Chirping Crickets

This one is fine, I get why it’s here. The songs are pretty samesy, not a crazy amount of variation. But similar to Elvis and some of the other acts at the time, don’t think I’d choose this over any of them. Two stars

Great album, full of classics!

Cute. Classic.

One of the greatest most enduring albums of all time.

Didn't have high hopes for this but it's ... fine, actually? There's something about the earnest soulfulness and the bouncy tunes that put it a cut above most pre-60s records. It just sounds like a bunch of musicians having a good time: I can hear why and how this became so influential.

7.5/10

Great Rock & Roll album.

коротко и по делу, но дело не по мне) люблю более эволюционировавшие гармонии

Chir

para nada el género de música que me gusta, pero me gustó!!

It sure sounds like an album from the fifties alright. Still decent I guess.

very 50s

My knowledge and exposure to early rock is decently broad and not very deep, so I feel I'm lacking context in my listening experience. That said, solely on the listening experience, I found it very enjoyable. I did not sit down with the lyrics while listening but had a good time with the overall vibe of what I heard.

It’s fun to listen to some of the great songs like Oh Boy!, That’ll Be The Day, and Not Fade Away in their original setting. Reflections are (a) it’s all surprisingly light in tone and sound (b) although Buddy Holly was direct contemporary of other early rock and roll greats, such as Chuck Berry, it feels like his songs were the archetype for what later became ‘pop’ and (c) the black/white crossover must have been a big deal in those days - if you didn’t know who they were, the Crickets’ vocal backing could easily have been a black group such as the Platters.

Good to hear some older music. There were a few good tracks, although they are probably the better known ones from the album so perhaps that's just familiarity? Some great guitar work on some tracks, in particular I'm Looking for Someone to Love.

Why have I never heard Buddy Holly & The Crickets before? This was a lot of fun! Very smooth singing and great music. Every song on this album is a 4 by itself, but the total package pumps up to a full 5. Best song: Last Night

short and sweet

songs are fine its just too old a style

I like da weezer song more

doesn't come close to the weezer song

I do really like these oldies albums. Just something about their charm and simplicity that is really refreshing after listening to some 3 hour long high concept art piece.

So this is how weezer came up with the name, didn’t see anything that special about the album, but It’s still good.

Great album, I really like that old-timey early rock and roll stuff and this album had some great songs on it. Surprised I enjoyed it so much but at 25 min it really didn't overstay it's welcome. Probably more of a 4.5 but I'll let it slip to 5.

This is a cute album. It's really not much more than that. As a person who really focuses on listening to female artists and perspectives, it fatigued me a bit. I didn't know just how many songs along of the lines of "give me your love" could be stuffed into 26 minutes. There's very little substance here. The songs are short and sweet. Production is decent, but oh man, the vocals are kinda a wreck. Lead singer sounds good, but the backing vocals are so often out of tune it made my face scrunch up. Either replace the guy who's out of tune or do another take! Maybe there's some influence here I'm not picking up, but it kinda just sounds like everything else that came out of the 50s. It's a very accessible album, very commerical, but nothing groundbreaking, I fear. Cute, but not for me. 2.7/5.

A fun listen to a great old album

A Rock and Roll classic. Opens with the bouncy "Oh, Boy!" and includes their hit "That'll Be the Day".

Pretty cool old-school rock stuff. There are some really really great tracks and alot of pretty decent ones. Obviously that'll be the day is the heaviest of hitters and its still good what like 70 years on. A whole life started and ended in that time frame and its still good music. Maybe baby is probably my favorite track though. Its catchy as all hell. And all over the record buddy's singing is so good. He can do alot with what he's got. Sometimes he gets this elvisy thing going on. Its just good clean fun to be honest. Worth a listen for sure

Not so bad.

Completely agree with the review that said "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."

Great

Very beach boys and Elvis

Everything has already been said about this.

Hard to rate. I don't think it aged well and can only tolerate as background music.

4/10

Steel Panther of their time.

A perfect album under 30 minutes. Love it!

I'm generally into historically significant early rock and roll stuff, but this one just has way way way way too much "bop bop bop bop" to it.

Decent rock and roll album. Nothing really grabs me except maybe for "That'll Be The Day". That song jams pretty good but that's the olny interesting moment on here for me.

Rock and roll y Buddy Holly son conceptos inseparables. Fuente inspiradora del Mersey beat y de todo el rock de entonces en adelante, al bueno de Buddy hay que darle todo el crédito. Sus temas son estándares del rock y más allá de que nos suene lejano esto forma parte de las semillas de casi todo lo que escuchamos hoy en día, así que, poca broma.

Joyful pop music

oooo eeeee i don't like buddy holly

Dog shit

This is an album of it's time. It has that classic 50's sound which I find myself enjoying on occasion. However, an entire album becomes stale pretty quickly. For the most part this is a decent album, but I doubt I'll ever listen to it again. Two stars. (Favorite track: It's Too Late.)

Good album, they don’t make music like this anymore, unless they’re Trevour Blendour or Pat Termite. Unfortunately not enough songs of Oh Boy-quality, but a nice listen nonetheless.

Its the only album we have from them. They get a 5.

Iconic, but not my favourite.

How fun and nostalgic.

