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"…You've Got Love…"
It's
astounding to think that in 2015 it's almost 60 years since the release of
"The "Chirping" Crickets" by Buddy Holly's band THE
CRICKETS. And when you think of how far-reaching its musical influence has been
so far (The Beatles and all that followed) - is it any wonder that this
American icon is viewed as a classic and one of the all-time-great debut albums.
Thankfully this gorgeously presented US CD (part of Universal's "Rock 'n'
Roll 50th Anniversary Edition" Series) celebrates that landmark long-player
in some style. Here are the 'not fade away' details...
US
released March 2004 – "The "Chirping" Crickets" by THE CRICKETS [featuring Buddy Holly] on
Universal/Geffen/Decca B0001686-02 (Barcode 602498613511) is an 'Expanded
Edition' CD Reissue in Universal's 'Rock 'n' Roll 50th Anniversary Edition Series'. It offers their
November 1957 Mono Debut Album on Brunswick Records (12-Tracks) and tags on Four
Relevant Bonuses and plays out as follows (34:15 minutes):
1.
Oh, Boy! [Side 1]
2.
Not Fade Away
3.
You've Got Love
4.
Maybe Baby
5.
It's Too Late
6.
Tell Me How
7.
That'll Be The Day [Side 2]
8.
I'm Looking For Someone To Love
9.
An Empty Cup (And A Broken Date)
10.
Send Me Some Lovin'
11.
Last Night
12.
Rock Me My Baby
Tracks
1 to 12 are the Mono album "The "Chirping" Crickets" - released 27
November 1957 in the USA on Brunswick Records BL 54038 and March 1958 in the UK
on Vogue Coral LVA 9081
BONUS
TRACKS:
13.
Think It Over
14.
Fool's Paradise
15.
Lonesome Tears
16.
It's So Easy
Tracks
13 to 16 are singles released around the album (see below)
Buddy
Holly had had several solo 7" single releases on Decca throughout 1956 and
1957 but "The Chirping Crickets" was his first album proper (with his
band). In a not very Rock 'n' Roll manner - Holly's group The Crickets are
credited on the back of the album sleeve as a 'Vocal Group With Orchestra' (oh
dear) - but there's little amateur about the stunning Audio Quality on offer
here. Universal's hugely experienced Sound Engineer ERICK LABSON (over 1000
credits to his name including most of the Chess Records catalogue) has
remastered the original Mono 1st generation master tapes - and what a result it is. The sound quality
is just gorgeous - defying the age of the material on every song - hands
slapping wooden boxes, strings squeaking and feet tapping - it's all up for
audible grabs now.
And
using the four extra tracks provided - an added bonus for fans is that this CD
will allow the listener to sequence The Crickets' first five US 7" singles
as follows:
1.
That'll Be The Day [7] b/w I'm Looking For Someone To Love [8]
Released
25 May 1957 on Brunswick 55009
2.
Oh, Boy! [1] b/w Not Fade Away [2]
Released
27 October 1957 on Brunswick 55035
3.
Maybe Baby [4] b/w It's Too Late [5]
Released
12 February 1958 on Brunswick 55053
4.
Think It Over [13] b/w Fool's Paradise [14]
Released
27 May 1958 on Brunswick 55072 - both sides non-album on release
5.
It's So Easy [16] b/w Lonesome Tears [15]
Released
12 September 1958 on Brunswick 55094 - both sides non-album on release
(Note:
the version of "That'll Be The Day" put out on a Decca 7" single
in June 1957 credited to Buddy Holly as a solo artist is different to the
version featured on The Crickets album above. The 1st issue is more rockabilly
and is rarely heard above the more familiar re-issued version. The song only
became a hit second time around - a number 1).
The
albums' iconic colour shot of the Lubbock young bucks is reproduced in gorgeous
colour on the front page of the booklet with the liner notes of the rear sleeve
on the last page. The other 12 pages are given over to a brief history of the
album, discography information and re-issue production credits. Very tastefully
done. Another nice touch is that beneath the see-through tray holding the CD is
a gorgeous reproduction of the original album's chocolate brown label (an
original of the album is $1000 + if you can find one!).
There
were only two albums really in his short but mighty career - this his debut -
followed quickly by his first proper solo album "Buddy Holly" -
released in Feb 1958 just one year prior to his untimely death in February 1959
aged only 22. Universal have re-issued both of these under their "Rock 'n'
Roll 50th Anniversary Edition" banner (see list below and my review for
"Buddy Holly" also) and not any of the subsequent compilation albums
that made up all of his 60's output. Listening to them again in their
straight-up 1957 and 1958 form - you're struck even now by the brilliance of
his songwriting - tune after tune brimming with life and yet still somehow
fresh even after all this time. What a loss his passing was...
