Oh, Pretty Woman - wikipedia Oh, Pretty Woman For the film named after this song, see Pretty Woman. `` Oh, Pretty Woman '' Single by Roy Orbison and the Candy Men B - side `` Yo te Amo María '' Released 1964 ( 1964 ) Format 7 - inch single Recorded August 1, 1964 Genre Rock and roll Length 2 : 55 Label Monument Songwriter ( s ) Roy Orbison Bill Dees Producer ( s ) Fred Foster Roy Orbison and the Candy Men singles chronology `` It 's Over '' ( 1964 ) `` Oh, Pretty Woman '' ( 1964 ) `` Goodnight '' ( 1965 ) Audio sample file help `` Oh, Pretty Woman '' or `` Pretty Woman '' is a song recorded by Roy Orbison, written by Orbison and Bill Dees. It was released as a single in August 1964 on Monument Records and spent three weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 from September 26, 1964, the second single by Orbison to top the US charts. It was also Orbison 's third single to top the UK Singles Chart ( for a total of three weeks ). The record ultimately sold seven million copies and marked the high point in Orbison 's career. Within months of its release, in October 1964, the single was certified gold by the RIAA. At the year 's end, Billboard ranked it the number four song of 1964. Contents 1 Overview 1.1 Lawsuit against 2 Live Crew 2 Chart positions 3 Sales and certifications 4 Van Halen version 4.1 Track listing 4.2 See also 5 References 6 External links Overview The lyrics tell the story of a man who sees a pretty woman walking by. He yearns for her and wonders if, as beautiful as she is, she might be lonely like he is. At the last minute, she turns back and joins him. The title was inspired by Orbison 's wife, Claudette, interrupting a conversation to announce she was going out. When Orbison asked if she had enough cash, his co-writer Bill Dees interjected, `` A pretty woman never needs any money. '' Orbison 's recording of the song was produced by Fred Foster. There were four guitar players on the session : Roy Orbison, Billy Sanford, Jerry Kennedy, and Wayne Moss. Sanford, who later played on sessions for Elvis Presley, Don Williams and many others, played the intro guitar. Williams introduced him as a kid who had just arrived in Nashville, with a borrowed guitar, who heard Orbison was minus a guitar player, who went over and got the gig. Other musicians on the record included Floyd Cramer on piano, Bob Moore on an upright bass, Boots Randolph on saxophone, Charlie McCoy on harmonica, Buddy Harman on drums, and Paul Garrison on percussion. Orbison played a 12 - string Epiphone. Bill Porter served as recording engineer for the song. Orbison posthumously won the 1991 Grammy Award for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance for his live recording of `` Oh Pretty Woman '' on his HBO television special Roy Orbison and Friends, A Black and White Night. In 1999, the song was honored with a Grammy Hall of Fame Award and was named one of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 's 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll. In 2004, Rolling Stone magazine ranked it # 224 on their list of the `` 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. '' On May 14, 2008, The Library of Congress selected the song for preservation in the National Recording Registry. Lawsuit against 2 Live Crew Further information : Campbell v. Acuff - Rose Music, Inc. In 1989, rap group 2 Live Crew recorded a parody of the Orbison song, using the alternate title `` Pretty Woman '', for their album As Clean As They Wanna Be. 2 Live Crew sampled the distinctive bassline from the Orbison song, but replaced the original lyrics with talk about a hairy woman and her bald - headed friend and their appeal to the singer, as well as denunciation of a `` two - timing woman. '' Orbison 's publisher, Acuff - Rose Music sued 2 Live Crew on the basis that the fair use doctrine did not permit reuse of their copyrighted material for profit. The case, Campbell v. Acuff - Rose Music, Inc. went all the way to the