Album: Fresh
Year: 1981
Style: Country, Oldies, Honky Tonk
Similar Bands: Elvis Presley
"One-Word" Review: Honk-Tonk Elvis Impersonator
Based Out Of: Alabama
Label: Sun International, Shelby Singleton Corp
Cover, Record
Back, Record
Fresh (1981)- There's No Easy Way 3:07
- Baby Please Say Yes 2:16
- Born 3:04 (single)
- If I Can't Have You 2:37
- Ain't No Good 3:10 /
- Some You Win, Some You Lose 3:05 (single)
- Look Me Up (and Lay It On Me) 2:15
- Old Mexico 2:55
- Rainbow Maker 2:28
- Anybody Out There 2:37
Members & Other Bands:
- Mac Weiman - Guidance
- Shelby Singleton - Presenter
- David Roys - Engineer
- Dennis Carney - Photos
- Betty M. Cherry - Cover Art
Album Review: His name is indeed Orion by stage, James Hughes Bell by social security card. Most of the songs were written by Buddy Harris, the tempos range like a rollercoaster from slow and loungy to upbeat, energetic pub honky tonk. The vocals absolutely sound like Elvis. So much so, that many folks thought Elvis hadn't died in 1977 after hearing Orion/Ellis- a rumor he & Sun Records' Shelby Singleton were not eager to dismiss. In fact, the name Orion was his applied stage name after a book by Gail Brewer-Giorgio was published in 1978 also called Orion, who's protagonist was an Elvis-like pop star who faked his death. Despite the campy and sit-com like mystique, he has performed with many country greats like Lorletta Lynn, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Tammy Wynette. He also has many fan websites devoted to his career. In 83, he denounced the theatrical name of Orion, tearing off his mask mid-performance, only to don it again in 87 when sales did not grow under his real name. Ellis was murdered in his pawn shop along with his ex wife in 1998 at 53. There is even a 2015 documentary about his life titled Orion: The Man Who Would Be King. The song on here, "Some You Win, Some You Lose," has a general melody and structure to Chuck Berry's "Never Can Tell."
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