Chirping Crickets

Really loved this album. Great songs. Upbeat music. Recorded nearly 70 years ago and still sounds fresh

Great set of 50s 2 minute songs, absolutely brilliant.

early rock that still holds up very well

"Oh Boy" opens this piece of American treasured art... this is seminal... and if you think that song is good then comes "Not Fade Away"... RnR Hall of Fame stuff and you haven't even gotten to the third song of your first record... lol... "Maybe Baby", "That'll Be The Day"... whoa... all the other songs are like a master class in Rock and Roll... the album closes with "Rock Me My Baby"... yes you did... FIVE STARS."

Oh Boy! Great album. I knew a few of the songs, but it really transported me back to my grandparents house.

Classic top to bottom.

So many classic tracks on one album - it’s a 5 Star for me

Makes you think what greatness he could have achieved had lived long enough to fully develop/ mature as an artist...

fun harmonies, lively bops, a teeny bit demanding.

Buddy Holly is actually that good.

I don't care if people think it's dated or now too far from what music is now, Buddy Holly paved the way for so much music to come and we don't realise how special and new his sound was. The bloody Beatles are called The Beatles because of they carried on the bug theme from The Crickets. 'Not Fade Away' has been covered numerous times, The Stones even saying it was what got them together in the first place. So we owe a lot to Buddy but more than that I still love listening to his music. I feel you can here the newness of the instruments and the rhythm, like they are just discovering this sounds for themselves and excited for it too. I love Buddy's voice in 'Its Too Late' when he seems to lean away from the microphone, I don't know why I love that but I feel I can just imagine it more and I JUST LOVE BUDDY HOLLY.

Buddy Holly will always get five stars from me. RIP

Thank you so much. I'd give this album 10 stars if I could. This is more like it.

Without the album The Beatles would sound totally different. Incredible.

What a voice, only album released, actually wrote Oh boy Not fade away That will be the day

Loved it.

I suddenly feel like I ought to slick my hair back, grab my letterman jacket, and take my best gal down to the sock hop. Maybe first we swing by the Five and Dime to split a cherry Coke and bag of penny candy before cuttin’ a righteous rug under the gymnasium lights. Lay it on me, daddy-o! 5/5 Highlights: Oh Boy! That’ll Be The Day I’m Lookin’ For Someone To Love Send Me Some Lovin’ Rock Me My Baby

Primo

A glimpse at what could have been. Some won’t like this, but then again I don’t like a lot of stuff either, so to each his own. We’re not worthy Buddy.

We need more of this! Even the sad songs are chipper and bright. Unexpected little gem.

Can you believe this is 68years old?????

Love this!

Great album!

A classic. Not much more to say really.

RIP!

So many classics and a breakthrough in rock n roll.

Songs are very similar to that beech wave style. The songs are also all about the same thing. Partner also said they are creepy songs about man wanting women.

Great album! Deserves to be on the list twice.

Banger

An absolute classic. Listening to this album makes smile. - 5⭐ “The Chirping Crickets” is an album that influenced a generation of music that immediately followed Rock 'N' Roll. Yes, for some new listeners coming to this album fresh, and used to modern production standards, it will sound dated or even a little twee in places, but this needs to be put into context. Released in 1957, if one listens carefully to the way the songs are arranged, performed and even produced, it is years ahead of its time. That's remarkable, given the technology available when this was recorded. “The Chirping Crickets” contains four absolute bangers, hits of the day. The remaining songs are very good to excellent, two are written by Roy Orbison. Just listen to some of the guitar playing, it is quite fantastic. Buddy Holly’s song writing is melodic and original, while the Crickets perform each song with great energy and musicianship. Would I listen to this album again? Yes. Would I buy this album? Yes, I did. 1- "Oh, Boy!" - An absolute gem of a song. Buddy Holly's vocals have a slight rasp. Joyous. The "dum-dee-dum-dum" piece of the chorus is dated but in a cute way. This was risqué for the day. - 5 2- "Not Fade Away" - Much covered. Years ahead of its time. Wonderful. The percussion is superb with its Bo Diddley beat. - 5 3- "You've Got Love" - A sweet, melodic song. Mid Tempo. This demonstrates Holly's vocal abilities. Lovely arrangement. Written by Roy Orbison! - 4 4- "Maybe Baby" - An absolute classic. A masterclass in song writing, written by Holly. The song has a great shuffling rhythm. The guitars are great. - 5 5- "It's Too Late" - A much covered song. This is a fine arrangement. The chorus and actually the whole song is wonderfully arranged. - 5 6- "Tell Me How" - The guitar lines are sharp and and inventive. Again, written by Holly and brilliantly arranged. - 5 7- "That'll Be the Day" (May 27, 1957 Brunswick version) - A stone cold classic. Iconic. Wonderful guitar solo, in 1957! This song became a chart-topping hit and was a catalyst for the burgeoning rock movement. You may not like Buddy Holly, but a music lover should sure as hell appreciate him. - 5 8- "I'm Looking for Someone to Love" - The guitar on this is brilliant. -4 9- "An Empty Cup (And a Broken Date)" - Another Roy Orbison song. -4 10- "Send Me Some Lovin'" - 4 11-"Last Night" - 4 12-"Rock Me My Baby" - A great way to close the album. - 5 Total - 55 Average - 4.58

