The airplane crash that killed rock'n'roll pioneer Buddy Holly took place 50 years ago Feb. 3, but Universal Music is marking the anniversary a week early with the release of two, long-, long-awaited compilations of the singers work today.
Yes, finally the Holly estate and Universal have patched things up enough to get more of his work back in print.
The three-CD "Memorial Collection" boasts all of Holly's hits -- including "That'll Be The Day," "Not Fade Away," "Peggy Sue" and "Rave On"-- as well as seven recordings previously unreleased in the United States.
The two-CD "Down The Line - Rarities" features home recordings dating back to when Holly was 14, widely bootlegged undubbed versions, alternate takes and informal solo tapes.
Some of the recordings -- such as "Think It Over" and "Fool's Paradise" -- have been stripped of overdubs that were added by Norman Petty, arguably the No. 1 villain in the Buddy Holly story.
I don't think this is the complete set many fans have been clamoring for (and which many of us own, courtesy of Internet bootleg label Purple Chick), but it's plenty to keep 'em happy, and a great improvement--in terms of the number of songs available--over what's been available since the advent of CDs. I think this is the first time many of these songs have been in print since MCA's big "complete" vinyl set from back in the 70s (which I've also got). So, good on Universal, at long last.
Here's Buddy and the Crickets on the "Arthur Murray Dance Party" in 1957.
No comments:
Post a Comment