September 30, 1987. A Tuesday. In a Hollywood basement—specifically the Cocoanut Grove at the Ambassador Hotel—something weird and beautiful happened. Roy Orbison stood there, motionless, dressed in black, while the greatest rock stars on the planet basically acted as his interns.
Honestly, the lineup for Roy Orbison A Black and White Night Live is just stupid when you look at it on paper. You have Bruce Springsteen playing rhythm guitar. Elvis Costello is on the organ. Tom Waits is back there somewhere, and the backing singers? Just Bonnie Raitt, k.d. lang, and Jennifer Warnes.
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It shouldn't have worked. Usually, "all-star" jams are a mess of egos and volume wars. But this wasn't that. This was a tribute to a man who had survived more personal tragedy than most Greek myths and was finally, at 51, getting the flowers he deserved.
The Comeback That Wasn't Supposed to Happen
Orbison’s career had been in a weird spot before this. The sixties were his decade, but the seventies had been brutal—personally and professionally. He’d lost his wife and his two oldest sons. His heart was literally failing him at one point. He was a legacy act, a memory.
Then David Lynch used "In Dreams" in Blue Velvet.
Suddenly, the guy with the pompadour and the dark glasses was cool again. Not just "oldies station" cool, but "dark, Lynchian, cinematic" cool. Roy Orbison A Black and White Night Live was the culmination of that resurgence. It was shot in high-contrast black and white to mimic a 1940s noir film, which was a stroke of genius. It made the whole thing feel timeless. Like it didn't belong to 1987, but to some permanent, rainy midnight in the soul.
Why the TCB Band Was the Secret Weapon
People talk about the guest stars, but the real power came from the "core" band. These guys weren't just random session players. It was the TCB Band—the same group that backed Elvis Presley from 1969 until his death.
- James Burton: The master of the Telecaster.
- Ronnie Tutt: One of the most powerful drummers in rock history.
- Jerry Scheff: The man on the upright and electric bass.
- Glen D. Hardin: The guy who could make a piano sound like a heartbreak.
Having these guys behind him meant Roy didn't have to worry about a single note. He just had to stand there and let that three-octave voice do the work. When you watch the footage, pay attention to James Burton’s solo on "Ooby Dooby." It’s a masterclass in rockabilly precision.
The Setlist: More Than Just Hits
They didn't just play the radio stuff. Sure, "Oh, Pretty Woman" and "Only the Lonely" are there, but the deep cuts are where the magic is.
Elvis Costello wrote a song for Roy called "The Comedians." Hearing Roy sing it that night, with Costello watching from a few feet away, is heavy. You can see the respect on Costello’s face. It’s the look of a fan who can’t believe he’s in the room.
The performance of "Crying" is often cited as the highlight. When Roy hits those high notes at the end—those operatic, soaring crescendos—the room goes silent. You can see Bruce Springsteen in the background, grinning like a kid who just saw a magician pull a real rabbit out of a hat.
What People Get Wrong About the 30th Anniversary Edition
In 2017, they released a "30th Anniversary" version of the concert. A lot of people thought it was just a remaster, but it was actually a total re-edit. Roy's son, Alex Orbison, went back to the original seven camera feeds.
The original 1988 broadcast had some weird editing choices. The 30th-anniversary version actually puts the songs in the order they were played. It also includes the "secret concert" that happened after the audience left. The band was so fired up they just kept playing until the film literally ran out in the middle of "Uptown."
Why it Still Ranks as a Top Concert Film
Most concert films feel dated. You see the 80s hair, the cheesy lighting, the gated reverb on the drums. But because Roy Orbison A Black and White Night Live was shot the way it was, it feels like it could have been filmed yesterday or sixty years ago.
It’s also one of the best-sounding live recordings ever made. T Bone Burnett, the musical director, made sure every instrument had space. The mix is clean but warm. If you have a decent sound system, it’s one of those albums you use to test your speakers.
Actionable Next Steps for Fans
If you haven't seen it in a while, or if you're just discovering it, here's how to actually experience it properly:
- Skip the YouTube clips: The compression kills the audio. Find the Blu-ray or the 4K remaster if you can. The audio bit rate matters for a voice like Roy's.
- Listen to the "Secret Concert" tracks: On the 30th-anniversary CD, these are the alternate takes of "Dream You" and "Claudette." They are looser and more "rock and roll" than the televised versions.
- Watch the background: Half the fun is watching the guest stars. Watch Bonnie Raitt and k.d. lang during "Blue Bayou." Their harmonies are flawless, and you can tell they are having the time of their lives.
- Check out the TCB Band's other work: If you like the groove of this concert, go back and listen to Elvis Presley’s That’s the Way It Is (1970). It’s the same engine under the hood.
Roy Orbison died just over a year after this concert was filmed. He was at the absolute top of his game, having just formed the Traveling Wilburys with George Harrison and Bob Dylan. He left us at his peak, and this film is the definitive proof of why he was the Big O.