I’ve always enjoyed Buddy Holly’s classics like Oh Boy, but I’d never listened to a full album—until now. I was looking forward to diving into The "Chirping" Crickets, and it didn’t disappoint. The album kicks off with Oh Boy and Not Fade Away, two of my all-time favourite tracks. From the start, it’s clear why Buddy Holly is considered one of the founding fathers of rock and roll. Chirping Crickets is tight, melodic, and immaculately produced. The love songs are simple but beautifully written, full of catchy harmonies and charm. There’s a warmth and precision to the performances that still holds up today. This album is not just enjoyable—it’s historically important, and it absolutely deserves its place on any essential albums list. Favourite track: Oh Boy – a classic pop-rock anthem that’s hard to beat. Least favourite: An Empty Cup felt a little flat for me. Album artwork: Classic '50s/'60s style. Their smiles are... intense, and I’m not convinced those suits were made to measure!

Love love Buddy Holly

Même si je sais que c'est un être méprisable, la musique de Buddy Holly me met toujours de bonne humeur... Les rythmes sont si joyeux, il fait bien le pont entre les sérénades et le rock'n'roll.

26 minutes of pure bangers. Buddy Holly really was one of the best to ever do it

Perfection!!!

What a blast! Love this album and these guys. What a loss. Comparable to losing SRV.

Really nice ploenkieploenk

Pretty perfect collection of timeless. simple brilliance, full of crisp, memorable melodies.

Great! Perfect!

Fabulous so enjoyed this. ❤️

Although this is a good standalone rockabilly album on its own, I'm giving this 5 stars just for its historical significance. This album helped to usher in a new era of electric rock music that would change how songs were performed forever, and continues to have an influence to this day.

Classic Rock n Roll. Nuff said legendary.

Easy five. I love these songs.

A truly classic album. I remember listening to this a lot as a kid. It's infectious, nostalgic, and makes you feel transported to a specific period of history. The use of rockabilly mixed with more traditional rock and roll really comes through, and hints at the music that dominated the 1960's.

10

Pure genius. Groundbreaking sounds. Catchy as all hell. Beautiful vocal tone, pulling in the twang from rockabilly but not excessively. Just pure joy to listen to top to bottom. Masterful genre defining work.

25 minutes of awesomeness

It's hard to hate an album this good. The Crickets were the launching pad for Buddy Holly and while at times it may sound dated this is the stuff that made rock and roll so great. Total classic

Walks the line between skiffle and bubblegum pop. Two minute tracks that do their thing and end rather unceremoniously, usually on a fade out. Simple songs of love with Buddy the prototype Milhouse / Moss nerd up front doing that rockabilly thing where they add loads of extra syllables and double up the guitar and kick drum with them. The backing vocals are glorious: Beach Boys if you bought them from Wish. This stuff is a bit basic, but it was the foundation that everything from SOPHIE to Cannibal Corpse is now built upon. Full marks for the lads.

Everyone needs to hear this!

1. I prefer The “Hopping” Grasshoppers 2. Don’t expect whats on the tin, not anywhere on the album can there be heard a cricket chirping, let alone a band of ‘em. 3. …….cricket…..cricket…they’re supposed to be chirping.

If you gave rock and roll another name it'd be Chuck Berry, but it would also be Buddy Holly. Unbelievable if you've ever been to Lubbock or Clovis that some gangly ass kid was coming up with this.

Awesome album. Very short too, which is perfect. Good old fashioned rock n roll. Wish Buddy Holly was able to keep making music. Damn plane crashes

The reviews for this album are laughable. On a list of albums you must listen to belongs Buddy Fucking Holly. If not for influencing the mind-numbing unoriginal artists that you insist must be on this list even though they sound like every other artist from the same time period, then he should be there for influencing the bands that influenced the bands that influenced the bands you insist should be on here. 5/5 just to balance out the ignorant shift.

Classic album with a clean, beautiful sound. Some of the best songs of the early rockers. Easy to trace the influence on so many artists. Roots music for country swing, rockabilly and rock and roll.

I loved this album. Always really dug the 50s pop rock and this is the best of it.

Buddy Holly is so good

Imprescindible.

A true classic album. Great song writing, harmonies, musicianship, along with quality production for its time. These guys weren’t the first to make this type of music, but without them the music that followed may not have been it was.