I believe this is very of its time. I don't see myself listening to it again, except if I'm looking for this vibe in particular, but it's nice to listen to.

A really fun listen! The energy is high, the songs are good, this just goes hard! Rock n roll!

This feels quintessential for the decade it was released. I feel like I'm sitting in a diner with a jukebox playing in the background. Doesn't feel like anything special, but I also haven't listened to music from the 50's in any depth. A lot of the songs sound very similar. It's fine, an easy listen.

Buddy Holly is one of my favorite artists and I got lucky with this choice. It was all just a bunch of sweet and sappy love songs and it worked for me. I often ask myself what would music have been like if the loss of his life hadn't happened...

Man. What a weird one; It’s a tad uncomfortable. Who knew Buddy Holly was so persistent. Calm down man. 0.6/5.0

Det her er for det meste greit, men blir kjedelig før 26 minutter er omme. Trodde av en eller annen grunn at Buddy Holly skulle høres mer ut som Weezers låt av samme navn...?

Som Buddy Holly-fan vil jeg si at man klarer seg lenge med et samlealbum. Men selv om Chirping Crickets er laget før man lagde mer solide plater, er det en overraskende fornøyelig plate å høre på. Det er en råskap i Buddy Holly selv om det ikke er så mye futt og fart i albumet. "Not Fade Away" høres innovativ ut selv i dag. Når man setter dette opp mot de tidlige platene til Beatles er det heller ikke tvil om at Holly var en av deres største helter. Det er som å høre plantegningene for det som kom til å komme på 60-tallet. Holly har jo også litt cred for å være veldig tidlig ute med å skrive egne låter og tekster i populærmusikken. I andre sjangrer, som jazz, var det selvfølgelig helt annerledes. Men selv om det er et interessant album med flere gode låter, så er det også en del fillers. Debutalbumet til Elvis er helt rått, og selv om Elvis ikke har cred for å skrive selv, så har han en stemme og formidlingsevne som kan ta et hvilket som helst materiale og gjøre til noe eget. Buddy Holly, med mye eget materiale, formidler på en helt annen måte, men det er som om han ikke tror på alt, og det er kanskje det som skiller Hollys fillers fra Hollys hits. Fortsatt verdt å bruke en halvtime på dette albumet.

Man hører ofte på slike 50-tallsalbum at de var laget før man virkelig skjønte hvordan man skull lage album. Det gjelder dette albumet her også, men det hadde mer for seg enn jeg hadde trodd!

3,5*

Pretty good Rockabilly record. Buddy Holly has always been hailed as one of the best of the genre and a true legend, and not just because he died young. Good songwriting here, mostly originals, and good performances. Even though this genre is now obviously associated with old people, this album actually manages to capture why it was the dominant youth culture of the time. Key tracks: Oh, Boy! Tell Me How That'll Be the Day

Was not looking forward to listening to this but actually was not as bad as I thought it would be

The Day That Music Died. I can see how this album is important for music and a significant release. In August 2026, nearly 70 years after its release, it doesn't hold up as well. These are 12 songs that I vibe with, but not songs that I would put on every day. Being aware of it is import though. 3/5, shame we couldn't see how he would have turned out.

I wanted to listen to this on a flight and as soon as I pressed play I sensed an unease and had to pause for the rest of the day lol buddy, rip. What a talent. Fun record and I can hear its impact in the music. What could have been.

Ok oldies rock album. Not exactly what I would choose to listen to but I found enjoyment out of it. Best track was That'll Be The Day.

Enjoyed this one more than I thought I would. Some really catchy songs with great harmonies. 'The Crickets' make the album for me, with some great backing vocals/doo-wop/bop, bop, bop's. Chirpy, cheerful and catchy. A solid 3.5/5.

I don’t know this album but feel that I know just about every track. I guess this is either because I was a very impressionable young boy when these songs were on the radio or because my elder brothers were playing the songs incessantly. Whilst the songs were familiar they never hit me like they did my brothers. I was fortunate enough to begin my musical journey in the mid 60’s onwards so by that time these songs even then sounded ancient. However, my musical hero’s of the 60’s unlike me did really rate and were influenced by the likes of Buddy Holly and if it wasn’t for him and his contemporaries the music I love may never have been created. So I regard this album as historically important in the progression of popular music in the same way as any significant moment in history bringing about major change. 3/5 16/12/25

2.49 étoiles parce que j'suis en crisse aujourd'hui pis c'est clairement pas le genre de shit qui peut changer mon humeur.

153 Puedo entender la relevancia de este disco "en sus tiempos" y para el futuro, pero...meh? No fue desagradable de escuchar, pero sentía que estaba escuchando lo mismo una y otra vez, exceptuando la última canción que me dio como UGH. Es un 2.5 pero más 3 que 2.

Fast and fun.

A different era. Still enjoyable

A legend. Clean cut and simple.

It’s a sound from another era that bands like The Sonics smashed to pieces a decade later. Unlike music from the 1960s I find it difficult to summon a fully formed opinion. It’s very formal, prim and proper but does little to engage the senses. Not particularly interesting!

