Sonny James - Only The Lonely - 1969

"Only The Lonely" was recorded on November 21, 1968 and was released on December 30, 1968.
Here is what Sonny James said about "Only The Lonely":
"“Only The Lonely”, This again fit my style of guitar playing and also the repeats in the background. They were just perfect for using the sounds that I use on record and this was a case of I was really looking for material to fit this style and about that time I wanted to do a song that really did fit me. Of course the song was written by two gentleman. One I've known for years since Odessa Texas, Roy Orbison you know and it had never been a Country record and I just applied it to my style of singing. Where Roy, when they were doing it they used kind of a big drum sound you know and they'd use...it was definitely pointed toward the Pop field, the Rock field and I just figured the song was so good that it would be a Country record and it turned out that way."

[@SharonSellvey]

Lov this one I was 17 yrs old when this was made. Tks. ❤😊

[@smallywaters7063]

Just the right amount of warble in his voice...classic country rendition of a Roy Orbison masterpiece!

[@JohnSmith-ud3wy]

Sonny like roy are two true legends that will never die, icons live forever 👌

[@marythompson5458]

Sonny James Has The Best Country Voice In Country music

[@smallywaters7063]

True that!

[@mikeshea9294]

One of the greatest talents in country music history and perfect gentleman

[@danielburns987]

this song went to #1 on the country charts in 1969!!!

[@kystars]

Sonny lived until 2017 at the age of 88. I was surprised , I thought he passed a lot earlier than that. But happy he was around many more years. I had a record album of his back during the days of LPs which Im willing to bet most of you here also know, which I loved :)

[@annjavenkoski552]

Sonny James was a very terrific, good looking singer & song writer! I love listening to him sing whenever I can! One of the best!!

[@reneegroce-smith7174]

Sonny James, one of my all time singers in any genre.

[@jerigreen9404]

LOVE THIS MAN AND HIS SINGING!!! MY FAVORITE RECORDING ARTIST EVER!!!

[@debrajacobsparkerson599]

When my papa comes back we gonna dance to this ♥

[@bobbyjocowpoke1057]

Thank you Sonny🙏🏻R.I.P.

[@pauljackson971]

very nice song. from Sri Lanka.

[@cindysunshine7854]

Thank you for posting Sonny James music

[@richardcuster8646]

Thank you for watching

[@mankind2112]

Great version of this song, love it.

[@JJ33438]

the voice the guitar playing the song....perfect and so good! thanks for posting this magnificent sonny james rendition!

[@kevinilaug935]

Beautiful. Thanks to "Sonny" I can sing like him. From Kevin. Also his guitar style. Which i play

[@kimcaswell2895]

935 you picked a great style to learn. I bet you have a d28 martiin guitar also. I have a d35. I don't play much any more. Good luck to you.

[@sonnyjames8922]

Incredible song, enjoyed hearing it again. Thanks!

[@eddieparker5114]

This is the first time I’ve heard this awesome 👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸👍👍👍👍👍

[@katanne7382]

Listen to another song of his “Since I met you baby”.

[@papa910321]

great song

[@MaryAG-e4s]

Love this song. Sonny is so good.

[@caroolkastermans3962]

Soo beautiful

[@SharonSchwartz-p5m]

Great voice and love the song.

[@Laura-ck7rs]

Ohh yeah ❤❤❤

[@EsperanzaMartinez2609]

Sonny james y roy orbison❤

[@johnmabary]

A good version but Roy Orbison cannot be topped.

[@Razorzzful]

A classicamondo, Roy would of liked this...

[@sarahthornburg894]

BOTH TOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO LONLy

[@sarahthornburg894]

I WILL FIND YOU AND SAVE US SOMEWHERE !!!!!!!

[@tarquin4592]

According to YOU TUBE this was written by Jimmy Van Heusen & Sammy Cahn!

[@richardcuster8646]

Must be another song by the name of Only The Lonely. The record album and Wikepedia says that Roy Orbison and Joe Melson wrote the song.

[@tarquin4592]

I was being ironic and it was of course, written by Orbison/Melson. The one by Van Heusen and Kahn is one of Sinatra's sultry late night ballads.

[@sarahthornburg894]

LONGLY FOR JOE D !!!!!!!

[@patriciajrs46]

I like Sonny, but Roy Orbison on this song is the best.

[@jean-jacquesdeclercq516]

Varietas delectat.

[@maryfries2147]

2 completely different sounds but both so awesome

[@carolynridlon3988]

I grew up with Sonny's version. ❤❤❤

[@davidweinstock4977]

wiki says cahn and vanheusen wrote a different song with same title for sinatra

[@johnmarlog6933]

The only person who can better Roy's version of a fantastic song

[@kristofdebrye7453]

It's a good version of the song, but nobody sings like Roy Orbison.

[@InDreamsYourMine]

@@kristofdebrye7453 Totally agree.

[@sailoremanjimmatthews1578]

I too agree that this is a better version, and I'm a huge Orbison fan.

[@scot6120]

Nice but Roy can never be beaten

[@pauljackson971]

leslie jayasuriya.

[@almanzoli1736]

I like it ! But it it is not Roy !