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Chirping Crickets

Buddy Holly & The Crickets

1957
Chirping Crickets
Album Summary

The "Chirping" Crickets is the debut album from the American rock and roll band the Crickets, led by Buddy Holly. It was the group's only album released during Holly's lifetime. In 2012, the album was ranked number 420 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time. The album also appears in the book, 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die. The LP was released in the US in 1957, and in the UK in 1958. It was re-released by Coral in 1962 as Buddy Holly and the Crickets. After being out of print for many years, it was reissued as a remastered CD in 2004 with bonus tracks.

Wikipedia

Rating

3.34

Votes

6946
Genres
Pop
Rock
Rock And Roll

Reviews

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Mon Sep 21 2020
5

One of my favourite albums ever. Also, one of my favourite anecdote ever, taken from Little Richards self biography "The Life and Times of Little Richard". Angel, a stripper, later on said this MIGHT not be true, but seriously, never fact check a good story. “One time Buddy came into my dressing room while I was jacking off with Angel sucking my titty. Angel had the fastest tongue in the west. She was doing that to me and Buddy took out his thing. She opened up her legs and he put it in her. He was having sex with Angel, I was jacking off, and Angel was sucking me when they introduced his name on stage. He finished and went to the stage still fastening himself up. I’ll never forget that. He came and he went.”

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Wed Jul 21 2021
3

The ones you know (Oh Boy!, Not Fade Away, Maybe Baby, It's Too Late, That'll Be The Day) are straight fire, though not a raging one. Just a few isolated fires, actually. Perfectly controlled and never threatening to spread. In other words, Holly wasn't a purveyor of the type of excess the 60s myth tells us his brand of R'n'R turned into (but probably didn't). He was a formalist, a model railway builder, a de rigger songsmith. When he was great--which wasn't all the time, as the duller numbers here testify to--he crafted rockers where every strum, hum and warble was in service to a rhythm that never muscles through like Chuck Berry or skitters tilt-a-whirl like Little Richard but doesn't need to. Tiny paintbrush and glue gun in hand in hand, Holly crafted space for everything to breathe, creating the effect of songs more compulsive and propulsive than they really are. And effect is all. The apotheosis is when everything but the drums and Holly's voice drop out in the fourth chorus of That'll Be the Day. It goes "When. You (boom). Make (boom). Me (boom). Cry (boom)-y (boom)." At that moment, you can literally hear early-Beatles John Lennon take the baton from him. Except not really - that's preposterous.

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Tue Feb 23 2021
5

I was brought up on this stuff, Dad was a huge Buddy Holly fan. These songs are ingrained in my soul, I knew them all before I even knew what music was. They've always been there, and I love them like family members. It's all so damn cheerful as well, how can you not love it! I wish there were more than 25 minutes of this.

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Thu May 06 2021
5

One of those defining classics that exists at a very particular time and place. It's an extremely well-performed, well-written album deserving of a place on this list for its historical importance alone, but it still holds up musically more than 60 years after its recording.

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Wed Feb 10 2021
5

What a sweet record from Buddy Holly! While I don't remember ever giving The "Chirping" Crickets a full listen before, I'm pretty sure I was listening from the womb as he was someone my parents had on the radio or spinning in the console. As one of the early rock-n-roll troubadours, his short 22 years of life not only influenced rock music moving forward, but was a definitive variable in my own musical development. The record is wonderful from beginning to end and has just inspired a 50s rock-n-roll listening party here in me. All I've listened to since yesterday morning is Buddy Holly, The Everly Brothers, Elvis, Chuck Berry, Roy Orbison, Ricky Nelson and more. With fresh ears I'm transported back to my childhood and the childhoods of my parents. Thanks for your music, Buddy! It's made a difference in endless lives. RIP.

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Sat Jul 10 2021
5

One of the beginnings of rock and roll documented and a great album with loads of influential songs to be found on it

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Sat Mar 26 2022
4

It is really hard to rate this. Buddy Holly is so engrained in the history of pop music that it is unfair to judge without that lens. I appreciate it but since it set the stage for so much later that it sounds a bit quaint now. It is a shame we never saw him develop as an artist. 4.5/5

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Mon May 01 2023
3

Hard to rate this one cuz of how old it is. At this point the songs are like a novelty which is fun to hear once in a while but I can’t really take it too seriously. Gonna give it a 3 cuz I see how it’s important for music history and hearing a song or two once in a while is fun but I wouldn’t ever listen to the whole album. I think I would just put on an oldies playlist cuz this is really before albums were meant to be a cohesive piece of work anyways. That being said, I did enjoy the album a lot and the simplicity of the songs gives off a nostalgic feeling. The reverb on it’s too late sounds cool. 👍:that’ll be the day, maybe baby, it’s too late

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Thu Jan 14 2021
5

Beautiful, harmonius, lively and catchy. Quintessential rock'n roll

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Thu Oct 06 2022
5

An unbelievable debut. Somewhat inconsistent, but the highs are incredibly high and hugely influential. And no song over 2:30. The influence is sometimes taken for granted as is genre blending aspect of the tunes. Hits especially hard considering Holly's tragic death.