It’s charming and neat and good fun, but to my tastes it’s a bit safe and formulaic (though I appreciate this probably helped create the formula!), low 3 for me

fantastic

Too sweet

a lot of fun! sure, it doesn't sound as fresh anymore, but i have to appreciate the influence it had

Sounds like early the be sharps

Classic

classic rock and roll is so boring to listen

Can really tell this is a pre album era, proto rock, etc. fizzes at the start and then just like, 10 minutes at least of filler.

Significant early rock. Very easy to listen to.

I’d rather smoke cigs and dance with the bad boy (chuck berry and the killer) than be sippin’ a milkshake with buddy. Classic none the less tho!

It didn't sound quite fresh to me but it definitely stands the test of time.

Ronald Reagan & The Chiefs of Staff Anyway, love it. The singles are great, BH has lots of energy, the melodies pop. Crazy how sterile pop music from 58-62 would get.

Simple storyline with catchy hooks -- the quality of the songs varied throughout, but the album remained effective.

Warm and surprisingly I like this. I was not sure I would! It is very meticulously made, and somehow the emotion can never really explode out as a result. Some of the tunes do hit, and have aged well with extra reverb late at night for a pleasant vintage feel. but this will never really hit me where I live despite being decent. Imporant in Rock and Roll for a reason but now sounds very tame

Not bad at all. Happy music, a short album. It ages well. Singing still sounds good. I enjoyed it. It’s like a book with an amazing cover. But it has only two three pages. Contents are good but short and a bit on the surface. It’s beautiful but not yet a masterpiece for me!

a fun little oldies album. this is the first album in a while where i thought to myself 'man, i would love to have this on vinyl'. just having this on while boppin around the house seemed really cool.

Damn, never thought I’d hear so many different ways for someone to explain they want to have sex with someone without explicitly saying it. Glad we eventually evolved to Akon’s “I Wanna Fuck You.” It’s great to go back and listen to where modern music originated, but thank goodness for those musical developments over the last 70 years.

Some music is so good it transcends time. It will be carried on forever. Played over and over throughout the decades. It was loved the day it came out, and will be loved just the same when mankind first puts footsteps on Mars. This is not that. It is so stuck in the 50's that it hurts. Still fun to go back and listen to it though.

Ground breaking for its time. It's simplistic, but was the birth of youth music. It's rock 'n ' roll in its original form, and it gave birth to so much. Buddy holly and others opened the way for so many people to express them selves musically in a way that wasn't really available to them before. Not only that it still sounds good today, and has a massive following. although not strictly speaking my cup of tea, I enjoyed listening to this. Would I buy it? No. Will I listen to it again? Probably not. Would I turn it off if it came on? Definitely not! Got to give this a 4 for all it means to just about all modern music.

All very predictable. Competent but just not my thing.

I enjoyed this much more than I expected, considering its age, and early rock and roll style. But then considering my age, it is akin to a teenager liking 90's music. This stuff was still being played on the radio when I was growing up, so it must have left its mark. This is the sound of innocent times and happiness or some old nostalgic crap like that. The big famous ones even had me singing along. Luckily I for the wife I have currently lost my voice. A small blessing.

not a fan

Very 50s rock, kinda fun but yea

Válido como documento, um registro histórico, mas pouco contribui para o enriquecimento da bagagem do ouvinte frequente.

So happy these songs are so short, they're so lame. Thankful that music progressed from here.

I was not digging this album. It's maybe too old timey for me. Not sure. Yes, at least one track is still in the zeitgeist. Even so, this did not resonate with me at all.

Inte dåligt men lite trist

Sömnigt, inget som riktigt drar in mig. Lite småkul vibe på sin höjd.

Enkelt och bra!

I can respect and admire an artist for their contribution to music as a whole, without needing to worship their actual music right?

Fun not grwat

I totally get it's influence and popularity, just not for me

May be important, but it's for sure one of the reasons I 'd never listened to popular music as a youth in those days.

Exploring the only album released in Buddy Holly’s short lifetime, I’m most attracted to the brief guitar solos and flourishes. And I’m intrigued to hear some of popular music that led up to the revolutionary sounds of the following decade. I pay my respects with a 5/5.

I love Buddy Holly. In single album is the DNA of so much of what is good of early Rock and Roll, and it sounds great in its simplicity. So, so good!

Didn't know That'll be the day and Oh boy were from them but one certainly knows those songs...

Pretty much what I expected. Standout songs: Not fade away Last night

Some proper original rock n' roll that'll get you snappin along.

Enjoyed this all the way through. A little repetitive at times. All together relaxing.

Well, we may not have the Weezer Blue Album on here, but at least we have the namesake of one of its most popular songs! Okay, to be fair, having Buddy Holly on this list is actually more necessary than having Weezer on here, even if the Blue Album absolutely belongs here. His influence on rock and roll is damn near unmatchable. Seriously, the only artists I can think of who are "up there" as far as influence would be the Beatles, Elvis Presley, and Chuck Berry, the latter-most of which is somehow not on this list either! The dude influenced everyone from the aforementioned Beatles, to Bob Dylan, to even Robert Dimery's beloved Elvis Costello! Makes you wonder why Buddy Holly doesn't have 6 albums on this list before immediately remembering that his untimely death is so infamous that it's often referred to as "The Day the Music Died." Of course, cultural influence doesn't automatically make an album good. Fortunately, this album's good. It's not a masterpiece or anything. I still haven't really heard a 50s rock and roll album that I would call a masterpiece. However, there are things to appreciate here. This is quite a bit more laid-back than something like a Little Richard album. I think both styles are good, but I do have a fondness for Buddy Holly's style. I think it's got a good blend of dorky charm and rockin' energy. I can definitely hear the influence on Elvis Costello. The songwriting is, as it often is with these sorts of albums, rather repetitive. These are all songs about love and girls and such. However, the writing isn't bad. Yes, these songs are all about the same thing, but they're not written poorly, nor would I particularly call them dated. This isn't an Everly Brothers situation we're dealing with. Buddy Holly was actually a solid songwriter for his time. Songs like "This'll Be The Day" and "Oh Boy!" are good listens because of their wide appeal. Of course, I have to give props to the Crickets as well. Their backing vocals are nice, and the instrumentation here is good. Overall, I still can't say that 50s rock and roll is something I want to go to frequently, and I get why people would call the album dated. However, while it does feel like it couldn't have been made any later than 1963, it mostly reflects well on the time. I do prefer the Weezer Blue Album though. Solid 3/5.

Not a huge 50's music guy. Great to learn who the hell Buddy Holly is though. I'm looking for someone to love was my favorite. 2/5.

With a sigh, I had to hype myself up to settle into some antiquey rock-n-roll. Wow, did I have fun with this record. There's actual craftmanship in building out these ditties. And I'll give that lyrically it's all a little pat, but damn, that Buddy Holly voice is so charismatic. Count me in as a Crickets fan!

It's probably not fair to blame Buddy Holly or the Crickets for the fact that this music feels so overdone and cheesy. That's just because it's so old and has become ubiquitous to the point of dilution. Probably really slapped at the time.

Easy listen. Doesn’t challenge the listener with things like nuance. It is honestly nice to hear what music used to be. You don’t need 5 verses, 3 choruses and a bridge to make music worth hearing. Sometimes it is this easy and this simple.

Simple and easy listening. You can pop this on and the whole family will have fun!

Strange how this sounds antique to me next to other records from the same period - Link Wray, John Lee Hooker, John Coltrane to pick three I love - yet the density of bangers is undeniable.

I've loved Buddy Holly since I was a young'un, and these songs are the musical bedrock of pretty much everything else I like. What a guy - era-defining singer *and* songwriter (both rockers and ballads, mostly excellent and <3 minutes), inventive guitarist (ever hear a Stratocaster?), clean cut while voracious as any '70s touring hard rock band (see the top review). So influential - Dylan allegedly saw him live a few days before he died, likewise Lennon on TV. 22 years old! Beat that, anyone since..?

Can hear the genesis of a lot of music to follow.

Very fun!!

3.5. Some good oldies.

Buddy got a one track mind. All he can think about is that sweet sweeet lovin. If he’s not out cruising (looking for someone to love as he would phrase it) he wants to be sent lewd pictures. I mean, look at those pervy glasses.

Some really, really great songs. Others don't survive as well.

He did more songs than I realized. Great album.

Oh, Boy! Not Fade Away Maybe Baby That'll Be the Day I'm Looking for Someone to Love

Amazing! Hard to overstate how influential this album and artist are on Rock and Roll. The overall sound is a bit dated for me, the toxic masculinity is over the top, and the topics don’t show much range. But it’s *still* an amazing contribution to pop music. A 4 for me.

So clean. Can’t get much out of this, it’s so dated. 2.5/5

What short, but fun album. A lot of tracks I immediately recognized and sang along to.

Fine enough. But not Buddy Holly's best.

Middle of the road, it's fine but nothing special. 2/5 stars

Good 50’s/60’s rock n roll group/ artist. Good music.

top

Dated but listenable

I understand it's unfair to judge artists from the 50s with modern sensitivities, but to me this album sounds like shallow hits about love all just engineered to be commercial hit with very little under the surface. While I realize Buddy Holly had a massive influence on rock music, I feel like other artists were doing much more interesting things during this time period. 2/5

OLD BRUH

Was fine, nothing major

nice , usa vibes

I know I should have enjoyed this more given the roots of rock and roll it encompasses, but I really only enjoyed a handful of the better known tracks...lame I know. I feel like one of "those people" who never actually listens to a full album but only the songs they have already heard. It's cool and do woppy and sometimes like surf music but not really a big fan of the genre overall.

I get it!!! Good stuff!

Is this a punk rock album? Every track on here is 2 minutes long! And you're Mary Tyler Moore.

Decent album, know the hits.

This felt more like a fieldtrip to the Smithsonian than an album of the day experience. I can appreciate the historical relevance of this artifact like I respect, say, Pong; I just wouldn't want to voluntarily spend my free time playing it.

This was kinda refreshing. An easy listen, and didn’t overstay its welcome. Is this something I’m adding to my library? No. Would I be upset if someone turned this on at a social event? No.

Ponele NY, una pared de ladrillos, vidas de mierda, enojo, y son los Ramones 7/10

4. Cool

Time has not been kind to this album. Its melodies, hooks, and pop sensibilities are still obvious today, but if it ever sounded like it rocked that has all been lost. This kind of thing happens to most genres, but compare this to Chuck Berry. His songs, with their big guitar riffs, are easy to trace to what we think of as rock now. With this, the lineage is foggier. Still, it's a fun listen, and while it sounds quaint musically the themes still resonate today. "Not Fade Away" has a good rhythm and "That'll Be the Day" swings. There's a bit of doo wop on this too, which also makes it feel closer to pop. Which is probably the way to appreciate it, but there's not quite enough variety for it to feel essential as a pop album either.

This was fine and pleasant. Lots of good songs but all a bit same-y. I can see how this would have been great at the time but listening to it some 70 years on it probably doesn’t quite hit the same.

light and fluffy like a stack of pancakes

It breaks my heart to give this album a 3/5. I respect Buddy Holly's position in the history of rock'n'roll and consider him a giant in that aspect. However, this is an album almost 70 years old and is very dated. It was probably incredible for the time.

February 3, 1959 - the day the music died

Accidentally listened to weezer

3 I didn't really like this, but they probably bopped to this when it came out

Probably not fair to judge this from a modern lens, but this hasn’t aged well. Most of this is cartoony and tropey without anything all that creative. I’d rather listen to early Beatles.

Sounds exactly how you would picture these folks doing music. You what you see.

Loved some, some were bland as shit.

Not really my tuning but some of those tracks made me feel like in the beginning of a David Lynch movie and I enjoyed that! 3/5

Some good 50s rock with a few songs I have heard before. Keeping the album

Now I know what it's like to feel just like buddy holly. Ooo wee ooo I guess

It was cool, but I definitely wouldn’t have listened to it outside of this project.

7/10

Debut album. Rock n Roll / Pop. Oh Boy ! What an opening track. The energy, the vocals, brilliant. Not Fade Away, Maybe Baby and That'll Be The Day are all timeless classics.The songs are simple and catchy. This album is one of the foundation stones that popular music and Rock n Roll are built on.

issavibe

Can see how it set the stage for so many, enjoyed quite a few of the hits, but the second half was too much of a 50's love song snoozefest for me

bit before my time-just- all good fun, you can hear where music is going.

Enjoyable enough, especially when considering my grandparents would have still been young when it came out, but I don't love it. Maybe I set my expectations too high after hearing Little Richard. It's clean, well-produced, and it's influential; an album you can firmly say deserves to be on the list. Hard to give a fair rating probably. If I channel my inner 50s-housewife, I'm giving it a 4, but 2025 me thinks it's a 3.

Best song that’ll be the day. The Crickets sounded like laurel and hardy with stan laurel singing lonesome pine.

Very much of it's time. Some good but simple songs, in modern terms.

An essential look into American culture at a pivotal time in history, sadly much of Holly's work is overshadowed by his tragic death.

From this distance, and to this ear, anyway, the album is more interesting as an artifact than musically. Even the hits (which are significantly better than the rest of the tracks) come across as fairly saccharine and cloying. Holly’s voice is good, though. It would’ve been nice to hear him work with songs that weren’t so short and repetitive. “That’ll Be the Day” still manages to be canonical.

Not my music though a masterpiece of its time

A few recognizable songs, seems like earlier, more restrained Buddy Holly

Klassischer Rock n Roll

I think this is probably pretty essential listening. It is the foundations of so much music that came after. It still holds up pretty well as a listen

Альбом такий собі,непоганий як для початку минулого століття, але зараз слухати нічого 2 з 5

Yes, that was boring and repetitive. The lyrics are a little, well, one dimensional!? Fav: That‘ll be the way

Hard to assess nearly 70 years of musical development later, but he has a nice voice with a little grit to it. Fun to play guitar to. I liked the Weezer reference

I get it. This was my father's high school music that he loved. There are a few legendary songs on here, but I don't need a whole album of this. Pitchfork: n/a Rolling Stone: n/a Best Songs Oh Boy! Maybe Baby That'll Be The Day

old style，good music

This was definitely a dated-sounding album, but it was nice to have it playing in the background.

Unremarkable. Easy listening, certainly pleasant but no standouts.

Really pleasantly surprised by this one to be honest!

The hits far outshine the fillers on this album, but the filler songs are pretty decent too.

Soft 3. This didn’t really do anything at all for me, but I can see the roots of how this might be influential to better (and potentially more influential) pieces to follow.

Saccharine Americana. Great for the historical context, but not much else.

7/10 As is often the case with such early albums, it's very hard to listen to this and really understand the context of it with almost 70 years of music history between its release and now. But apparently Buddy Holly has been credited with popularising the two guitars, bass and drums rock band formula, so to say he's had an impact would perhaps be understating things. There are definitely echoes of this music that I can hear in a lot of bands that would follow, and the production of the album is excellent, particularly given its vintage. There are some really great songs here, particularly the more upbeat numbers and, while there are lulls here and there, the fact that not a single track bothers the three minute mark, the lulls are fleeting. From what I've read, Buddy took some of the 'hiccuping' vocal style from Elvis, and it's a sound that grates on me. It's the 50s equivalent of the indie girl voice, an unnatural singing style that's done because it's in fashion, despite the fact that it's overdone and immediately dates a record. But Buddy's take on it, while annoying at its worst, is actually more musically pleasant than Elvis' version for the most part and is more subtly used. It's a big shame that we never got to hear where Buddy would go from here as, to my mind, he blows Elvis out of the water with this, and he was only 21 at the time. While I enjoyed my time with this album, I doubt I'll be back to it all that often, but it does get a couple of bonus points for musical significance. Oh, Boy! - It's a classic. Great jangly rock n roll guitars, lovely backing vocal swells and hooky sing along melodies. Not a big fan of the Elvis inspired hiccup vocal embellishments, but they're fairly restrained here and he throws a nice bit of grit onto his vocal now and again, which is great. Not Fade Away - The vocal hiccups kind of work ok here. It's super simple, but there's a great swagger to the vocal delivery and guitar playing that I like. It's got a toe tapping quality, doesn't offer much variety but gets its job done in short order. You've Got Love - I'm not generally a massive fan of these old rock n roll ballads, but this isn't too bad. Feels a lot more sincere and endearing than the Elvis equivalents, so that's a plus. Maybe Baby - This is a bit more rockabilly and almost edges in places towards a sound that the Beach Boys would develop. Again, some great laid back swagger to the vocal delivery. It's just got a good vibe and it's pretty slick. It's Too Late - Back to a more croony ballad stuff. Less keen on this one and the odd reverb choice in places is a little jarring. It's ok for what it is, but I'm not exactly fully engaged by it. Tell Me How - The tempo picks up a bit now and there are some really nice moments, but it is a little dull and he threatens to throw in some of that vocal affect that just doesn't gel with my ear. That'll Be The Day - A good little swinging number and while he does a bit of the hiccup vocal, it's used rhythmically and sparingly. It's got a decent little hook too Not bad. I'm Lookin' For Someone To Love - This has got some zip to it and some really nice guitar work. The vocals do go a bit far for me, but I can just imagine how engaging this stuff was in the mid 50s. An Empty Cup (And A Broken Date) - There's a nice vibe to this. It's not the most memorable of songs, but it's a warm, engaging song and it sounds great. Send Me Some Lovin' - So there's a theme here. These ballads are just not grabbing me too much. It's pretty pleasant, but the vocal affect here is at its most stark and jarring on this track. Again, it's pretty inoffensive and it's well produced, it's just not really my thing. Last Night - Well it's another ballad. Some nice vocal harmonies and it sounds like they're trying to do something interesting with the vocal blend. Rock Me My Baby - Solid groove here and it's almost proto surf rock in places. It's a good song with some quality dynamic range and development. It's just a shame that this is the most criminal of his vocal try hard performances, otherwise it would be brilliant.

I guess I can cover more of the 1001 album series since I have nothing better to do tonight. One of the albums I have lined up is none other than Buddy Holly's original band, The Cricket's debut album. If you aren't a fan of that old fashion Rockabilly and Rock & Roll sound then this will surely not be your cup of tea, but as someone who doesn't mind its' very simplistic and straightforward style I had a nice time with this project. It is super straightforward and doesn't do anything special at all whatsoever. It is a staple of its' time and maybe that's not a bad thing. If you want something cheery, slightly Pop-y, and one hell of a throwback maybe you should turn this on? Maybe I'll dive more into Buddy Holly's music to see what all the hype about him was about, but for now this was a solid introduction.

The blue print for rock and roll, fantastic songs.

holy awesome 1960s

Very jolly

Super easy to listen to - and quick too! Can’t really go wrong with a classic. I wouldn’t necessarily seek it out, but I wouldn’t turn it off either.

It’s still such a dated sound but at least I could actually get through this one

All the classic tracks here. The band that started 1000 other bands.

Fun, light hearted record. Very of the time

Some absolute classics. Evokes an image of a particular time and place

Rock ‘n’ roll, good dance music. Haven't heard it in a long time. The voice goes well with the music.

Very chilled and easy listen perfect with the newspaper and coffee on a Sunday morning . Issac has a very smooth and soft voice which feels like velvet , enjoyed the album very much and is a departure from my usual listening habits.

Some absolutely classic songs here. I appreciate the history, for sure.

crickets weren't chirping on this one at all. did not get tired of the sound, or maybe i'm just an old soul...

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

Fun

It's old-timey and fun, deserves a 3

Du rock n’ roll vintage ! C’est intéressant d’écouter du rock avant les métissages avec le jazz, blues, country, folk, etc. Les backvocals font très vieux jeu, par contre.

Very joyful. Emblematic of the rockabilly era.

So many classic rock and roll songs here. Just the bedrock of so much modern music. Also listening with good headphones I could tell he was a better singer than I realized.

It's a enjoyable listen. Perfect to just throw on in the background. 3.5⭐

Not much to say. Great timepiece, doesn't make it great music. Perfectly fine, 3 stars. Glad it's on the list. - 1957, this is old. Just from the album cover I can tell it's going to be a 3 - Seems like strong building blocks for modern music, but doesn't really hold a candle to newer music - Lighthearted, pleasant

I actually liked this more than I thought I was going to. Once the album finished Spotify just kept playing music from the 50s and there’s a ton of bangers.

This is a great album. Early Rock n Roll at it’s finest! Great song writing, singing, and playing. I have a closer connection to some of the covers of these songs but this album shows what a powerful impact Holly had during his short life/career. 4 Stars

A little bit corny, not sure if i’d listen to this in public.

