The Buddy Holly Story (album)
Encyclopedia
The Buddy Holly Story is the first posthumously released compilation album
by American
rock and roll
musician Buddy Holly
. The album was released on February 28, 1959 (see 1959 in music
) by the Coral
record label
less than a month after his death.
The album featured previously released singles
by Buddy Holly on both the Brunswick
label (with the Crickets) and the Coral label (as a solo artist). The album became a top twenty hit in both the United States
and England
.
", "That'll Be the Day
", "Think It Over", and "Oh, Boy!
" were credited to the Crickets, while the rest were credited to Buddy Holly. All of the songs were released as singles and the songs "Peggy Sue", "That'll Be the Day", "Early in the Morning
", "Maybe Baby", "Oh, Boy!", "Rave On!", "Think It Over", and "It Doesn't Matter Anymore
" all peaked in the Top 40 on the Billboard Hot 100
and the songs "Heartbeat
" and "Raining In My Heart
" both peaked in the lower half of the Hot 100.
LP record
, they also released the four songs "It Doesn't Matter Anymore", "Heartbeat", "Raining In My Heart", and "Early in the Morning" – which were included on the LP version – as a 7" 45 RPM EP record
which was also titled as The Buddy Holly Story (catalog number EC-81182). The EP peaked at #9 on Billboard magazine's Best Selling Pop EPs chart.
In April 1960, Coral Records released a sequel to The Buddy Holly Story titled The Buddy Holly Story, Vol. 2
. The album was also used as the title of the soundtrack album
to the 1978 film of the same name
.
Side 2
and peaked at #2 on the UK Albums Chart
.
Compilation album
A compilation album is an album featuring tracks from one or more performers, often culled from a variety of sources The tracks are usually collected according to a common characteristic, such as popularity, genre, source or subject matter...
by American
People of the United States
The people of the United States, also known as simply Americans or American people, are the inhabitants or citizens of the United States. The United States is a multi-ethnic nation, home to people of different ethnic and national backgrounds...
rock and roll
Rock and roll
Rock and roll is a genre of popular music that originated and evolved in the United States during the late 1940s and early 1950s, primarily from a combination of African American blues, country, jazz, and gospel music...
musician Buddy Holly
Buddy Holly
Charles Hardin Holley , known professionally as Buddy Holly, was an American singer-songwriter and a pioneer of rock and roll...
. The album was released on February 28, 1959 (see 1959 in music
1959 in music
-Events:*January 5 – The first sessions for Ella Fitzgerald's George and Ira Gershwin Songbook are held.*January 12 – Tamla Records is founded by Berry Gordy Jr. in Detroit, Michigan....
) by the Coral
Coral Records
Coral Records was a Decca Records subsidiary formed in 1949. It recorded pop artists McGuire Sisters and Teresa Brewer, as well as rock and roller Buddy Holly....
record label
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
less than a month after his death.
The album featured previously released singles
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
by Buddy Holly on both the Brunswick
Brunswick Records
Brunswick Records is a United States based record label. The label is currently distributed by E1 Entertainment.-From 1916:Records under the "Brunswick" label were first produced by the Brunswick-Balke-Collender Company...
label (with the Crickets) and the Coral label (as a solo artist). The album became a top twenty hit in both the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.
Songs
Of the twelve songs released on the original album, the songs "Maybe BabyMaybe Baby (song)
"Maybe Baby" was originally recorded by The Crickets in 1957. It was written by Norman Petty and Buddy Holly and reached 17th in the US charts but 4th in the UK charts - see Buddy Holly discography...
", "That'll Be the Day
That'll Be the Day
"That'll Be the Day" is a song written by Buddy Holly and Jerry Allison and recorded by various artists including The Crickets and Linda Ronstadt. It was also the first song to be recorded by The Quarrymen, the skiffle group that subsequently became The Beatles...
", "Think It Over", and "Oh, Boy!
Oh, Boy! (song)
"Oh, Boy!" is a song originally performed by Buddy Holly's band The Crickets. It was written by Sonny West and Bill Tilghman; the band's manager Norman Petty added his name as co-composer. The song was recorded between June 29 and July 1, 1957, at Petty Studios in Clovis, New Mexico, with Holly...