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Wed Oct 28 2020
4

the 50s are the first decade of music i really care about that much, and probably the first decade that's all that interesting outside of like a few notable albums or w/e. maybe someones gonna see this thats really really really into 40s music but i doubt it. if u are that person, please give me recommendations, i'd love to have my horizons expanded :D personally i think it makes since, the 50s are the first decade with many musicians that get referenced a lot. even if someone like frank sinatra or buddy holly or miles davis or whatever is fairly far removed at this point from modern music, u can probably still recognize their names. maybe ur even really into their music!!! i think one thing everyone can agree on, though, is that a lot of 50s music is kinda lame. either quality-wise, or just sort of intangibly lame. obviously this isnt a blanket statement but like...doo-wop, 50s pop, most 50s rock, all that stuff is kinda lame by now. it doesnt have to be in a bad way though!! this album is very lame and silly, but that's just part of the charm. it's fun!!! everything here is pretty simple, short, and focused on being catchy, and the full album is under a half hour. probably for the best. if u have it in u to enjoy old-ass rock music this is definitely worth a listen :P

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Thu Jun 17 2021
4

Didn't think I'd like it but then ended up enjoying it. Half Elvis, half roy or bison, which is to be expected I guess. The slow songs are a bit boring and every song has a very 50s, suburban, milk bar with my best girl and no colored people allowed vibe, but I like the rockabilly. Just wish Buddy would get a bit looser with that but I guess we had to wait for mick and John to do that for us.

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Mon Jul 12 2021
4

I often talk about the Beatles like they’re two different bands: the early stuff like “Hard Day’s Night” and “Help”, where they sing about love between two people; and the shift right around “Rubber Soul/Revolver” where they start singing about Love, between ALL people. And the early stuff is fine, but the later stuff is truly iconic and world changing. What I’m getting at here is, this album is Buddy Holly’s “early stuff”, where he’s singing about a boy and a girl, and what boys and girls do. And it’s great, it really is. In fact, it inspired the early Beatles IMMENSELY. But, man! If only Buddy Holly had lived long enough to get to his “world-changing” period… maybe there wouldn’t even BE a Beatles, at least, not like we think of them today. Buddy had a head start, after all. Tragic loss. Oh well, there’s some great fun songs on here. “Oh Boy” and “That’ll Be the Day”, in particular.

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Thu Aug 05 2021
4

Альбом своего времени. Но, чувствуется, что из тех, которые не только отражали своё время, но и формировали. Есть у этой музыки стиль, чарующая эстетика. Но всё же недостаточно мощная, чтобы конкурировать с более поздними работами. Быстро цепляет, быстро надоедает... забывается, вероятно, тоже быстро. Тем не менее, когда услышал Not Fade Away, то сразу почувствовал что где-то уже именно её слышал. И, да, это один из 2 треков, на которые есть статьи в ру-вики. К сожалению, список использования в медиа не обнаружил. Буду думать, что Mafia II. Каждый из треков альбома чем-то интересен, эксплуатации эстетики здесь всё же нет. Отличный альбом, чтобы погрузиться в эпоху 50-х. И, вероятно, неплохой альбом, чтобы осознать, что долго в ней пребывать довольно утомительно. 7/10

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Mon Mar 22 2021
3

This was an alright listen. Quick and easy to digest, but nothing special for me.

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Mon Oct 18 2021
3

An endearingly dorky amalgam of styles. Doo-wop, country honkin' vocals and that jangly Strat. More spacious and immediate than I'd remembered, I dig that cardboard box beat. Way better than Bill fuckin' Haley.

