"Buddy Holly' by BUDDY HOLLY. His debut album re-issued on CD in 2004 as part of the ROCK 'N' ROLL 50th ANNIVERSARY SERIES

Holly fans have lambasted MCA (who've had charge of his catalogue) for decades now - both here in the UK and elsewhere. Why? Well, back in the day, they released two seminal compact discs when CDs were completely new. They were both called "From The Original Master Tapes" - one for Buddy Holly and the other for Bill Haley & His Comets. And they weren't just good - they were outstanding! An absolute wow - both of them! Stereo tracks in some cases, studio chatter, and sound quality that was mind-blowing. These issues in the UK single-handedly went a long way to convincing music lovers that there really was something in this new format other than hype by the industry. Remastered by STEVE HOFFMAN, they featured sound that for 1985 was a sensation. So why mention this now - because having had their appetites whetted, fans expected more - and then - well nothing. For nearly 20 years - zip. No follow ups of the same calibre - nothing. No sign of the magnificent 1979 6LP Box Set "The Complete Buddy Holly" - which to this day is still unreleased - one of the last great box sets to be so on CD.

However, everything changes with this gorgeous 2004 re-issue. It reproduces the original US album artwork on both front and back of the booklet. There's a repro of the beautiful original label on the inlay beneath the see-through tray, a nice booklet with detailed notes - and best of all - stunning remastered sound quality care of Erick Labson. Tracks 1-12 are the original US album supplemented by 3 non-album relevant bonus tracks, "Take Your Time", "Now We're One" and "Early In The Morning". The 3 bonus tracks allow you to sequence his first five 7" singles on Coral Records.

1. Words Of Love/Mailman, Bring Me No More Blues (1957 Coral 61852)
2. Peggy Sue/Everyday (1957 Coral 61885)
3. I'm Gonna Love You Too/Listen To Me (1958 Coral 61947)
4. Rave On/Take Your Time (1958 Coral 61985) (B-side Non-Album)
5. Early In The Morning/Now We're One (1958 Coral 62006) (Non-Album A&B)

There were only two albums really in his short but mighty career, the debut album, "The Chirping Crickets" (1957 USA, 1958 UK) and this - his first solo album, "Buddy Holly" (released in Feb 1958 just one year prior to his untimely death in February 1959 at only 22). So Universal have re-issued both of these and not the subsequent compilation albums that made up all of his 60's output.

PS: A few words on the "ROCK 'N' ROLL 50th ANNIVERSARY EDITION" Series in general:
It should also be noted that this issue is part of the above named series issued in 2004 by Universal.
'Rock 'N' Roll 50th Anniversary Edition' is a secondary series title and is displayed vertically on the side inlay beneath the see-through tray of each release, but unfortunately, if you try to search databases for ANY titles under this moniker, it doesn't recognize the 'name' at all.

For those interested - the other six titles are:

1. "After School Session" by CHUCK BERRY (His Chess Debut LP In The States, see REVIEW)
2. "Rock Around The Clock" by BILL HALEY & HIS COMETS (ground-breaking 1956 LP, see REVIEW)
3. "The Chirping Crickets" by THE CRICKETS (their debut LP featuring BUDDY HOLLY, see REVIEW)
4. "St. Louis To Liverpool" by CHUCK BERRY (1964 STEREO LP on Chess, see REVIEW)
5. "Bo Diddley Is A Gunslinger" by BO DIDDLEY (1960 STEREO Chess LP, see REVIEW)
6. "Rock, Rock, Rock! - Original Soundtrack" by VARIOUS (Chuck Berry, The Flamingos and The Moonglows) (1956 Chess 'Rock'n'Roll Movie Soundtrack LP, see REVIEW)

I bought all 7 of these titles and I can't recommend them enough - each album remastered to superb sound quality, colour artwork lovingly restored and each bolstered up with 3 or 4 relevant single releases from the time (some previously unreleased). Fans of Haley, Holly, The Crickets, Berry, Diddley and Rock'n'Roll in general should quickly acquire all of these exemplary CDs. They make for the best basis of a collection in a minefield of lesser compilations. Enjoy!