Leif seemed to enjoy it as well

es un comfort disc muy lindo

Classic. 5

«Chirping Crickets» — пластинка, не просто давшая начало рок-н-роллу, а сформировавшая его ДНК. Включаешь этот альбом — и словно откидываешься на спинку сиденья огромного «Кадиллака», катящего по солнечным улицам Америки 50-х. Вокруг — мужчины в идеально выглаженных костюмах, женщины в красивых платьях, а в воздухе — запах бензина, свободы и надежды. Каждая песня здесь, как срез эпохи. «That’ll Be the Day» — выстрел стартового пистолета, задавший тон всему поколению. А «Not Fade Away» — пульс, который с каждым ударом напоминает, что рок-н-ролл — это не просто музыка, а новая эра. В мелодиях Холли чувствуется наивная романтика, но за ней — тихая решимость человека, будто предчувствующего свою короткую дорогу. Бадди Холли и его Crickets — это фундамент, на котором спустя годы вырастут The Beatles и весь британский рок. Их звук — как чистый воздух после дождя: свежий, искренний, лишённый пафоса. Это музыка людей, которые ещё не знали, что они станут легендами. Ирония в том, что именно здесь — в этой юношеской простоте — и кроется их величие.

I'd feel like a fool for not rating this a full 5 stars.

Fantastic, not an album I had heard before and still surprisingly fresh in 2025.

Short but sweet. 12 songs in 26 minutes. They don't make them like that anymore

Given he died at 23 the output of Buddy holly is remarkable. I suspect he would have been one of the few who’d have grown into the sixties had he lived. These songs are quite remarkable. Really the restriction on greatest hits is ridiculous. You’d get all of buddy's great songs. This album is great. But given that’s it from Buddy it’s missing a few and he only really did this album. 5 stars. But should be more.

Fucking rips

A Legend that died way too soon. His impact on music though short was massive. What a classic!

5 stars for outstanding debut and tragically shortened life. I bet Buddy Holly makes heavenly music in heaven.

It would be hard to overstate how amazing/important Buddy Holly is. Thank goodness at least the Brits get it.

So sweet and warm. That’ll Be the Day is a perfect pop song. You can hear how he laid the groundwork for bands like The Beatles and The Beach Boys. Holly’s voice is full of so much character and charisma. Love it.

Just so good for its time. I was brought up with these songs and they still have that magic.

Makes you think what greatness he could have achieved had lived long enough to fully develop/ mature as an artist...

This is a classic rock n roll record. I’ve always had a big soft spot for Buddy Holly, and this album is absolutely no exception. It’s interesting to me to look at the songwriting credits on this one, I noticed a correlation between my favourite songs on the record and Buddy Holly himself being the writer. “That’ll Be The Day” is a song that I forgot I loved so much. The whole album is really well written and recorded. The instrumentation is all on point, and nothing feels wrong with any of the mixes at all. I really love the way Buddy Holly wrote, arranged, and sang his melodies. There’s something very comforting and warm about his vocalizations. The only popular artist I can think of with similar qualities is Johnny Horton, who I am also a big fan of. Hard to say anything at all bad about this record, aside from the fact that it doesn’t include my favourite Buddy Holly song. 5*

Swinging and rocking - it still sparkles. You can draw a direct line from this to the Beatles and to the Stones - making it an extremely significant LP, as well as a good listen

Another foundational work for modern popular music. We could not be here without this.

I have to give this 5 stars, because it's just such a classic and still great to listen to. Yes, it's very early rock and roll, but the songs are still great. It's a different kind of classic than The Beatles, but it's similar in that it is still very listenable and enjoyable today.

The "Chirping" Crickets is the debut album from the Crickets, originally released in 1957. Man, what a landmark recording in rock music. This actually may be the most influential rock album. This record really hits that classic Rockabilly sound. The band also does a great job incorporating some R&B and Doo-Wop sounds. Sure it seems a little primitive nowadays, but it's just so well done. I also thought the songwriting was surprisingly solid for 1957. Some of these tracks will get stuck in your head. I mean there are multiple hits on here, and even the lesser-known tracks are incredibly solid.

Buddy Holly hiccoughed and warbled his way to the top of the late 50’s Rock n Roll scene. What helps is that he’s probably the best songwriter of the Rock n Rollers, or if not the best, the most consistent. These songs are so good, so brilliantly observed, and simply composed that, take away some of the more specifically dated references, I’m sure they could have been hits at any point in the past 70 years

Rock N Roll Royalty

Fabulous blast from the past

Sounds quaint to modern ears, but you can hear the origins of so much different music here. It’s amazing how many artists can trace their lineage here, and how varied those artists are. That alone is worth at least 4 stars. One extra due to the boogieing.

The familiar music of my early childhood. Listening to the oldies station in my parents’ station wagon. I am more likely to put a few tracks in an oldies playlist, than listen to the entire album. However, would my oldies playlist be complete without a few of the songs on this album? Nope. Where would the Beatles start, if not for Buddy Holly? So it’s a 5 for me.

Fun, familiar songs

Tradcore

Awesome 👌

I like Buddy Holly.

Good music. He died too young.

okay the problem with buddy holly like so many of the giants is that they’re playing in such a tight tradition it can’t help but sound kind of gay here and there but, regardless, this is Buddy Fuckin’ Holly

Didn’t realize Not Fade Away was written by Buddy Holly! Knew it as a GD tune. Awesome.

