Blue Bayou / Mean Woman Blues – Roy Orbison

This double A-side by Roy Orbison spent nine weeks in the UK top 10 in 1963.

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This week in 1963, Blue bayou / Mean woman blues by Roy Orbison reached its highest position of number 3 in the UK singles chart. It had entered the top 40 six weeks previously at number 17 and broke into the top 10 a week later. After one week at its peak position, the single started to slide down the chart but stayed in the top 10 for another three weeks. A further seven weeks in the lower top 40 followed before the record left the chart.

Blue bayou / Mean woman blues was released on the London record label and was the sixth of twelve UK top 10 hits for Roy Orbison. Blue bayou was taken from the album In dreams, which peaked at number 6 in the UK albums chart.

The original version of Mean woman blues was recorded by Elvis Presley in 1957 for the film Loving you and appeared on an album of the same name that spent three weeks at the top of the UK albums chart. In 1978, Linda Ronstadt recorded a cover version of Blue bayou that peaked at number 35.

More music from Roy Orbison

 

UK singles chart for the week ending 9 November 1963

1. You’ll never walk alone – Gerry and the Pacemakers

2. She loves you – Beatles

3. Blue bayou / Mean woman blues – Roy Orbison

4. Sugar and spice – Searchers

5. Do you love me? – Brian Poole and the Tremeloes

6. Be my baby – Ronettes

7. Let it rock / Memphis Tennessee – Chuck Berry

8. I (who have nothing) – Shirley Bassey

9. Then he kissed me – Crystals

10. If I had a hammer – Trini Lopez