This shit is OLD! So automatically in a musical sense it’s a little too old for me, but I’m so surprised how some of these songs still manage to be relatable. Guess some things never change, heartbreak will always suck. Still decent, very cool to hear in the context of how music has changed, probably wont ever listen again!!

3.5/5 Not exactly my style, but Buddy Holly was extremely gifted. The album is pretty standard blues rock, but with Holly’s range and some striking harmony, it’s a much better offering than most of the other stuff that comes out of the 50s. Solid and enjoyable album.

Oldie but a goodie 👍🏿👍🏿

Great

This is what mayonnaise sounds like

Was not badfor how old it was. I don't usually enjoy the country western sound but it was a solid 7/10.

This reminds me of the movie Stand By Me -- that era, at least. Several mega hits on this album (That'll Be The Day, Not Fade Away).

Was just listening to a John Prine cover of Oh Boy! the day before. Was also reminded of my friends The Craigs covering Not Fade Away. These songs were on one of the first mix tapes anyone ever made me (a friend’s older brother maybe?)…so much history!

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

It’s a nice listen. Pretty upbeat though kinda generic, lovey dovey writing that seems standard for the time. Good album and an easy listen, just don’t know it’s my typical forte

I know this is influential but I honestly didn't enjoy it. Points for being only 25 minutes long. 2.0/5.0: Disappointing

early rock that still holds up very well

Oh boy - 6/10 Not fade away - 6/10 Youve got love - 5/10 Maybe baby - 7/10 Its too late - 7/10 Tell me how - 5/10 Thatll be the day - 8/10 Im lookin for someone to love - 7/10 An empty cup (and a broken date) - 5/10 Send me some lovin - 6/10 Last night - 7/10 Rock me my baby - 7/10

I dunno man, kinda old but still alright Will I listen to again: 51%

Twelve songs in 26 minutes! Four solid gold bangers. A couple of weaklings but overall a real treat after a week of prog rock, rap and wistful whimsy.

A fun old album, quite interesting songs on it.. I won't replay myself but I will be more than pleased to hear it somewhere else 3/5

Classic rock'n'roll!

Short and sweet.

I gave it a couple listens. I think it was fine, as far as 1950s rock goes. They're tunes from another time and another place, prosaic pop the whole family could tune into. Thanks to Bioshock, the whole genre sounds like a veneer for something sinister to me. Soft singing and simple lyrics that draw attention from unseen horrors. Post-war reconstruction. Segregation. Bio-mechanical drill monsters.

Was very generic formulaic 50s sounding

The sounds of 1950s rock and roll don't appeal to me very much, but I do appreciate the way these tracks were mixed. Everything is very clear and spaced out. The guitar tone is clean, and the drums are tucked back as to not overpower the vocals. The harmonies are clear and easy to pick out, which I also really appreciate. This is the kind of sound that my grandfather really loved so as I have been listening to these tracks, I was reminiscing and wondering whether he ever listened to this album. It does teleport you to milkshakes and drive-ins and letterman jackets. I feel like I am in a parking lot at night, illuminated by neon signs. It is incredibly short for having 12 songs. "An Empty Cup" may be my favorite track from the album, followed by "Send Me Some Lovin'". I was less interested in the more upbeat songs and prefer the slower second half.

What Wes Anderson movie is this? I feel like this is the most middle of the road, inoffensive, unremarkable, basically palatable, music possible. Another one of those musicians that makes me wonder why a musician was seen as so much more important than the pioneers of the genre who made more original, more exciting music. It's not bad, it's just bland and i don't know if that makes it a 2 or 3

Look at these little dweebs sharing guitars. Adorbs. This kind of cheesy music has its place in history somewhere for a reason but not an album I’d revisit.

This is “hot dog, hot diggity dog” ass music. Not Fade Away! It’s great that these guys are so inspired by Grateful Dead. A lot of folks say Buddy Hollys death was the day the music died. It’s wild to think this album is the Rosetta Stone that led to “LET THE BODIES HIT THE FLOOR! LET THE BODIES HIT THE FLOOR!” This is the kind of music that’s playing when you buy a dame a Coke at the soda shop. This is music from when apple pie was an acceptable dinner. Tho is the type of song that plays during the grizzliest murder of a Tarantino film. I think this sounds so boring because the entire era of rock music was derived from this, Chuck Berry, and Little Richard. The Beatles made their fame doing their music. This feels like one of those albums where I need an oral history of how all these rock n roll guys borrowed and competed with each other. I respect the hell out of this for being some of Jack Rabbits Slims’ finest songs.

I appreciate this album but its just not really my style

There's the historical influence and the nostalgia... then there's listening to this with 2025 ears...

Weird creeps croon in harmony to demand their baby's be true.

I could do with out the doo doos and bop bops but more listenable than I would expect. some recognizable songs and guitar riffs. a bit bubblegum for a jaded genx like me

This worked out just fine for me. I had a boring 35 minute drive to get through so I put on this 25 minute long album. I didn't mind it. I'm not going to be coming back to this, but it was a perfectly enjoyable listen. The never-ending harmonizing in the background gets a bit tiresome, but I guess that was just what they did at the time. Buddy Holly was great. I'll bet it would have been fun to be him for a week in 1957.

