1986 Top Ten Songs: When the Blue Hour Comes (#8)

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Here we go again. Me and my “records that bombed” collection. If you look at the list of songs that were the biggest hits of 1986, you’ll see things like “That’s What Friends Are For,” “Say You, Say Me,” and “Papa Don’t Preach.” If you haven’t noticed by the sound of the things I’ve presented this month, I wasn’t listening to any of that. I didn’t like it. This is what I was heavily into. Go figure. #8: When the Blue Hour Comes - Rodney Crowell Roy Orbison. At the time this album was released, he had two years left to live and that length of time before his “comeback” in the Traveling Wilburys. He co-wrote this song with Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame member Rodney Crowell…and it was one hand clapping time. (My hand. ) As best as I can tell, Orbison never recorded this song. Oh, but Crowell did. While he’s not trying to impersonate Orbison (like that’s even possible), his delivery certainly pays tribute to Roy. Yes, Rodney Crowell is a country music songwriter (and Johnny Cash’s former son-in-law), but there wasn’t much “country” on this album. Maybe that’s why it bombed. I love it for its rocking good times on songs like “Let Freedom Ring” and “Oh King Richard,” as well as this marvelous tune that shows the greatness of two classic songwriters. When the Blue Hour Comes Written by Rodney Crowell and Roy Orbison Recorded by Rodney Crowell From Street Language, 1986 Sometimes it’s now or never: