}
Posted 14 years ago by Sjaaks    [ Reply ]
When I was younger and would drive passed  my sister walking, I  would sing 'pretty women' to her. I just called her {#Angel}

Posted 14 years ago by Shaker    [ Reply ]
This was my favourite song when I was about 7 years old. It has definitely aged well. A master of his craft and he died too early. Legendary!
Posted 14 years ago by BeyondZero    [ Reply ]
I never forget his face, always forget his name. My bad. {#Yell}
Posted 14 years ago by Lrobby99    [ Reply ]
.............mercy...............  Makes me  want to strutt.
Posted 14 years ago by jammin621    [ Reply ]
One of the true pioneers, with a gifted voice to boot!

Posted 14 years ago by slates13    [ Reply ]
An effortless singer who smoked his ass off(and drank a lot of Cokes).
Posted 15 years ago by boober    [ Reply ]
 crockydile wrote:

As Chris Isaac....

 

LOL!!!!!!

{#Roflol}
Posted 15 years ago by Danimal174    [ Reply ]
 Hannio wrote:
That's a freakishly skinny right leg he's got, there.

Edit:  Maybe it's not his leg.
Real nice.  Roy had polio. You insensitive bastards.


Posted 15 years ago by drtjdel    [ Reply ]
Oh Roy is a sure nuff pioneer ! Don't ya'll think so?  In all actuality, Roy helped bring "THE ROCK-n-ROLL era where it is today....hmmm except that u-bangy head stuff . In my lil-ole book  he (Roy) is top notch!!!{#Guitarist}
Posted 15 years ago by snotslinger    [ Reply ]
 cutterjudd wrote:
Roy Boy will live on forever................
 
As Chris Isaac....

Posted 15 years ago by crockydile    [ Reply ]
That's a freakishly skinny right leg he's got, there.

Edit:  Maybe it's not his leg.
Posted 15 years ago by Hannio    [ Reply ]
Great transition. One of the main reasons I tune in so often. Great job Bill!
Posted 17 years ago by cdcassaw    [ Reply ]
Roy Boy will live on forever................
Posted 17 years ago by cutterjudd    [ Reply ]
folkalta wrote:
White Stripes then Roy Mercy! Interesting to think, how many bands or performers can make an album with *50* greatest hits?
The Beatles come to mind...
Posted 17 years ago by drp    [ Reply ]
White Stripes then Roy Mercy! Interesting to think, how many bands or performers can make an album with *50* greatest hits?
Posted 17 years ago by folkalta    [ Reply ]
who would have thought White Stripes to this would have worked? Way to go Bill!
Posted 17 years ago by jlind    [ Reply ]
Mercy!
Posted 18 years ago by Zep    [ Reply ]
Halloween morning, and Bill is playing my upload of Roy. Sweet!
Posted 18 years ago by dionysius    [ Reply ]
OH, OH, NO!
Posted 18 years ago by stvodvo    [ Reply ]
My father and I had no common ground on which to build a relationship and ignored each other for years. One day, we discovered that we both like Roy Orbison. From that one small bit of common interest, we've managed to form a relationship. It's a tentative one, and requires avoidance of topics like religion or politics, but it's still a relationship. Thanks, Roy, for helping to bring my family together. RIP--love you forever.
Posted 18 years ago by QueenLucia    [ Reply ]
Posted 18 years ago by Little_Wing    [ Reply ]
Lyrical gripe: "Are you lonely just like me?" They never are, are they? 8, mind you.
Posted 18 years ago by Cruithne3753    [ Reply ]
To grasp his stature in the Rock & Roll/Pop music world, you only need to look at the faces joining him onstage in "Roy Orbison & Friends: A Black & White Night".
Posted 18 years ago by aflanigan    [ Reply ]
Paraphrasing the lyrics from his stint with the Wilbury's "I'm so tired of being dead"!!!!!
Posted 18 years ago by Farquwaar    [ Reply ]
Posted 18 years ago by R_P    [ Reply ]
webslinger48 wrote:
Some people spend their entire lives trying to build a legacy that will endure long after they are gone. And most fail. Roy Obison wrote and performed "Oh, Pretty Woman." He will never have that problem.
Orbison doesn't really have too many problems these days ... none in this world anyway.
Posted 18 years ago by dogdokken    [ Reply ]
Some people spend their entire lives trying to build a legacy that will endure long after they are gone. And most fail. Roy Obison wrote and performed "Oh, Pretty Woman." He will never have that problem.
Posted 18 years ago by webslinger48    [ Reply ]
Boy, you walk away from the computer for 24 hours, and one of your uploads gets added and played! Huh. The most famous example of Roy's swagger as opposed to his lachrymose melodrama (which I still love, but the guy was a rockabilly rebel as well as a pop crooner!). His tiger growl is alone worth the price of admission. Rock and roll history.
Posted 18 years ago by dionysius    [ Reply ]
One of those songs that speaks to -- and from -- the heart of rock 'n' roll. Thanks, Roy.
Posted 18 years ago by steeler    [ Reply ]
Classic. A+
Posted 18 years ago by luminousjune    [ Reply ]
chartbound!
Posted 18 years ago by kanadan    [ Reply ]
classic!!
Posted 18 years ago by DianaL    [ Reply ]
Amazing vocal range! We miss you, Roy!
Posted 18 years ago by Wolf825    [ Reply ]
ha
Posted 18 years ago by noelbarnes    [ Reply ]