Coventry Music Articles by Pete Clemons: Roy Orbison

Tuesday, May 5, 2020

Roy Orbison – Coventry Theatre 1964

Roy Orbison – Coventry Theatre 1964

By Pete Clemons

Roy Orbison visited Coventry on several occasions. Here is a transcript of a review from the first of those visits during 1964 when he thrilled a sell out audience at the Coventry Theatre.
The big 'O', Roy Orbison, had a fantastic reception when he appeared at the Coventry Theatre recently. He, together with Freddie and the Dreamers, provided superb entertainment which ranged from the sublime to the ridiculous.

Not the most handsome of performers Roy wins his acclaim solely on the merits of his voice. And what a voice he has. He stands with his guitar slung around his shoulders and, with hardly a trace of his thin lips moving, manages to make the lyric of every song come to life.

Emotional ballads are his speciality, and every ounce of feeling in a song comes effortlessly from his voice. Each song is thrillingly climaxed by a seemingly impossible high note which is reached without the slightest strain. Roy moved from one number to another without any break for introduction, and a burst of clapping greeted the opening bars of each one.

It was not that the girls did not want to scream it was just that they had great respect for a marvellous performer, and showed it by keeping quiet while he sang. Accompanying Roy were The Federals. This is a polished and professional group, even the guitaristists had music to read. They so obviously enjoyed accompanying so great a singer. They were all smiles and grinned at each other as each round of applause was more deafening than the one before.

Two drummers sat in behind Roy to supply the big beat which he likes so much. They produced a great rhythm and were so intent on providing support worthy of the worlds greatest balladeer that, by the end of the act the skin on one of the bass drums was stretched so much by the pounding, that the dent in it could be seen by the audience.

The big 'O' must be used to wild receptions by now but even so he looked pleased that everyone was happy and several times gave a little nervous twitch behind his cupped hand. The results of this very elaborate set up was a quality most singers can only achieve on record.

Another group on the bill was Freddie, complete with his new hair cut, and the Dreamers who gave their usual comedy routines. One slight change this time, the drummer split his trousers when trying to lift the fallen bodies of the guitarists. I do not think that was supposed to be in the act.

Freddie revealed the quality of his voice with the serious 'I Understand'. His control over the audience was obvious as they stopped their laughing and screaming to listen to the moving lyric.

A lot of toddlers were in the audience and, in answer to many requests sent to his dressing room by the Mums and Dads, he dedicated to them 'You Were made For Me'.

The Dreamers get funnier with every performance. And this was a night that had everything.