" were credited to the Crickets, while the rest were credited to Buddy Holly. All of the songs were released as singles and the songs "Peggy Sue", "That'll Be the Day", "Early in the Morning
Early in the Morning (Bobby Darin song)
"Early in the Morning" is a song written by Bobby Darin and Woody Harris. It was released as single in 1958, and covered by Buddy Holly the same year....
", "Maybe Baby", "Oh, Boy!", "Rave On!", "Think It Over", and "It Doesn't Matter Anymore
It Doesn't Matter Anymore
"It Doesn't Matter Anymore" is a pop ballad written by Paul Anka and recorded by Buddy Holly in 1958. The song reached #13 as a posthumous hit on the Billboard Hot 100 charts in early 1959 shortly after Holly was killed in a plane crash on February 3, 1959. The single was a two-sided hit, backed...
" all peaked in the Top 40 on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
and the songs "Heartbeat
Heartbeat (Buddy Holly song)
"Heartbeat" is a rockabilly song written by Bob Montgomery and Norman Petty and recorded originally by Buddy Holly in 1958. The B side of the single was "Well.....
" and "Raining In My Heart
Raining in My Heart
"Raining in My Heart" is a popular rock and roll ballad recorded by Buddy Holly with the orchestral backing by Dick Jacobs. The music and lyrics are written by the songwriting team of Felice Bryant and Boudleaux Bryant. It was released as a single on Coral Records in 1959, peaking at #88 on the...
" both peaked in the lower half of the Hot 100.
Concurrent and subsequent releases
When Coral Records released The Buddy Holly Story as a 12" 33⅓ RPMGramophone record
A gramophone record, commonly known as a phonograph record , vinyl record , or colloquially, a record, is an analog sound storage medium consisting of a flat disc with an inscribed, modulated spiral groove...
LP record
LP record
The LP, or long-playing microgroove record, is a format for phonograph records, an analog sound storage medium. Introduced by Columbia Records in 1948, it was soon adopted as a new standard by the entire record industry...
, they also released the four songs "It Doesn't Matter Anymore", "Heartbeat", "Raining In My Heart", and "Early in the Morning" – which were included on the LP version – as a 7" 45 RPM EP record
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
which was also titled as The Buddy Holly Story (catalog number EC-81182). The EP peaked at #9 on Billboard magazine's Best Selling Pop EPs chart.
In April 1960, Coral Records released a sequel to The Buddy Holly Story titled The Buddy Holly Story, Vol. 2
The Buddy Holly Story, Vol. 2
The Buddy Holly Story, Vol. 2 is the fifth album released by Buddy Holly, a sequel compilation to The Buddy Holly Story . The second album to be released posthumously, it is also the first of a series of Buddy Holly albums to feature overdubbing of unfinished tracks, including Holly's last...
. The album was also used as the title of the soundtrack album
Soundtrack album
A soundtrack album is any album that incorporates music directly recorded from the soundtrack of a particular feature film or television program. In some cases, not all the tracks from the movie are included in the album; however there are rare cases of songs in the trailers that do not appear in...
to the 1978 film of the same name
The Buddy Holly Story
The film was adapted by Robert Gittler from Buddy Holly: His Life and Music, the biography of Holly by John Goldrosen. It was directed by Steve Rash.-Plot:...
.
Track listing
Side 1- "Raining In My HeartRaining in My Heart"Raining in My Heart" is a popular rock and roll ballad recorded by Buddy Holly with the orchestral backing by Dick Jacobs. The music and lyrics are written by the songwriting team of Felice Bryant and Boudleaux Bryant. It was released as a single on Coral Records in 1959, peaking at #88 on the...
" (Felice and Boudleaux BryantFelice and Boudleaux BryantFelice Bryant and Boudleaux Bryant were an American husband-and-wife country music and pop songwriting team best known for songs such as "Rocky Top," "Love Hurts" and numerous Everly Brothers hits, including "All I Have to Do Is Dream" and "Bye Bye Love".-Beginnings:Boudleaux was born Diadorius...
) – 2:48 - "Early in the MorningEarly in the Morning (Bobby Darin song)"Early in the Morning" is a song written by Bobby Darin and Woody Harris. It was released as single in 1958, and covered by Buddy Holly the same year....
" (Bobby DarinBobby DarinBobby Darin , born Walden Robert Cassotto, was an American singer, actor and musician.Darin performed in a range of music genres, including pop, rock, jazz, folk and country...
