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1973 studio album by Roy Orbison

Milestones is the eighteenth album by Roy Orbison, released on September 24, 1973, by MGM Records and his last album for that label. It was arranged by Joe Tanner, Rex North and Randy Goodrum. "The Morning After" was featured in the film The Poseidon Adventure.

The album was released on compact disc for the first time by Diablo Records on October 25, 2004 as tracks 23 through 33 In a pairing of three albums on one CD with tracks 1 through 23 consisting of the others album being Orbison`s Other Albums from May 1972, Roy Orbison Sings, and from November 1972, Memphis,.[3] The Roy`s Boys was included in a box set entitled The MGM Years 1965-1973 - Roy Orbison, which contains 12 of his MGM studio albums, 1 compilation, and was released on Deember 4, 2015.[4]

History

Roy Orbison had been disillusioned with his MGM contract which he signed in July 1965 as certain albums were not coming out globally and MGM and London Records gave up paying his record advance of one million dollars. After recording the album in June 1973, he left the label and never committed to a long term contract again. Milestones only received a US release due to Decca releasing Orbison from his contract. The album had two singles: "I Wanna Live" and "Blue Rain (Coming Down)", neither of which charted.

Reception

Bruce Eder of AllMusic`s described the album as "proper, releasable album", noted it "included a lot of excellent covers, among them "Sweet Caroline," "I`ve Been Loving You Too Long (To Stop Now)," "Drift Away," and the Bee Gees` "Words." John D. Loudermilk`s "I Wanna Live."[1]

Billboard felt "His sweetly individualistic voice works well with the Mike Curb of contemporary"[5]

Track listing

Side one

1. "I Wanna Live" (John D. Loudermilk)
2. "You Don`t Know Me" (Cindy Walker, Eddy Arnold)
3. "California Sunshine Girl" (Letha Purdom)
4. "Words" (Barry Gibb, Robin Gibb, Maurice Gibb)
5. "Blue Rain (Coming Down)" (Roy Orbison, Joe Melson)
6. "Drift Away" (Mentor Williams)

Side two

1. "You Lay So Easy on My Mind" (Donald L. Riis, Bobby G. Rice, Charles W. Fields)
2. "The World You Live In" (Joe Melson, Suzie Melson)
3. "Sweet Caroline" (Neil Diamond)
4. "I`ve Been Loving You Too Long (To Stop Now)" (Otis Redding, Jerry Butler)
5. "The Morning After" (Al Kasha, Joel Hirschhorn)