Hell yeah! Enjoyed some songs quite a lot. Giving a 5. Maybe would be 4.5 because it's not TRULY my jam like the 5s, but still.

Buddy Holly is cool. Like he could have been successful in any era. Unreal he made such an impact and died at 22. I can only daydream about what music would have looked like had he not been on that plane. 4.5

I really like Buddy Holly, not gonna lie. Might not be a 5/5 but it’s a solid 4/5 with some of my favorite jams. Nah screw it I’m rounding up.

A tad over two minutes yet the timelessness of 'oh boy' is apparent within a nano second. This is 1957 and time is precious. No intro, no faffing about. Just straight in and pure, raw rock and roll. 'Not Fade Away' follows and it clearly doesn't. A cover of this was Rush's debut single eventually. The original was better. 'That'll Be The Day' is the other bona fide classic here but the story is bigger than just this rrevolutionary records. The Beatles would not have been named after an insect if it hadn't been for the Crickets. And Don McLean wouldn't have written American Pie if Buddy Hollly hadn't been victim on the day the music died.

Excellent old classic rock & roll!

buddy holly is monumentally important in the advent of rock and roll and that is on display here. in a modern context, this is a quaint, bare bones form of rock and roll, but at the time, buddy holly changed the landscape. his songs are catchy, hooky, and fun. my only qualm with this album is that the strength of material is not totally there. the first side is a lot better than the second side. that being said, still an incredibly important album in the history of music

i genuinely like this album. out of all the albums ive gotten so far it's by far the best one. i feel like the rest of the albums im gonna get are gonna be bad so for this reason im gonna give this 5 STARS. this is definitely playlist worthy. listening to this type of music is honestly so refreshing.

The source of so much good music !

Aww man, I love Buddy Holly. So going into this I'm already leaning towards giving it a 5, barring anything egregious. A while back I fell into an internet rabbit hole reading about his biography. Since he and his bandmates all look like door-to-door globe salesmen, it's sometimes hard for me to remember how young he was. He was so prolific and contributed a lot despite his short time here. Even though that plane crash happened long before I was born, after reading about him I truly felt a sense of sadness that he had died so soon. I love his whole deal: his nerdy glasses, his shy smile and unassuming vibe, his hiccupy singing style, the way he helped to bridge country music and R&B. He helped solidify rock and roll vernacular, a true OG. And with 12 songs clocking in at a little over 25 minutes long, this is music that doesn't make a lot of demands of me. It's easy to enjoy. And I guess where I am in my life now, that's a factor. There are songs I favor over others when it comes to his music, but his music is fairly consistent enough to where I baseline pretty much like everything he does, and this album solidly supports that.

I feel like everything was done right on this album. The sound, the playing, the vibe that was created,.the song arrangements. Everything is in its right place. Each song kept me engaged. I can hear the influence of maybe Fats Domino and The Platters. Even by today's standards, this sounds like an album you could have on and listen to from start to finish. I can only imagine hearing it freshly as it came out.

Loved it!

The influence on the Beatles and countless other groups came from so few songs (three albums), but what songs! Add to that the nostalgia of my father singing them and that influence on my music appreciation, and that these songs are still hip, albeit naive, tunes. What could have been had he not taken that flight?

Absolutely a 5***** album without any question and one of the greatest albums from any decade or genre. Just press play and let the songs flow.

Buddy Holly's falsetto and those guitars! Amazing sounds! Some really great songs on here. Oh Boy! Not Fade Away Maybe Baby That'll Be The Day I'm Lookin' For Someone To Love Send Me Some Lovin'

Only one album in Holly's short life. It short but full of classic songs. Wonderful.

Absolutely critical stepping stone for Rock. you can hear the seeds a lot of things will come to 60s and 70s, plus it's a great listen in its own right.

Oh, God -- so good. 12 perfect songs in 25 perfect minutes.

You know what? I’m at a 5. For 1957, this feels like a sneak preview of what the 60s would bring to rock & roll, in a very good way. There’s a lot of DNA in here for what the Beatles would eventually refine and revolutionize, but this album stands on its own merits without those comparisons. If anything, it feels like Buddy Holly and friends were trying to capitalize on Elvis’s popularity without realizing they were creating the blueprint for the 60s. Seriously, this is a damn good album; yes, it has moments where the production is kinda “ehh” but it’s 1957, so I can look past it. There’s some catchy fucking hooks and choruses here, and I love the way the doo-wop feel of the 50s is still represented here in the backing vocals. There’s just a hodgepodge of styles here that blend together very well for a 50s album, and I’ll be damned if “That’ll Be The Day” isn’t the best representation of that on this album. I feel completely fine with giving this a 5; it’s a tight, enjoyable, and fun 26 minutes that never really overstays its welcome on a single track, and I just enjoyed it a lot. Pretty damn good album.

I love you Easton, it has been so much fun listening to your musical tastes spread

Good listen. Had the Ramones earlier in the week and felt a lot of similarities. Liked this better Interesting to think what buddy holly could have done.