, Woody HarrisWoody HarrisWoody Harris was an American songwriter of the 1950s and 1960s. He is perhaps best known for songs written for and with Bobby Darin. On "Queen Of The Hop", Darin used the name "Walden Tweed". His real name was Walden Robert Cassotto. He also wrote songs for Elvis Presley, Della Reese and other...
) – 2:06 - "Peggy Sue" (Jerry AllisonJerry AllisonJ.I. Allison is an American musician, best known for being the drummer for The Crickets and co-writer of their Buddy Holly hit "Peggy Sue"....
, Norman PettyNorman PettyNorman Petty was an American musician, songwriter, and pioneer record producer who helped shape modern popular music, including pop and rock....
, Buddy HollyBuddy HollyCharles Hardin Holley , known professionally as Buddy Holly, was an American singer-songwriter and a pioneer of rock and roll...
) – 2:29 - "Maybe BabyMaybe Baby (song)"Maybe Baby" was originally recorded by The Crickets in 1957. It was written by Norman Petty and Buddy Holly and reached 17th in the US charts but 4th in the UK charts - see Buddy Holly discography...
" (Petty, Holly) – 2:01 - "EverydayEveryday (Buddy Holly song)"Everyday" is a song written by Buddy Holly and Norman Petty, recorded by Buddy Holly and the Crickets on May 29, 1957 and released on September 20, 1957 as the B-side to "Peggy Sue". On the original single the Crickets are not mentioned, but it is known that Holly plays acoustic guitar; drummer...
" (Holly, Petty) – 2:07 - "Rave On!" (Sonny WestSonny WestSonny West is a rock and roll-musician. West wrote and recorded both "Oh, Boy!" and "Rave On" on the Atlantic label in the late 1950s...
, Bill Tilghman, Petty) – 1:49
Side 2
- "That'll Be the DayThat'll Be the Day"That'll Be the Day" is a song written by Buddy Holly and Jerry Allison and recorded by various artists including The Crickets and Linda Ronstadt. It was also the first song to be recorded by The Quarrymen, the skiffle group that subsequently became The Beatles...
" (Allison, Petty, Holly) – 2:17 - "HeartbeatHeartbeat (Buddy Holly song)"Heartbeat" is a rockabilly song written by Bob Montgomery and Norman Petty and recorded originally by Buddy Holly in 1958. The B side of the single was "Well.....
" (Bob MontgomeryBob Montgomery (musician)Bob Montgomery is an American singer, songwriter, and music producer/publisher.Montgomery was born in Lampasas, Texas. He was a songwriting partner and best friend of Buddy Holly, performing together as the duo "Buddy and Bob" while teenagers in high school...
) – 2:09 - "Think It Over" (Holly, Petty, Allison) – 1:43
- "Oh, Boy!Oh, Boy! (song)"Oh, Boy!" is a song originally performed by Buddy Holly's band The Crickets. It was written by Sonny West and Bill Tilghman; the band's manager Norman Petty added his name as co-composer. The song was recorded between June 29 and July 1, 1957, at Petty Studios in Clovis, New Mexico, with Holly...
" (West, Tilghman, Petty) – 2:07 - "It's So Easy!" (Holly, Petty) – 2:09
- "It Doesn't Matter AnymoreIt Doesn't Matter Anymore"It Doesn't Matter Anymore" is a pop ballad written by Paul Anka and recorded by Buddy Holly in 1958. The song reached #13 as a posthumous hit on the Billboard Hot 100 charts in early 1959 shortly after Holly was killed in a plane crash on February 3, 1959. The single was a two-sided hit, backed...
" (Paul AnkaPaul AnkaPaul Albert Anka, is a Canadian singer, songwriter, and actor.Anka first became famous as a teen idol in the late 1950s and 1960s with hit songs like "Diana'", "Lonely Boy", and "Put Your Head on My Shoulder"...
) – 2:04
Personnel
The following people contributed to The Buddy Holly Story:- Buddy HollyBuddy HollyCharles Hardin Holley , known professionally as Buddy Holly, was an American singer-songwriter and a pioneer of rock and roll...
– vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
, guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with... - Al Chernet – guitar on "Early in the Morning"
- George BarnesGeorge Barnes (musician)George Barnes was a world-renowned swing jazz guitarist, who claimed he played the first electric guitar in 1931, preceding Charlie Christian by six years. George Barnes made the first recording of an electric guitar in 1938 in sessions with Big Bill Broonzy.-Biography:George Barnes was born in...