"The Chirping Crickets" by THE CRICKETS. 27 November 1957 to 27 November 2007. 50 Years On and His Stunning Debut Album Still Shines!

A full half century ago, "The Chirping Crickets" by The Crickets was released in the USA on Brunswick Records (BL 54038) and it stands to this day as one of the great debuts of all time. (It was released March 1958 in the UK on Vogue Coral LVA 9081 - both sleeves are pictured above). Holly had had several 7" single releases on Decca throughout 1956 and 1957, but this was his first album proper. His group `The Crickets' (in a not-very-Rock'n'Roll manner) are credited on the back of the album sleeve as a `Vocal Group With Orchestra'! Yikes!!

This 2004 Universal CD reissue gives us all 12-tracks of the original Mono album remastered to gorgeous sound quality from the 1st generation master tapes by Erick Labson and then tags on 4 bonus tracks at the end. The extra tracks are the A&B sides of two singles in and around the release of the album. So this allows the listener to sequence The Crickets' first five US 7" singles as follows (all featuring Buddy Holly):

1. That'll Be The Day/I'm Looking For Someone To Love (Brunswick 55009, 1957)
2. Oh, Boy!/Not Fade Away (Brunswick 55035, 1957)
3. Maybe Baby/It's Too Late (Brunswick 55053, 1957)
4. Think It Over/Fool's Paradise (Non-Album A&B sides) (Brunswick 55072, 1958)
5. It's So Easy/Lonesome Tears (Non-Album A&B sides) (Brunswick 55094, 1958)

(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 $800 + 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 at only 22). Universal have re-issued both of these and not the subsequent compilation albums that made up all of his 60's output (see my review of "Buddy Holly" also). Listening to them again, you're struck even now by the brilliance of his song writing - and what a crime it was that the world was robbed of him at such a young age. There's a classy feel to these CD reissues and I recommend both albums without hesitation.

PS: A few words on the "ROCK 'N' ROLL 50th ANNIVERSARY EDITION" Series in general:
It should also be noted that this issue is part of the above named series issued in 2004 by Universal. 'Rock 'N' Roll 50th Anniversary Edition' is a secondary series title and is displayed vertically on the side inlay beneath the see-through tray of each release, but unfortunately, if you try to search most databases for ANY titles under this moniker, it doesn't recognize the 'name' at all.

For those interested in the "Rock 'N' Roll 50th Anniversary Edition Series". The other six titles are:

1. "Buddy Holly" by BUDDY HOLLY (1958 1st solo LP on Coral, see REVIEW)
2. "Rock Around The Clock" by BILL HALEY & HIS COMETS (ground-breaking 1956 LP, see REVIEW)
2. "After School Session" by CHUCK BERRY (1958 Chess debut LP, see REVIEW)
3. "St. Louis To Liverpool" by CHUCK BERRY (1964 STEREO LP on Chess, see REVIEW)
4. "Bo Diddley Is A Gunslinger" by BO DIDDLEY (1960 STEREO Chess LP, see REVIEW)
5. "Rock, Rock, Rock! - Original Soundtrack" by VARIOUS (Chuck Berry, The Flamingos and The Moonglows) (1956 Chess 'Rock'n'Roll Movie Soundtrack LP, see REVIEW)

I bought all 7 of these titles and I can't recommend them enough - each album remastered to superb sound quality, colour artwork lovingly restored and each bolstered up with 3 or 4 relevant single releases from the time (some previously unreleased). Fans of Haley, Holly, The Crickets, Berry, Diddley and Rock'n'Roll in general should quickly acquire all of these exemplary CDs. They make for the best basis of a collection in a minefield of lesser compilations. Enjoy!