Toller Rock n Roll. Die Musik bringt gute Laune.

Simply fantastic!

Do you know what the best part of a 25-minute album is? You can listen to it over and over again hehe! And even more so when it comes to Buddy Holly and the golden age of Rock n roll. It's impossible to hear without moving your hips. That was a great start to Friday!!

My absoulte favorite of all the early Rockabilly acts. Buddy Holly was a true innovator of Rock n Roll. Totally underrated as a guitarist, he brought together many styles of music to create something previously unheard of. His career tragically cut short, one can only wonder what else he could have done.

I feel bad not giving this a 5 because Buddy Holly is great. OK, I just talked myself into giving it a 5.

Rock & roll. Still holds up. One of my favorites. It's difficult, and sad, to imagine what Buddy Holly could've accomplished if his life hadn't been cut short.

Cool to hear the whole album, not just the ultra-famous songs.

Great album

Let’s be honest: if you hate Buddy Holly you hate America. Most people say that the Beatles was their biggest influence. One of the Beatles biggest influences was Buddy. Don McLean wrote the masterpiece American Pie about his death, and Madonna wrote a master piece of shit of Don’s Masterpiece. I have always had a theory that people know when they will die. Buddy Holly asked Maria to marry him, aka, the day they met, he said that he didn’t have that long to wait. But what he did for American Music by the age 22 was the stuff of legends: he took country, jazz, and folk, and mixed it into a genre that became the simple patterns of modern pop rock. Elton John, Destiny’s Child, Taylor Swift started with him. My favorite tracks on this album were Oh Boy and That’ll Be the Day, though the entire album is great. My daughter’s found it outdated until I showed them the simplicity of his musical life biography which is a staple of modern pop, and then they texted someone. Damn Gen Z and Alphas. Buddy is an American icon, like Dolly without the boobs and altruism (or lifespan but we don’t talk about that….). Long live Buddy Holly!

I found myself unreasonably angry this morning at the pilot who crashed and robbed us--this dude went up with no visibility when he knew he wasn't cleared to fly blind. Geez, what Buddy would've done--I mean, this cat was 22! These songs are iconic and they totally slap. This is a:

Great album, timeless.

I can hear the whole thing without listening to it at all. A favorite album.

I’m sure when it came out this was super cool and memorable but I feel like I’m going to forget this album as soon as it turns off. Feels like something that should play in the background in a Fallout game but you wish it was Big Iron instead.

Day132 - amazing and timeless

Classic

Last night as I watched the stars from my window I pray Lord above to guide and protect you Though I'm not wanted now, I still love you somehow That is my only prayer, for you Last night as I gazed through the mist in my eyes I wanted you here to hold you so near But silence tells me, you didn't hear my plea I miss you so much since you left me My heart ached apart since you left me Though I'm not wanted now, I still love you somehow That is my only prayer, for you Classic. 5/5

Not Fade Away is a gift.

This album makes me nostalgic for the 50’s even though I was born in the 90’s! RIP To Buddy, Joe, Jerry and Niki

so good. I really loved this album

One of the most enjoyable albums on the list so far! Primitive bare bones rock n roll when it was still innocent and pure. Buddy Holly lived on thought a lot of artists, this album is an example of why. His talent was immense.

Classic Will always be timeless.

My hometown heroes, Buddy Holly and the Crickets. Some real bangers on this album, you better watch out or you might start gyrating.

Bestial!!

This really surprised me. Excellent album that came out in 1957!! I really enjoyed this and listened back to back.

Die nächste Zeitreise!

muy alegre, empiezo bien el día con él

I thought that was brilliant, Loved it.

If you can't hear Buddy Holly, you don't deserve rock and roll.

Pretty cool album. Very '50's sound and a lot of fun.

The birth of modern music and a genius that was too short lived

Another 5 today. I fuck with this clean cut 50s rock and roll tripe HARD. I could listen to this type of thing all day long.

The first song alone warrants five stars for the entire album! This music always makes me happy. It also brings to mind good times with my wonderful mom.

Not one wasted note. The master of efficient songcraft, Buddy Holly really was one of the greatest songwriters of all time. This whole album is a joy. It is so clear how their sound inspired not only the sound of The Beatles but sound of many of the pop acts that would follow for the rest of time. Hard to believe this album of 12 songs only has a duration of 25 minutes. Losing Buddy at such a young age was such a loss for music. It would have been fascinating to see what his songwriting would have evolved to become over the musically rich years of the 60s, 70s, and 80s.

Takes me back to my boomer parents playing records when I was growing up. With how rock has evolved, it’s easy to forget that it started as dance music and Buddy Holly is nothing if not danceable. Great album.

Great music.

