King of Hearts (Roy Orbison album)


King of Hearts is a posthumous album of Roy Orbison songs put together from master sessions and demos by Jeff Lynne for Virgin Records, and Orbison's 23rd album overall. According to the official Roy Orbison discography by Marcel Riesco, the collection was originally released in October 1992 on CD, music cassette, and LP.

History

Roy Orbison died on December 6, 1988, aged 52, from a heart attack in the middle of his career revival. After Orbison's death, Mystery Girl was released. Several songs had been recorded during the sessions, and there was enough material for a new album. Some songs on this album were recorded as demos. Several individuals produced the various recordings, including Lynne. They were: Don Was, David Was, Pete Anderson, Robbie Robertson, Will Jennings, David Briggs, Chips Moman, Guy Roche, Albert Hammond and Diane Warren.
The album includes the 1987 duet with k.d. lang version of Orbison's 1961 hit single, "Crying". The re-recording was first released as part of the soundtrack for the motion picture Hiding Out. Their collaboration won the Grammy Award for Best Country Collaboration with Vocals. The duet version was a minor US chart hit for the pair, peaking at No. 42 on the hot country singles chart, though it was a more substantial hit in the UK in 1992, reaching No. 13 on the UK Singles Chart.
"I Drove All Night" was another hit single from the album.
Clarence Clemons appeared on saxophone on "We'll Take the Night".

Track listing