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Sun Apr 30 2023
3

Having the buddy holly on here makes me miserable that weezer aren’t on here, and yeah buddy holly does look like a nerd so I guess he does look like the guy from weezer. Anyway the music, it’s solid but a bit boring compared to music after the 50’s but this is one of the best you’re gonna get from this time, that’ll be the day is the clear standout but some other tracks are solid. 3/5

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Mon May 01 2023
3

Kinda knew what to expect here. Obviously extremely dated, but then again for 1957 some songs really don’t sound too bad. Honestly liked it more than i thought I would. It was only 25 minutes so that’s probably a big part of it, I’m sure I would get sick of it if it was much longer. Also did The Who just totally rip off “Not Fade Away” with “My Generation” or what? Best: Not fade away, that’ll be the day MMM: 🎶MAYBE BABY ILL HAVE YOU, MAYBE BABY YOULL BE TRUE🎶

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Mon May 01 2023
3

This is the first time I’ve ever actively listened to Buddy Holly so that’s cool. “Oh Boy” has a very catchy hook and is a fun listen, even though a lot of the instrumental production is a little quiet compared to the vocals and didn’t age super well. “Maybe Baby” is also a lot of fun, the crickets’ background vocals really make the song for me. A little too many lovesick songs in the middle. Like it’s cool for a record to have a theme, but these all have very similar moods and it feels like they’re just trying to cash in on a formula. “Just like this coke, my love is gone” is a funny lyric because haha cocaine, but it may be even funnier to picture buddy holly drinking soft drinks to cope with heartbreak. Glad the run time is nice and short because this one got old fast. Cover Art: 5/10 that is a picture of the band

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Thu Oct 07 2021
2

Il s'agit probablement de l'album le plus ringard du générateur, emmené par un Martin Lamotte en dessous de tout qui a toutefois su rebondir ces dernières années avec la série Nos Chers Voisins.

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Tue Apr 25 2023
2

2/5 I hate to be a party pooper, but I found "Chirping Crickets" by Buddy Holly & The Crickets to be a bit of a snoozefest. Sure, the album is considered a classic and has been influential in the development of rock and roll, but to my ears, it just sounds sleepy and boring. The songs are all pretty much the same, with a slow tempo and a twangy guitar sound that never seems to change. The lyrics are simple and repetitive, with nothing particularly interesting or thought-provoking to say. I found myself nodding off halfway through the album and struggling to stay awake until the end. Even the upbeat tracks, like "That'll Be the Day," fail to get me excited or energized. The production is flat and uninspired, with no real dynamic range or interesting textures to grab my attention. I know that "Chirping Crickets" is considered a landmark album in the history of rock and roll, and that many people hold it in high regard. But for me, it just doesn't do anything. It's like a warm glass of milk - it might be comforting to some, but for me, it just puts me to sleep. If you're a die-hard fan of classic rock and roll and are looking for an album to add to your collection, then by all means, give "Chirping Crickets" a listen. But if you're looking for something with a bit more energy and excitement, you might want to look elsewhere.

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Thu Apr 01 2021
5

It’s so interesting to listen to this because it sounds so tame to us now, but I just have to imagine how scandalous it sounded to adult ears at the time.

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Wed Feb 17 2021
5

Whats not to love bout Buddy

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Thu Jan 28 2021
5

Classic 50's Rock. Loved it!

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Thu May 27 2021
5

That Don McLean song makes all the more sense now...

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Tue May 18 2021
5

Foundational. Liked the whole thing. Poor Buddy.

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Mon Jun 28 2021
5

An amazing voice and amazing guitar tone. Not sure why anyone ever wrote another love song, because Buddy Holly covered all the bases on this album. A truly great record.

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Fri Jul 23 2021
5

I loved this album. You can really hear the impact it would have on subsequent acts. Terrific music.

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Fri Jul 23 2021
5

By far my favorite early rock and Roll artist. The first singer/songwriter and a huge influence on the British invasion bands and beyond. Buddy Holly was the most forward thinking and innovative of all his contemporaries. 5 huge 🌟

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Sat Oct 09 2021
5

Buddy Holly - Legendary sounding blues.

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Fri Dec 10 2021
5

I've seen other bands release their "Greatest Hits" that didn't have the number of hits that this album, which isn't a "Greatest Hits", has.

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Fri Dec 10 2021
5

Rock cincuentero. No digo más.

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Mon Dec 13 2021
5

Every one a winner. This music changed everything permanently and deserves 5 stars for that. It's dated now, but still hugely influential and important.

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Tue Dec 21 2021
5

Added to "Old songs to listen to on US road trips to give you an American vibe" playlist

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Sat Dec 25 2021
5

Really fun album. Better than expected. Classic for a reason.

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Tue Dec 28 2021
5

Classic BH&C album - should be high in every best-of list so no surprise it is included here.