"The Chirping Crickets" is the debut album by American band the Crickets. It is the only album released during the lifetime of lead vocalist/guitarist Buddy Holly. The music is defining in the rock and roll and rockabilly genres. Besides Holly, the Crickets are Jerry Allison (drums, backing vocals), Joe B. Mauldin (contrabass) and Niki Sullivan (rhythm guitar, backing vocals). The album reached #5 in the UK. "Oh, Boy!" opens the album. A song written by Sony West (and others) who wanted Holly to have it instead of himself. Quick drums. Holly's distinctive voice. Great backing vocals (on all these songs). A great 10 second guitar solo. You gotta be quick when the song is two minutes long. A Bo Diddley riff highlights "Not Fade Away." Got to love the start-stop-start drums. I think there was another band that covered this a few years later???? The third and final single "Maybe Baby" falls in the rockabilly category with the drums. Holly is defintely having fun playing around with the maybe baby lyric. One of the most famous guita intros begin "That'll Be the Day." Holly crooning just showing off his vocal charisma. Sonny Curtis contributes on the guitar. Subtle backing vocals. It is pretty much a perfect song and, also, hit #1 in the US and UK and, in 1969, was inducted into the National Recording Registry for its artistic significance. Well, what to say? These are classic songs, each clocking in at approximately two minutes. Holly has just tremendous vocals with his range, confidence, playfulness and charisma. The songwriting and guitar play are rock solid. Being in the do-wop era, the backing vocals play an important part (not do-wop though). A rock and roll classic in every sense.

Given the time this came out, these are groundbreaking songs. A couple on side B are a bit too church-choir to fit with the rest of the record. Very solid, not dated because so many of these songs have been used in movies and or covered often.

Erfrischender Rock'n'Roll aus einer anderen Zeit. Gefällt mir sehr gut.

His music kind of wormed itself in my subconscious mind.

Filled with classic classics

I struggled deciding between 4 and 5. There are a handful of excellent songs and the rest are good but not great. BUT the excellent songs are so excellent I think it pulls up the average enough to round up to 5. I knew he died young but only 22 years of age, wow.

One of the essential early rock albums. A no-brainer that you must listen to this.

Every pop and rock act that came after owes this album a debt of gratitude.

It's like a greatest hits album!

So innocent

Reminds me of listening to my mom's cassettes of the top songs of the 50's. Nostalgic. Love it! 5/5

great album

Short n sweet, sound is super fun, holds up great for an album so old 9/10

Buddy Holly is one of very few white people that, in my opinion, was integral to the early development of rock and roll. Every single track on this record is amazing. The guitar sound is kind of fat and stinky but it still has these perfect lovely harmonies? It's amazing. "Not Fade Away" might be one of the greatest, simplest songs of all time. Both of my parents love Buddy Holly and sang his songs to me a lot as a kid, which I am sure has made me deeply biased, but I can't ever not love Buddy Holly. "That'll Be The Day" is so beautifully structured! The drum beats on those syllables!? Get outta here!

How could you not love Buddy Holly. Simple, catchy, sweet and tuneful.

BL: Knowing my music history I'm incredibly familiar with "The Day the Music Died", however I've never actually listened to any of Buddy Holly's works. So will be interesting to check this out. AL: This may be one of the most important records for rock and roll. The synonymous twang of Holly's Stratocaster, the group vocals still a hangover from the doo-wop eras of the past. Tight songwriting about love and lust. What more could you want. This established the hegemony until The Beatles blew it out of the water just under 10 years later. FT: "Oh Boy!", "Not Fade Away", "Last Night" 5/5

Wow, I jumped from Butthole Surfers to Buddy Holly. And what an amazing difference. These are songs. This is Music. I know others may disagree, but hearing melodies, verse chorus verse and just things that are pleasing to the ear was fantastic. I had heard many songs on this album, but never heard this album all the way through. I loved it. Wonderful music and I added the whole album to my library.

12 songs in 25 minutes. Any time I hear some of these historical albums I can't help but wonder what it would have been like to hear these in the time. This one is short and simple,and impressive for such a young kid. By today's standards it may not have been anything, but for it to be 60+ years old and still full of songs I've heard of is incredible. True classic. Favorite track: "That'll Be the Day" 4.5/5

Songs might be a bit boring for todays standards but you cant deny the importance of this album to the music history.

Buddy Holly never disappoints. Very nostalgic.

Surprised by how much I enjoyed this album. Maybe I just live the dogs of the era and I don't usually listen to it, or it's just a phenomenal album. Only a couple skippable songs and even they aren't bad. I knew generally who Buddy Holly was, knew if heard songs, but this felt like a proper introduction for the first time.

Oh, yes, absolutely LOVE this one! Such a great album for so many reasons. Reminds me to once again highly -- and I mean the highest of highly -- recommend anyone and everyone who is even a casual fan of rock music to listen to Andrew Hickey's incredible podcast series, A History Of Rock Music In 500 Songs. I know there are many podcasts that one can jump in anywhere, but I promise it's worth it to start at the first episode and listen chronologically from there. It's that good. Back to this album: It's 1957. Think of what's to come for rock music in the decades that followed. There are no firsts in rock or any music or art, to be sure, but it's still so wonderful to hear the early elements of what we call rock music present -- and super fun! -- in this album. I'll admit that because I was born a decade after this album was released, I idealize and romanticize the 50s; there were serious injustices and hardships for far too many, here in the US and elsewhere, and I do not for a moment mean to gloss over or diminish any of those. Still, aesthetically, I will confess a bias towards music from this era. I just love early rock and roll (some of which we now call rockabilly) and 50s jazz and 50s blues. I also dig mid-century modern design (e.g., furniture, cars, architecture, etc.). What a ride. What a journey.