Gorgeous
sound, beautifully presented and mid-price too. There's a classy feel to this CD
reissue and I recommend it without hesitation...
PS: There are seven releases in the Rock 'n' Roll "50th Anniversary
Series" and eleven in their "Blues Classics Remastered &
Revisited" Series and I've loved the lot - great sound, clever title
choices and all bumped up with bonus tracks and decent booklets (I'm reviewed
almost all of them).
Fans of Holly, Haley, Berry, Diddley and Rock'n'Roll in general should
quickly acquire all of these exemplary CDs (use the Barcode numbers provided
below to locate the right issue). They make for the best basis of a collection
in a minefield of lesser compilations...and Buddy Holly deserved nothing
less...
Universal's 'Rock 'n' Roll 50th Anniversary' CD Reissue Series:
1. After School Session by CHUCK BERRY (1958 Chess debut LP)
2. St. Louis To Liverpool by CHUCK BERRY (1964 STEREO LP on Chess)
3. The Chirping Crickets by THE CRICKETS (1957 Debut LP on Decca)
4. Bo Diddley Is A Gunslinger by BO DIDDLEY (1960 STEREO Chess LP)
5. Rock Around The Clock by BILL HALEY & HIS COMETS (1955 Decca LP)
6. Buddy Holly by BUDDY HOLLY (1958 1st solo LP on Coral)
7. Rock, Rock, Rock! - Original Soundtrack by VARIOUS (Chuck Berry, The
Flamingos and The Moonglows) (1956 Chess 'Rock'n'Roll Movie Soundtrack LP)
Universal's 'Blues Classics Remastered & Revisited' CD Reissue Series:
1. Bad News Is Coming - LUTHER ALLISON (1972 USA LP with 4 Previously
Unreleased bonuses, 56:10 minutes) (Barcode 044001340727)
2. Luther's Blues - LUTHER ALLISON (SUHA GUR Remaster) (1974 USA 9-track
LP with 3 Previously Unreleased bonuses, 70:28 minutes) (Barcode 044001340925)
3. Two Steps From The Blues - BOBBY BLAND (ERICK LABSON Remaster) (1961
USA 12-track LP on Duke with 2 bonuses, 35:12 minutes) (Barcode 008811251628)
4. The Real Folk Blues/More Real Folk Blues - JOHN LEE HOOKER (ERICK
LABSON Remaster) (October 1966 and September 1991 LPs on Chess, 2LPs on 1CD,
79:44 minutes) (Barcode 008811282127)
5. The Real Folk Blues/More Real Folk Blues - HOWLIN' WOLF (ERICK LABSON
Remaster) (January 1966 on Chess and January 1967 on Chess, 2LPs on 1CD, 66:45
minutes) (Barcode 008811282028)
6. Tell Mama: The Complete Muscle Shoals Sessions - ETTA JAMES (ERICK
LABSON Remaster) (January 1968 US 12-Track LP on Cadet - Tracks 13-22 being
bonuses, 57:11 minutes) (Barcode 008811251826)
7. Live At San Quentin - B.B. KING (ERICK LABSON Remaster) (1990
13-Track Compilation on MCA, no extras, 64:11 minutes) (Barcode 008811251727)
8. At Newport 1960 - MUDDY WATERS (ERICK LABSON Remaster) (1960 US
9-Track LP on Chess with 10-13 being 4 Mono Studio Tracks from June 1960 as
bonus tracks, 44:43 minutes) (Barcode 008811251529)
9. Fathers & Sons - MUDDY WATERS & Friends (ERICK LABSON
Remaster)
(Tracks 1-10 and 15-20 is the August 1969 2LP set on Chess in Full with
Tracks 11, 12, 13 being previously unreleased - and 14 previously unreleased in
the USA). (77:38 minutes) (Barcode 008811264826)
10. The Real Folk Blues/More Real Folk Blues - MUDDY WATERS (ERICK
LABSON Remasters - 2LPs on 1CD) (Barcode 008811282226)
11. The Real Folk Blues/More Real Folk Blues - SONNY BOY WILLIAMSON
(ERICK LABSON Remaster) (January 1966 and January 1967 LPs on Chess, 2LPs on
1CD, 65:28 minutes) (Barcode 008811282325)