– guitar on "Early in the Morning" - Sanford Bloch – bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
on "Early in the Morning" - Ernest Hayes – pianoPianoThe piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
on "Early in the Morning" - Sam "The Man" Taylor – tenor saxophoneTenor saxophoneThe tenor saxophone is a medium-sized member of the saxophone family, a group of instruments invented by Adolphe Sax in the 1840s. The tenor, with the alto, are the two most common types of saxophones. The tenor is pitched in the key of B, and written as a transposing instrument in the treble...
on "Early in the Morning" - Panama Francis – drumDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
s on "Early in the Morning" - Philip Krous – drums on "Early in the Morning"
- The Helen Way Singers – background vocalsBacking vocalistA backing vocalist or backing singer is a singer who provides vocal harmony with the lead vocalist or other backing vocalists...
on "Early in the Morning" - Niki SullivanNiki SullivanNiki M. Sullivan was an American rock and roll guitar player, born in South Gate, California. He was one of the three original members of Buddy Holly's backing group, The Crickets. Though he lost interest within a year or two of his involvement, his guitar playing was an integral part of Holly's...
– guitar, background vocals - Joe B. MauldinJoe B. MauldinJoe Benson Mauldin, Jr. is ranked among the top rock bassists and became a recording engineer at Gold Star Studios, the Los Angeles studio that became the hit factory for Phil Spector, Brian Wilson and other major 1960s rock performers...
– bass - Jerry AllisonJerry AllisonJ.I. Allison is an American musician, best known for being the drummer for The Crickets and co-writer of their Buddy Holly hit "Peggy Sue"....
– drums - The PicksThe PicksThe Picks is an American vocal trio that backed Buddy Holly and The Crickets' band on nine of the first twelve Crickets releases on Brunswick in 1957, as well as backing Buddy Holly solos for group sounds, beginning in 1984...
– background vocals - Norman PettyNorman PettyNorman Petty was an American musician, songwriter, and pioneer record producer who helped shape modern popular music, including pop and rock....
– celesteCelestaThe celesta or celeste is a struck idiophone operated by a keyboard. Its appearance is similar to that of an upright piano or of a large wooden music box . The keys are connected to hammers which strike a graduated set of metal plates suspended over wooden resonators...
on "Everyday", producerRecord producerA record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music... - Al CaiolaAl CaiolaAl Caiola is a guitarist who plays jazz, country, rock, western, and pop music. He has been both a studio musician and stage performer...
– guitar on "Rave On!" - Donald Arnone – rhythm guitarRhythm guitarRhythm guitar is a technique and rôle that performs a combination of two functions: to provide all or part of the rhythmic pulse in conjunction with singers or other instruments; and to provide all or part of the harmony, ie. the chords, where a chord is a group of notes played together...
on "Rave On!" - Bob ThieleBob ThieleBob Thiele was an American record producer who worked on countless classic jazz albums and record labels.-Biography:...
– producer on "Rave On!" - Larry Welborn – bass on "That'll Be the Day"
- June Clark – background vocals on "That'll Be the Day"
- Gary Tollet – background vocals on "That'll Be the Day"
- Romano Tollet – background vocals on "That'll Be the Day"
- Tommy AllsupTommy AllsupTommy Allsup is an American musician.He worked with entertainers such as Buddy Holly and Bob Wills & His Texas Playboys...
– lead guitarLead guitarLead guitar is a guitar part which plays melody lines, instrumental fill passages, guitar solos, and occasionally, some riffs within a song structure... - George Alwood – bass on "Heartbeat"
- The Roses – background vocals
- Vi Petty – piano on "Think It Over"
- Dick Jacobs – producer
- Ren Grevatt – liner notesLiner notesLiner notes are the writings found in booklets which come inserted into the compact disc jewel case or the equivalent packaging for vinyl records and cassettes.-Origin:...
Charts
The Buddy Holly Story reached #11 on the Billboard 200Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
and peaked at #2 on the UK Albums Chart
UK Albums Chart
The UK Albums Chart is a list of albums ranked by physical and digital sales in the United Kingdom. It is compiled every week by The Official Charts Company and broadcast on a Sunday on BBC Radio 1 , and published in Music Week magazine and on the OCC website .To qualify for the UK albums chart...
.