Love Buddy Holly and The Crickets. These are some of their best that we all know and love of course.

Solid album start to finish. There is a reason that Buddy Holly was so influential in the music industry.

Clasic rock, parecido a los beatles

I feel like you have to give it five stars.

Я ничего не помнюююююю

One of the folks who started it all. Although I had lots of rockabilly, I never had this album, but everyone knew all the songs

Important, historic music

Amazing stuff buddy

Good vibes forever

short and sweet

Fantastic album. Staggering to realize almost all songs have been covered

I was a bit shocked that I liked this album a lot. I knew most of these songs from covers by other artists, but had never heard the Buddy Holly versions. The cover of the album looks super-white and nerdy, but the music is pretty dang good.

I'm not really sure what I was expecting, but this is really good. You can pretty easily trace how their music influenced the next generation. What's impressive is that even with the hindsight of the evolution of the genre this still holds up and is really enjoyable. I'm really glad the songs are so short. I feel like if they went much longer they'd start bordering on annoying, but they're kind of the perfect length.

Absolute bop...every song encapsulates that late 50s rock and roll that was getting faster and a little harder and more danceable. Still wish that he never got on that plane...what could've been

Excellent album, very very fun!

Absolute classic, very funny to get this and Little Richard’s debut back to back. Interesting to listen to in that way because it really shows the nuanced differences between the different artists of classic rock n roll. I really found myself drawn to the prototypical guitar heroics Buddy shows off here, and some songs have a groove that just really sounds ahead of its time. All in all, preferred this a bit to Richard. I had Little Richard borderline 5 but leaning 4, and this teeters over to a light 5 for me.

Talented

My parents were from the same generation as Buddy Holly, so I grew up with an appreciation for him and his tragic circumstances. I also heard almost all of his material a lot. When listening to it now and trying to put myself into the shoes of the younger generations, I can understand why it may sound dated and not particularly inspiring - but that is understandable. The younger generations don't know that before Buddy Holly, and Elvis and a few others there was no Rock 'n Roll. They paved the way.

The best early rock album! Alas, the music we didn't get to hear from Buddy. His influence lasts to this day.

Great Buddy Holly album, really enjoyed the early rock and roll

Fijn plaatje

Oooooweeeoooo I look just like Buddy Holly

Great stuff.

"Not fade away", now i know where vampire weekend comes from. Rock & roll starts somewhere around here. This album is incredible, I love that it only lasts 26 minutes. "An Empty Cup (And A Broken Date)" is another highlight, but is worth listening to entirely.

amazing influence on American guitar players

история мрачная у этой группы и Бадди в частности но как музыка это шедеврально. Ты понимаешь почему в свое время эти пацаны ебали сцену

Every song is a bop. 10/10. No notes.

You know that new sound you're looking for, listen to this

This album was surprisingly good. Lots of catchy tunes and nostalgia

Old school cool

rock n roll classic

Perfect rockabilly rock perfection. Buddy and the boys are a platonic ideal of the form, and I won’t hear a word against them. Twenty five minutes of bliss. If you don’t like this you don’t like American music.

I was so happy to see this one the list. I've been listening to Buddy Holly since I was a wee kid thanks to my aunts & uncles. And one of my youngest memories was learning that Buddy Holly was from Texas - it was like a badge of honor for my Texan family. This era is when country turns into rock n roll, and it will always be one of my favorite pivot points for music. I absolutely love Holly's nasaly hiccupy voice. It's so distinct, and a personal favorite. There's so much I could say about Buddy Holly & his band, but I'd go on forever. Let's just say I'm a big fan & I truly loved this.

As the kids say, "low key" banger. This is pretty great. I didn't realize I was going to know all of these songs. The more surprising thing is that the sound is still vibrant and alive. This is a really great example of early American rock 'n roll. 95/100 5 stars

It’s crazy to think Holly was only 22 when he died. In his brief time on this Earth he left a mark on the music world that is evident to this day. It’s sometimes hard to hear what now sounds so rudimentary and appreciate how groundbreaking it was and the impact it’s had. I like to think of Buddy Holly as the spark that set rock and roll ablaze and without who there may likely have been no Rolling Stones or Beatles or Yardbirds. Holly was one of the first dominoes. The songs on this album are beyond classics, they are etched into the rock and will forever roll.

It’s pretty easy to hear the influence of Buddy Holly in almost any rock or pop song. These songs hold up and have great hooks. The recordings are also interesting and more complex than you would expect. A bona fide classic.

Archetypal rock and roll It's not so much that this music is pegged rock solid firmly to it's era, it's more that the era is pegged rock solidly to this music.