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Sun Jan 02 2022
5

not a big fan of this genre but i had a lot of fun moments with it

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Sat Mar 05 2022
5

By far my favorite early rock and Roll artist. The first singer/songwriter and a huge influence on the British invasion bands and beyond. Buddy Holly was the most forward thinking and innovative of all his contemporaries. 5 huge 🌟

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Sun Mar 06 2022
5

buddy holly e os grilos é muito bão (e historicamente importante) mas eu fiquei mais impactada é ca maldição do ome q doideira

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Fri Mar 11 2022
5

One of the Ur-texts for R & R.

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Tue Apr 12 2022
5

I unironically love Buddy Holly.

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Sat Apr 16 2022
5

As far as classic rock 'n' roll goes, it doesn't get too much better than Buddy Holly

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Tue May 10 2022
5

What can I say? A third of this album I grew up hearing and have no question as to their greatness. The other two-thirds were great as well. This is a timeless classic that I should have listened to long ago.

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Tue May 10 2022
5

Fun and catchy, absolutely classic.

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Tue May 24 2022
5

Amazing debut. Wish we got more from him.

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Fri May 27 2022
5

A flawless album. I often wonder about how his career would have gone had he not got on that plane.

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Sun May 29 2022
5

Fun listen. Light and easy, but with a great beat.

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Sun May 29 2022
5

I loved this! It is nostalgic for a time I wasn’t even alive, but have visited by watching films like Stand by Me!

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Fri Jun 17 2022
5

Rock cincuentero. No digo más. Vinilo.

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Sun Jun 19 2022
5

My dad once told me Buddy was essential for my music education and since I first discovered him, I have never never looked back! A legend who was one of the first to write, produce, perform, and market himself in a band, be the nerdy contrast the more Hollywood Elvis. This albums has rock n roll in its first true form with 12 bar blues and 50s chord progressions, catchy choruses and singable melodies, with ranging rhythms for each song. To me, his works are one of the first true rock masterpieces.

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Mon Jun 20 2022
5

Brilliant and important, must have been startling at the time. Probably the shortest album on this list - 25 minutes! I loved it.

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Thu Jul 14 2022
5

Such a legendary album. B.Holly die so young, but he left a huge mark in Rock and Roll history. Huge influence for the Beatles and many other bands. Favorite songs: That'll Be The Day, Not Fade Away,

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Sat Aug 06 2022
5

How many Name and The Nouns rock and roll bands can you identify just from the guitar tone or a split second of the vo-hocals of any track? I'd guess one. This one. That clean slightly muted jangle and Buddy Holly's polite delivery make them possibly the first band you could be obsessed with. The album has the approach that I tend to credit good punk albums with. 12 songs. 26 minutes. No time to get bored of what's on offer - in fact, with a few tracks, I'd have let them have an extra verse and chorus they're that good!

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Tue Sep 06 2022
5

So incredible. So sad. Several bangers in here.

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Sun Sep 04 2022
5

A true genius, unconventional and fresh, even 60 years later!

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Sat Sep 24 2022
5

As I was listening to all these we very familiar songs, that are as firmly embedded in my cultural zeitgeist as the Star Spangled Banner, I pondered whether it was all really up to the hype. Some of the recordings are fairly muddy; Holly’s voice, though he had no trouble carrying every tune and played to his strengths, was not something spectacular. Would it really still carry the same cultural weight without the tragic end looming over it? Ultimately (though his tale can’t of course be unwound from his untimely death) I do think it holds up: early rock/rockabilly classic, and a damned shame we lost everything he might have followed with.

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Sun Oct 02 2022
5

Joyful classic that makes you go up on your feet and give yourself to the rock'n'roll.

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Tue Oct 04 2022
5

Maybe a boomer take, but I really love a simple album like this. All songs are straightforward, short, and catchy. Just don’t make them like this anymore I feel.

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Thu Oct 06 2022
5

What an efficient 26 minutes. The entire blueprint for 60s rock and roll is here in one great collection. Buddy Holly was not the first rock and roller but he was one of the best (actually writing many of his own songs) and it’s tragic that we will never how how he would have grown as an artist over the course of his life. I do however find it astounding that Not Fade Away was track 2 instead of the final song here. What a missed opportunity.

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Thu Oct 06 2022
5

Boy, they sure crammed a lot of greatness into 27 minutes. This album is a blueprint for early rock and roll!

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Fri Oct 07 2022
5

Can't help but judge the album cover here, haha. Whoever cut them out really gave disservice to their hair lol Never heard any of these to my knowledge and I'm surprised by how much I liked it. Having read up a bit on the history of the band and the influence they had on the music forward this definitely belongs on the list. Quite an easy, short listen, which I enjoyed. Saved songs: You've Got Love, That'll Be The Day, Oh Boy!

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Sat Oct 08 2022
5

A bonafide masterpiece full of the peppy rock n' roll staples that set the foundation for everything else to come. It is an absolute pleasure the whole way through, great album from long ago.

