Buddy Holly & The Crickets: Buddy Holly (vocals, guitar); Niki Sullivan (guitar); Joe Maudlin (bass); Jerry Allison (drums).
Additional personnel includes: Tommy Allsup (guitar); Vi Petty (piano); Larry Welborn (bass).
Recorded at Norman Petty Studios, Clovis, New Mexico and Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma in 1957. Originally released on Brunswick (54038).
Another great classic that failed to chart on both sides of the Atlantic; perhaps the name Crickets on the cover deterred purchasers who did not realize that this featured Mr. Holly. The tracks speak for themselves, timeless pop-flavoured rock 'n' roll songs that still take some beating; "Maybe Baby," "That'll Be The Day" and "Oh Boy" were the main hit singles, but the inclusion of "Not Fade Away," "It's Too late" and "Send Me Some Lovin'" make this collection essential. The cover is a priceless timepiece from the days before real graphic designers were used, where a wonderful false sky has been dropped in behind four men who look like senior citizens, posing uncomfortably with guitars. minimize