Springsteen calls singing with Orbison ‘a dream’ on new ‘Black and White Night’ DVD

by JAY LUSTIG

Roy Orbison and Bruce Springsteen, in the original “Black and White Night.”

The new, re-mastered and expanded 30th anniversary edition of Roy Orbison’s 1987 TV special, “Black and White Night,” contains a 33-minute documentary, and in it, Bruce Springsteen, one of the special’s guests, talks about one of his musical heroes.

“When I was a kid, his music took me out of my little town,” says Springsteen, in a preview clip that can now only be seen on RollingStone.com. “You don’t always get a chance to sing harmony with Roy Orbison and play guitar next to James Burton. That’s a dream.”

Burton was a member of the show’s house band. Other guests included Bonnie Raitt, Elvis Costello, Tom Waits and Jackson Browne.

Springsteen also says, in the clip: “The gracefulness in his voice, and the purity in his voice is something that you don’t hear much, at all … And how effortlessly he sings. You stand there, and you think, ‘Is he gonna hit that note?’ No matter many times I’ve heard him hit it on the record, or when you’ve seen him play, and you’re not sure. And he always hits it.”

The RollingStone.com clip also includes footage of Springsteen and Orbison rehearsing “Dream Baby (How Long Must I Dream),” and interviews with other artists, including J.D. Souther, who calls Orbison “the world’s only operatic rockabilly singer.”

The release date for “Black and White Night 30” is Feb. 24. CD/DVD and CD/Blu-ray sets can be ordered at royorbison.com and other outlets.

Explore more articles:

Leave a Comment

Sign up for our Newsletter