United States Supreme Court. The Supreme Court decided in 2 Live Crew 's favor, greatly expanding the doctrine of fair use and extending its protections to parodies created for profit. It is considered a seminal fair use decision. Chart positions Chart ( 1964 -- 65 ) Peak position Australia ( Kent Music Report ) Austria ( Ö3 Austria Top 40 ) 5 Belgium ( Ultratop 50 Flanders ) Belgium ( Ultratop 40 Wallonia ) 5 Canada ( RPM ) Denmark ( IFPI ) France ( IFOP ) 8 Finland ( Suomen virallinen lista ) 9 Germany ( Official German Charts ) Ireland ( IRMA ) Netherlands ( Dutch Top 40 ) Netherlands ( Single Top 100 ) Norway ( VG - lista ) New Zealand ( Lever Hit Parade ) Switzerland ( Schweizer Hitparade ) UK Singles ( Official Charts Company ) US Billboard Hot 100 Sales and certifications Region Certification Certified units / Sales Canada 180,000 Germany 350,000 United Kingdom 680,000 United States ( RIAA ) Gold 1,000,000 shipments figures based on certification alone Van Halen version `` ( Oh ) Pretty Woman '' Single by Van Halen from the album Diver Down B - side `` Happy Trails '' Released February 1982 ( 1982 - 02 ) Format 7 - inch single Recorded January 1982 Studio Sunset Sound, Los Angeles Genre Hard rock Length 2 : 55 Label Warner Bros. Songwriter ( s ) Roy Orbison Bill Dees Producer ( s ) Ted Templeman Van Halen singles chronology `` Unchained '' ( 1981 ) `` ( Oh ) Pretty Woman '' ( 1982 ) `` Dancing in the Street '' ( 1982 ) Van Halen covered the song on their album Diver Down, preceded by a guitar - driven intro titled `` Intruder ''. For the video of the single, the two songs were joined, giving it a running - time of 4 : 34. This intro was inserted simply to lengthen the song in order to fit the video 's running time. In the music video, the band members dress as a samurai ( bassist Michael Anthony ), Tarzan ( drummer Alex Van Halen ), a cowboy ( guitarist Eddie Van Halen ), and Napoleon ( frontman David Lee Roth ). Per a hunchbacked onlooker 's request, they rescue a captive girl ( played by transgender entertainer International Chrysis ). It was one of the first videos banned by MTV, due to its opening sequence, where the captive girl is tied up and fondled against her will by a pair of little people. The ban was eventually lifted, as MTV sister network VH1 Classic would later air the video. This was the band 's second Top 20 hit, peaking at # 12 on the Billboard Hot 100. Track listing Side A No. Title Writer ( s ) Length 1. `` ( Oh ) Pretty Woman '' ( Roy Orbison cover ) Orbison, Dees 2 : 55 Side B No. Title Writer ( s ) Length 1. `` Happy Trails '' ( Roy Rogers cover ) Dale Evans 1 : 03 See also List of Billboard Mainstream Rock number - one songs of the 1980s References ^ Jump up to : Rice, Jo ( 1982 ). The Guinness Book of 500 Number One Hits ( 1st ed. ). Enfield, Middlesex : Guinness Superlatives Ltd. p. 85. ISBN 0 - 85112 - 250 - 7. Jump up ^ Bronson, Fred ( 2003 ). The Billboard Book of # 1 Hits, 5th Edition ( Billboard Publications ), page 157. Jump up ^ Roberts, David ( 2006 ). British Hit Singles & Albums ( 19th ed. ). London : Guinness World Records Limited. p. 186. ISBN 1 - 904994 - 10 - 5. Jump up ^ Lehman, Peter. Roy Orbison : Invention of an Alternative Rock Masculinity. Philadelphia : Temple UP, 2003, p. 2, 13 Jump up ^ `` American certifications -- Roy Orbison -- Pretty Woman ''. Recording Industry Association of America. Jump up ^ Billboard Magazine ( January 2, 1965 ). `` Hot 100 Singles of 1964 '' ( PDF ). Billboard. Jump up ^ Amburn, Ellis. Dark Star : The Roy Orbison Story. New York : Carol Publishing, 1990, p. 127 Jump up ^ The Monument Story ( Media notes ). Various. New York, New York : Sony Music Entertainment. A2K66106. Jump up ^ Jackson, Matt ( March 1995 ). `` Commerce versus art : The transformation of fair use ''. Journal of Broadcasting & Electronic Media. 