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Mon Nov 07 2022
5

p31. 1957. 5 stars Stripped down, primeval white rock'n'roll at its finest. Instantly recognisable sound, packed with genuine classics. It still sounds great today.

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Tue Nov 15 2022
5

the best tracks are written by Holly and the Roy Orbison songs. The songs written by others seem to be written in the style of the time. Holly's songs seem to be something new and would influence artists of the future. Call me crazy, but I can hear Holly's songs influencing Mike Ness and Social Distortion.

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Tue Dec 13 2022
5

This is a great album with so many hits.

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Thu Dec 15 2022
5

Buddy Holly is a legend at this point, but he can be found in his music which features great guitar playing, great songwriting, and a distinctive and oft impersonated vocal style. He could sing slow songs or add a bit of grit to sing songs like 'That'll be the Day.' He was an unconventional rock star; we was clean cut and wore glasses. However, he standardized rock's two guitar, bass and drums lineup and wrote some of rock's most enduring standards.

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Tue Dec 20 2022
5

Damn. Did not expect this to be this good.

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Sun Jan 22 2023
5

You can see how this is the root of much that came after it.

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Thu Feb 02 2023
5

Buddy Holly was a rock and roll icon in the 50's! Another life gone too soon! I can imagine how scandalous his music must have been in that time period. Looking back at it now, it is more of a pop vibe, but back then, those Strat's would have been making rebellious music that parents of the day hated. Buddy blended his country roots with rockabilly, and pop, and came up with this good ol rock and roll, in line with what Roy Orbison or Elvis Presley were doing. Imagine what Buddy could have done if he had lived longer! Overall, a great album today! Very influential, and trend setting! Will definately listen again to this classic artist and album! Favourite songs: That'll Be the Day, I'm Lookin' For Someone to Love, Not Fade Away, Maybe Baby, Oh Boy!, Last Night, Rock Me My Baby Least favourite songs: If forced to pick, It's Too Late 5/5

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Mon Feb 13 2023
5

Oldie and fun. Appreciate the throwback.

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Wed Feb 22 2023
5

The foundation for all of the great rock and roll that came afterwards. Buddy Holly and the boys knew how to make the kids dance and the parents rage.

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Tue Feb 28 2023
5

Great early rock & roll. Probably a 4.5/5. Favorite song: Oh Boy!

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Tue Mar 14 2023
5

Life is kickin - my generational soundtrack of excellence

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Tue Jun 22 2021
4

Oh, oh, and you're Mary Tyler Moore! Best track: That'll Be The Day

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Mon Sep 28 2020
4

a great album with timeless songs, too old fashioned to be in constant rotation but a great album non the less.

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Fri Jun 04 2021
4

A good album and an iconic sound.

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Mon Feb 01 2021
4

в этом альбоме буквально можно услышать как из блюз и кантри трансформируются в рок-н-ролл!

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Tue Apr 13 2021
4

3.5| sin duda un pilar en la base de toda la música rock, incorporar 2 guitarras? eso es del diablo, colocar los coros después de haber grabado la música?, jugar con los tonos y volumen de las guitarras? a que loco se le ocurren esas cosas? que tanto habría hecho si no hubiera muerto repentinamente? habría una superbanda con Ritchie Valens y otros?

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Tue Apr 13 2021
4

Algo muy interesante que viene de escuchar discos como este es que rompen ese estereotipo de que las grabaciones “viejas” suenan mal. Por supuesto, los micrófonos y amplificadores todavía no estaban tan desarrollados, y las técnicas de postproducción apenas daba sus primeros pasos, pero esto es evidencia de que tenemos tecnología para grabar sonido de alta calidad desde ¡hace más de 60 años! Hablando de la música en sí, sé que Buddy Holly es una gran influencia para el rock & roll y por tanto un pilar de mucha de la música que tenemos hoy en día. Puedo identificar cosas en el disco que seguramente influenciaron a Elvis Presley, los Beach Boys y por supuesto a los Beatles. Independientemente del valor histórico, la música es agradable y fácil de escuchar. A pesar de que el rockabilly no es mi género favorito pude escuchar el disco sin problema tres veces al hilo. Escuchar esto automáticamente me hace querer una malteada de vainilla y una hamburguesa double decker con mostaza y catsup.

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Sun Jan 24 2021
4

One of my favorite. Going to rewatch the buddy holly story tonight!

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Sat Feb 27 2021
4

Can’t believe this came out in 1957. It feels relevant but still has that classic twang that he is known for. Great album and an easy listen

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