Only the Lonely (Know How I Feel) by Roy Orbison was a UK number 1 hit on Thursday, October 20, 1960 spending 2 week(s) at the top of the UK charts. While this is one of the sadder songs ever recorded, projecting the misery onto Orbison would be a mistake. In 1980, he explained to the NME that many of his most painful songs were written in happier times. The song was subtitled "Know The Way I Feel" to avoid confusion with another song called "Only The Lonely," which Sammy Cahn and Jimmy Van Heusen had written for Frank Sinatra in 1958. This quickly became Orbison's biggest hit and one of the songs that exemplified his poignant lyrics and soulful vocal delivery as he sings about what it's like to be lonely. After Orbison's death, Royal Crown Cola tried to use this song as part of a campaign to fight homelessness. His widow, Barbara Orbison, liked the idea but didn't own the publishing rights, so the deal fell through. She still wanted to aid the homeless in Roy's name, so she organized a tribute concert with Royal Crown signed on as a sponsor.
Who sang Only the Lonely (Know How I Feel)?
Only the Lonely (Know How I Feel) was performed by Roy Orbison
What year did Only the Lonely (Know How I Feel) get to the UK number 1 spot?
Only the Lonely (Know How I Feel) first became a UK number 1 on Thursday, October 20, 1960
How long was Only the Lonely (Know How I Feel) at number 1 in the UK?
Only the Lonely (Know How I Feel) spent 2 week(s) at number 1 in the UK.