39 ( 2 ) : 190 -- 199. doi : 10.1080 / 08838159509364298. Jump up ^ Kent, David ( 2005 ). Australian Chart Book ( 1940 -- 1969 ). Turramurra : Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0 - 646 - 44439 - 5. Jump up ^ `` Austriancharts.at -- Roy Orbison -- Oh, Pretty Woman '' ( in German ). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved August 21, 2014. Jump up ^ `` Ultratop.be -- Roy Orbison -- Oh, Pretty Woman '' ( in Dutch ). Ultratop 50. Retrieved August 21, 2014. Jump up ^ `` Hits of the World ''. Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 76 ( 50 ) : 19. December 12, 1964. ISSN 0006 - 2510. Jump up ^ `` Top Singles -- Volume 2, No. 5, September 28 1964 ''. RPM. Walt Grealis. Retrieved August 22, 2014. Jump up ^ `` Hits of the World ''. Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 76 ( 49 ) : 15. December 5, 1964. ISSN 0006 - 2510. Jump up ^ `` Accès direct à ces Artistes : Roy Orbison '' ( in French ). InfoDisc. Archived from the original ( select `` Roy ORBISON '' and then click `` Go '' ) on September 24, 2014. Retrieved August 21, 2014. Jump up ^ `` Hits of the World ''. Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 77 ( 1 ) : 19. January 2, 1965. ISSN 0006 - 2510. Jump up ^ `` Offiziellecharts.de -- Roy Orbison -- Oh, Pretty Woman ''. GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved August 21, 2014. Jump up ^ `` Search the Charts '' ( enter `` Roy Orbison '' into the `` Search by Artist '' box, then select `` Search '' ). irishcharts.ie. Irish Recorded Music Association. Retrieved August 22, 2014. Jump up ^ `` Nederlandse Top 40 -- week 1, 1965 '' ( in Dutch ). Dutch Top 40 Retrieved August 21, 2014. Jump up ^ `` Dutchcharts.nl -- Roy Orbison -- Oh, Pretty Woman '' ( in Dutch ). Single Top 100. Retrieved August 21, 2014. Jump up ^ `` Norwegiancharts.com -- Roy Orbison -- Oh, Pretty Woman ''. VG - lista. Retrieved August 21, 2014. Jump up ^ `` flavour of new zealand - Lever hit parades ''. www.flavourofnz.co.nz. Retrieved 10 April 2018. Jump up ^ `` Hits of the World ''. Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 77 ( 8 ) : 24. February 20, 1965. ISSN 0006 - 2510. Jump up ^ `` Official Singles Chart Top 100 ''. Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 21, 2014. Jump up ^ `` Roy Orbison Chart History ( Hot 100 ) ''. Billboard. Retrieved August 21, 2014. ^ Jump up to : Murrells, Joseph ( 1978 ). The Book of Golden Discs ( 2, illustrated ed. ). Barrie & Jenkins. ISBN 0 - 214 - 20480 - 4. Retrieved August 21, 2014. Jump up ^ `` American single certifications -- Roy Orbison -- Oh, Pretty Woman ''. Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved August 21, 2014. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH Jump up ^ Chad Childers. `` Van Halen, ' Oh Pretty Woman ' -- Banned Music Videos ''. Ultimate Classic Rock. Retrieved 2015 - 03 - 21. Jump up ^ Whitburn, Joel ( 2004 ). The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits, 8th Edition ( Billboard Publications ), page 656. External links Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics Roy Orbison Studio albums Lonely and Blue ( 1961 ) Roy Orbison at the Rock House ( 1961 ) Crying ( 1962 ) In Dreams ( 1963 ) There Is Only One Roy Orbison ( 1965 ) Orbisongs ( 1965 ) The Orbison Way ( 1966 ) The Classic Roy Orbison ( 1966 ) Roy Orbison Sings Don Gibson ( 1967 ) The Fastest Guitar Alive ( 1967 ) Cry Softly Lonely One ( 1967 ) Roy Orbison 's Many Moods ( 1969 ) Big O ( 1970 ) Hank Williams the Roy Orbison Way ( 1970 ) Roy Orbison Sings ( 1972 ) Memphis ( 1972 ) Milestones ( 1973 ) I 'm Still In Love With You ( 1976 ) Regeneration ( 1977 ) Laminar Flow ( 1979 ) In Dreams : The Greatest Hits ( 1987 -- studio re-recordings of earlier hits ) Mystery Girl ( 1989 ) King of Hearts ( 1992 ) One of the Lonely Ones ( 2015 ) Compilations Roy Orbison 's Greatest Hits ( 1962 ) More of Roy Orbison 's Greatest Hits ( 1964 ) Early Orbison ( 1964 ) The Great Songs of Roy Orbison ( 1970 ) The All - Time Greatest Hits of Roy Orbison ( 1972 ) In Dreams : The Greatest Hits ( 1987 ) 16 Biggest Hits ( 1999 ) A Love So