Love it

With a bit of luck, there will be less typos in today’s review. I don’t proofread anything, you see. Anyway, I was hyped when I saw today’s album. It brings back lovely memories of being 10 years old I’m the year 2000 and my Year 6 teacher Mr Williams showing the class Buddy Holly. I later got a Buddy Holly album for my birthday off my grandad because I loved it. Songs I already knew: Oh Boy!, Not Fade Away, Maybe Baby, That’ll Be The Day Favourites: Maybe Baby, Oh Boy! I love this era of rock and roll so much. Buddy Holly’s vocals are so unique too - I love how he can make one syllable sound like many more. The songs do all sound a bit the same, but that’s pretty standard for the era of rock music. However, since I love some songs, this frankly means I go on to love them all! The album doesn’t overstay it’s welcome at only 26 minutes, so it isn’t too much of the same that I end up feeling bored. Overall, I love this. It’ll be something I bear in mind to add to my record collection.

Excellent. No notes.

Fun album, a great way to end the week!

I can see why it was the day the music died. Good album. Unfortunate his time was cut short.

Like this one more than I thought I would. I don't think I'd ever find myself reaching for Buddy Holly normally so well done generator.

So cheerful so good. Five stars.

Yes, yes, yes! So many great singers and bands cite Holly as an inspiration. This is the album that proves them all right. If Rave On was on here, it would be 6 stars.

I can't find a way to knock it. Groundbreaking stuff for the time.

It's Buddy Holly. Unbelievable what he did for music in such a short time on this planet.

Some quality early rockabilly. Will listen again.

Do I really like this as a 5 star album? I guess I do. Sure, it's dated, it's 65+ years old at this point. But without music like this, we wouldn't have any of the music that we get today, either. So it's pretty great.

Life is kickin - my generational soundtrack of excellence

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

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.

baita fadinho, ano 57

Oldie and fun. Appreciate the throwback.

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

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

Cool

Great album!

Damn. Did not expect this to be this good.

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.

ITS GOOD LOL

This is a great album with so many hits.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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

So incredible. So sad. Several bangers in here.

Loved it.

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,

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

Rock cincuentero. No digo más. Vinilo.

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

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

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

Amazing debut. Wish we got more from him.

Fun and catchy, absolutely classic.

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.

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

I unironically love Buddy Holly.

Really nice upbeat album

So many hits.

Classic rocking out

One of the Ur-texts for R & R.

OG Buddy Holly

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

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 🌟

The birth of Rock N Roll!

Rock'n Roll!

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

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

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

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

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.

Rock cincuentero. No digo más.

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.

Buddy Holly - Legendary sounding blues.

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 🌟

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

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.

Foundational. Liked the whole thing. Poor Buddy.

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

Loved this, great sound.

One of my favorites!

Classic 50's Rock. Loved it!

Whats not to love bout Buddy

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.

Still one of my favorite

Sad

I like Buddy Holly, and this album is no exception. Boy does it make me want to hear what his music could’ve become though.

Great! Too short!

I'm glad I stumbled on this classic 'cause it's a total blast from the past. That rhythm and vocal are so infectious, it's like Buddy Holly is just hanging out with me in my room. It's not as polished as modern pop, but that rawness gives it charm. Feels like early rock 'n' roll at its finest. Spins: 2 Playlist Additions - Oh, Boy! - Not Fade Away - Maybe Baby - That'll Be the Day

i like music like this and this was the album recommended on my birthday and it makes me happi

For some reason I thought this was my second Buddy Holly album on this list but apparently it isn’t. Enjoyed this. Uplifting and although very much of its time, it still holds up. Loved the backing vocals. Solid. It’s a 4.

I’m too tired to write a review…four stars.

Would have been really cool to see what this guy would have done in the sixties with psychedelic music.And even in the seventies, when rock kind of formed into and heavy, her genre, I guess we'll never know.But these are classic songs and literally the foundation for rock and roll music

Really easy to listen to! I expected it to feel old fashioned but I really enjoyed this

Jiminy Cricket!

Oldie but classic

Reminds me of Fallout. Classic Buddy Holly

Loads of 50's hits, bit influence RnR

Fun album. Buddy Holly helped shape what became rock n roll. It’s great to go back and hear those initial strands that pull through to today.

good oldie vibe, some boring songs

Curtia muito Buddy Holly na adolescência. Animado pro álbum. Na primeira música, quando o Back vocal fala "Oh Boy", dá um efeito interessante huahuhua. Parece um trem. That Will Be The Day é clássica, interessante pensar que seria uma das músicas que se não existisse, talvez os Beatles fossem muito diferente, ou não existissem nessa cadeia do destino. Carai, passou muito rápido, 25 min de álbum... Curto esse estilo, e é nostálgico pra mim.

7/10

very sweet. good background music! glad i listened.

Uno de los primeros albums grabados por una banda de rock canciones de amor y desamor y la voz de buddy holly es la definición del rock and roll de finales de los 50s