The Great Pretender - Roy Orbison - MP3 instrumental karaoke

The early rhythm and blues/doo-wop classic "The Great Pretender" was first recorded and popularized by The Platters in 1955. According to singer-songwriter Buck Ram, who also served as the group's producer and manager, he wrote the first draft of the song in only 20 minutes in the bathroom of Las Vegas' Flamingo Hotel hoping it would become as successful as their previous single, "Only You (And You Alone)." Featuring vocals by Tony Williams and tenor saxophone by Plas Johnson, "The Great Pretender" hit the top of the R&B charts in 1956 and peaked at Number 2 on the Billboard Top 100, becoming one of the biggest hits in The Platters' career. Over the next few decades, the song was covered multiple times by a wide array of artists, including Sam Cooke, Freddie Mercury, and Roy Orbison, who recorded a gospel-influenced rendition for his 1962 studio album, Crying. Unlike the original version, Roy Orbison's take on "The Great Pretender" is driven forward by sweeping string arrangements and the singer's trademark falsetto, which takes the song to a new emotional high point.