Beautiful ( 2017 ) Collaborations Class of ' 55 ( 1986 ) Traveling Wilburys Vol. 1 ( 1988 ) Soundtrack appearances Roadie ( 1980 ) Blue Velvet ( 1986 ) Less Than Zero ( 1987 ) Live A Black & White Night Live ( 1989 ) Singles `` Tryin ' to Get to You '' `` Ooby Dooby '' `` Go Go Go '' `` Only the Lonely '' `` Running Scared '' `` Crying '' `` Dream Baby ( How Long Must I Dream ) '' `` In Dreams '' `` Blue Bayou '' `` Pretty Paper '' `` It 's Over '' `` Oh, Pretty Woman '' `` Memphis, Tennessee '' `` You Got It '' `` She 's a Mystery to Me '' `` I Drove All Night '' Related articles Discography Traveling Wilburys Roy Orbison / The Beatles Tour Book Andy Kim Studio albums Baby I Love You Andy Kim Singles `` Baby, I Love You '' `` Be My Baby '' `` Rock Me Gently '' `` Oh, Pretty Woman '' Songwriting Credits `` Jingle Jangle '' `` Sugar, Sugar '' Cover Songs `` By the Time I Get to Phoenix '' `` If I Were a Carpenter '' `` This Guy 's in Love with You '' Van Halen singles Van Halen `` You Really Got Me '' `` Runnin ' with the Devil '' `` Ai n't Talkin ' ' bout Love '' Van Halen II `` Dance the Night Away '' `` Beautiful Girls '' Women and Children First `` And the Cradle Will Rock... '' Fair Warning `` So This Is Love ? '' `` Unchained '' Diver Down `` ( Oh ) Pretty Woman '' `` Dancing in the Street '' `` Where Have All the Good Times Gone ! '' 1984 `` Jump '' `` I 'll Wait '' `` Panama '' `` Hot for Teacher '' 5150 `` Why Ca n't This Be Love '' `` Dreams '' `` Love Walks In '' OU812 `` When It 's Love '' `` Black and Blue '' `` Finish What Ya Started '' For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge `` Poundcake '' `` Runaround '' `` Top of the World '' `` Right Now '' Live : Right Here, Right Now `` Jump '' ( live ) `` Dreams '' ( live ) `` Wo n't Get Fooled Again '' ( live ) Balance `` Do n't Tell Me ( What Love Can Do ) '' `` Ca n't Stop Lovin ' You '' `` Amsterdam '' Twister soundtrack `` Humans Being '' Best Of -- Volume I `` Me Wise Magic '' `` Ca n't Get This Stuff No More '' Van Halen III `` Without You '' `` Fire in the Hole '' A Different Kind of Truth `` Tattoo '' `` She 's the Woman '' Other `` It 's the Right Time '' ( feat. Mitch Malloy ) Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Oh,_Pretty_Woman&oldid=855531944 '' Categories : 1964 songs 1964 singles 1976 singles 1982 singles Songs written by Roy Orbison Songs written by Bill Dees Roy Orbison songs Andy Kim songs Connie Francis songs Van Halen songs Al Green songs The Newbeats songs Song recordings produced by Fred Foster Billboard Hot 100 number - one singles Billboard Mainstream Rock number - one singles UK Singles Chart number - one singles RPM Top Singles number - one singles Number - one singles in Germany Number - one singles in Norway Irish Singles Chart number - one singles Grammy Hall of Fame Award recipients United States National Recording Registry recordings Monument Records singles Warner Bros. Records singles Songs about beauty Hidden categories : CS1 French - language sources ( fr ) Articles with hAudio microformats Singlechart usages for Austria Singlechart usages for Flanders Singlechart usages for Germany2 Singlechart usages for Dutch40 Singlechart usages for Dutch100 Singlechart usages for Norway Singlechart usages for UK Singlechart usages for Billboardhot100 Certification Table Entry usages for Canada Certification Table Entry usages for Germany Certification Table Entry usages for United Kingdom Certification Table Entry usages for United States Talk Contents About Wikipedia Deutsch Español Français Italiano עברית Кыргызча Nederlands 日本 語 Norsk Norsk nynorsk Português Русский Sicilianu Svenska Українська Tiếng Việt 7 more Edit links This page was last edited on 19 August 2018, at 00 : 35 ( UTC ). Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution - ShareAlike License ; additional terms may apply. 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Question: when did the song pretty woman come out
Answer: August 1964