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Ever since Blue Velvet, it's been hard to listen to Roy Orbison's "In Dreams" without thinking of David Lynch's warped cinematic visions.
If anything could possibly eclipse Lynch's surrealistic filmmaking, it's Orbison's "friends."
Wednesday night some of the most acclaimed performers in rock — including Bruce Springsteen, Elvis Costello and Jackson Browne — gathered at the Ambassador Hotel's Cocoanut Grove to lend instrumental and vocal support to the rock 'n' roll legend. The occasion was the filming of the Cinemax Sessions: Roy Orbison & Friends, a special that will be shown on the cable channel in early 1988.
Wearing his trademark dark glasses and a black fringe jacket, Orbison and his all-star band performed "In Dreams," 17 other classics and "The Comedians," a new song composed by Costello.
Seated immediately behind the star of the evening was Springsteen plucking an electric guitar. Behind Springsteen, Costello sat strumming an acoustic guitar and occasionally playing a harmonica. To Costello's left were J.D. Souther, Jackson Browne and Steven Soles singing back-up. Behind that trio was another group of backing vocalists, Canadian country crooner K.D. Lang, Bonnie Raitt and Jennifer Warnes.
Later in the evening Tom Waits stepped on stage, alternating between organ and acoustic guitar. T Bone Burnett, who acted as musical director for the special, strapped on an acoustic guitar and joined in the festivities.
Rounding out the roster were top-notch session players, including guitarist James Burton, who has played on records by both Elvis Presley and Costello.
While all appeared to be enjoying this gig, they modestly left the spotlight to Orbison, preferring instead to fill the role of session musicians. Even Springsteen spent most of the night seated inconspicuously, only occasionally joining Orbison at his microphone to sing harmony.
At a time when rock's forefathers are being remembered and reintroduced to younger fans — in films like the upcoming Chuck Berry documentary Hail! Hail! Rock 'n' Roll and the film biography of Ritchie Valens, La Bamba — Cinemax couldn't have picked at better time to spotlight Orbison.
The 51-year-old Texan is enjoying a comeback following the use of "In Dreams" in the controversial film Blue Velvet and the subsequent release of In Dreams: The Greatest Hits. The 19-song collection, which features new recordings of Orbison's best known material, was recently released on Virgin Records.
Though Orbison, one of the original artists to emerge from Sun Records label along with Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis and Johnny Cash, reached his artistic peak by 1964, he has remained one of rock's most influential performers.
As early as 1958, the Everly Brothers scored a minor hit with Orbison's "Claudette." In later years both Linda Ronstadt and Van Halen had hits with Orbison classics. And Springsteen's "Thunder Road" makes reference to Orbison "Singin' for the lonely."
Last January Orbison was inducted to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame by Springsteen, whose introductory comments were used as liner notes on "In Dreams: The Greatest Hits" album.
The strong lineup of talent enlisted for the Orbison tribute managed to eclipse even the Keith Richards-led ensemble that backed Berry for his 60th birthday concert featured in Hail! Hail! Rock 'n' Roll."
Unfortunately, even with the all-star cast of musicians, the show didn't take off until the show-closing run-through of Orbison's best-known hit, "Oh Pretty Woman." The numerous breaks in the show to reload the cameras coupled with the blase response of the crowd mostly made up of industry insiders kept the over-three-hour show from generating much momentum.
Yet there was the unmistakable feel in the air that this was a unique event. An hour before showtime, hundreds of people, ranging from nightclub bookers and industry heavyweights to upcoming musicians, stood at the entrance of the famed nightspot, waiting to get in.
Adding to the mystique was the possibility that the show would be the last event at the nightspot, since there is talk that part of the Los Angeles landmark might be torn down.
If so, it's going out in style. The Cocoanut Grove was decked out in glittery curtains, and cigarette girls were making the rounds, just like in the club's heyday.
The musicians and the art-deco stage were decked out in stylish gray, black and white. That's because — in an effort to give this show a sense of mid-'50s authenticity — it was shot in black and white and on film instead of videotape.
Spotted inside were Billy Idol, former Sex Pistol Steve Jones, singer/ actors Kris Kristofferson and Harry Dean Stanton and up-and-coming crooner Syd Straw.
At the beginning of the show Burnett, who also served as master of ceremonies, surveyed the crowd.
"Is everybody loose?" he asked. "I love Roy Orbison. I'm very respectful of the man, but you don't need to be too respectful."
Unfortunately, the crowd didn't take Burnett's advice. In fact, it seemed as if Orbison's amazing vocal performances on classics such as "Only the Lonely," "Crying" and "Blue Angel" were more enthusiastically received by the performers backing up Orbison.
The talent, most notably Springsteen, clapped and grinned with approval like true fans after Orbison completed each song.
Later in the evening's opening set, which focused on ballads, Orbison premiered Costello's "The Comedians." But the crooner ended up recalling the other Elvis when he forgot the lyrics a few lines into the song.
"Even legends (mess) up," Burnett quipped as the crew readied for a second take.
Costello and Springsteen switched places for the second take, possibly so the songwriter could be closer to Orbison, but apparently it wasn't good enough. The song was performed a third time later in the show, with Springsteen occupying the spot behind Orbison once again.
The second half of the show saw Springsteen sharing the spotlight with Orbison for an impressive reading of "Dream Baby," Orbison and Costello doubling on harmonica during "Candy Man" and Orbison, Springsteen and Burton trading guitar riffs during a spirited version of "Ooby Dooby."
Nothing came close, though to the show-stopping "Oh Pretty Woman," which featured a rave-up reprise, with Costello and Souther sharing one microphone, Browne and Springsteen at another, and Orbison in front. Orbison said it best.
"Mercy."
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