It can be a challenge to back to the Foundational Texts of any art—music, film, books, etc.—because what followed in their wake is always more interesting. Even keeping in mind Buddy Holly's legacy and the context of this album's release, I found it tedious. Maybe it's due to the thematic repetition (love lost, love gained, love underappreciated, etc.), but these 25 minutes felt much longer to me.

yeah ok should’ve been 2,5

Appreciate it was ground breaking at the time but now this is worst than a dance album where every track sounds the same. Not worthy of a greatest album for me.

Good

An iconic 50's musician. Pretty decent old time rock n roll.

**In-Depth Review: *The “Chirping” Crickets* by Buddy Holly & The Crickets (1957)** *Released: November 27, 1957 | Genre: Rock and Roll | Length: 25:51* --- ### 🎵 **Overview** *The “Chirping” Crickets* is the debut and only studio album by Buddy Holly & The Crickets. Released in 1957, it’s a landmark in early rock and roll, blending country, rhythm & blues, and pop into a raw, energetic, and emotionally sincere sound. Despite its short runtime and lo-fi production, the album became a blueprint for countless rock bands that followed. --- ### 🎶 **Music & Production** The album is stripped-down and raw, built on the classic trio of guitar, bass, and drums. The production is minimal, even by 1950s standards, but it’s this simplicity that gives the album its charm and immediacy. The use of a cardboard box as percussion on tracks like *Not Fade Away* adds a homemade, garage-rock feel that predates the punk ethos by decades. - **Instrumentation**: Clean Fender Stratocaster tones, upright bass, and tight drumming. - **Vocals**: Holly’s nasal, boyish voice is both vulnerable and energetic. Backing vocals by The Picks often veer into doo-wop territory, which some find charming, others corny. --- ### 📝 **Lyrics & Themes** The lyrics are deceptively simple. Nearly every song revolves around love, heartbreak, or romantic hope, but they’re delivered with such sincerity and melodic instinct that they transcend cliché. - **Simplicity as Strength**: Lines like “Maybe baby, I’ll have you” or “That’ll be the day when you say goodbye” are elemental, yet unforgettable. - **Emotional Range**: From the playful exuberance of *Oh Boy!* to the melancholy of *An Empty Cup (And a Broken Date)*, Holly captures the emotional spectrum of teenage life. --- ### 🎸 **Influence & Legacy** This album is a **cornerstone of modern rock music**. It influenced The Beatles (who named themselves partly in homage to The Crickets), The Rolling Stones (who covered *Not Fade Away*), Bob Dylan, and countless garage and indie rock acts. - **Songwriting Innovation**: Holly’s use of two-minute pop structures, jangly guitars, and introspective yet accessible lyrics helped redefine what rock music could be. - **Cultural Impact**: The band’s crossover appeal—charting on both pop and R&B lists—also highlighted the blurred racial lines in early rock, even if unintentionally. --- ### ✅ **Pros** - **Timeless songwriting**: *That’ll Be the Day*, *Not Fade Away*, and *Maybe Baby* are enduring classics. - **Raw authenticity**: The album feels like a group of friends making music in a garage—honest and unpolished. - **Influence**: Helped shape the sound of the ’60s and beyond. - **Emotional resonance**: Despite lyrical simplicity, the emotional delivery is powerful. --- ### ❌ **Cons** - **Inconsistent filler**: Some tracks like *You’ve Got Love* and *It’s Too Late* are forgettable or poorly structured. - **Backing vocals**: The doo-wop harmonies by The Picks can feel dated or overly saccharine to modern ears. - **Short length**: At just under 26 minutes, the album feels more like a collection of singles than a cohesive long-form statement. - **Lyrical repetition**: Nearly every song is about love, with little thematic variety. --- ### 🏁 **Final Verdict** *The “Chirping” Crickets* is not a perfect album, but it is a **perfect snapshot** of a moment when rock and roll was young, wild, and full of possibility. Its flaws—lo-fi production, simplistic lyrics, and occasional filler—are also part of its charm. It’s a foundational text for modern pop and rock, and its influence far outweighs its modest runtime. **Essential Tracks**: *That’ll Be the Day*, *Not Fade Away*, *Oh Boy!*, *Maybe Baby*, *An Empty Cup (And a Broken Date)*

I had a similar problem with this that I did with the ELO album. Every song sounded the same, I was ready for it to be over and it’s less than half an hour long.

A lively, infectious debut that helped kickstart rock 'n' roll. Yes, it sounds dated—but considering it dropped just 12 years after WWII, it’s a remarkable burst of youthful energy and innovation. Buddy Holly’s charm still shines through.

"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."

Felt like the same type of song 12 times. It was fine but not anything to write home about.

Flera av låtarna står sig, även om soundet är från en annan tid.

Buddy Holly & The Crickets manage to encapsulate the sound of the '50s in typical rock'n'roll/rockabilly fashion and was the precursor to what has evolved over time to rock. Nothing really stood out here, but overall it was an ok listen. Best: Oh Boy! Worst: Last Night

I think every dead has an affection for Not Fade Away. What strikes me in this one, is the simplicity of each song. Especially in Not Fade Away, where there is very little percussion and they're basically just ripping off Bo Diddley. You can kind of hear that African / blues style rhythm throughout, which is wild because that music had been around for a century or more but was finally being recorded and built upon. The elecric guitar is still new and novel, so the distortion levels are minimal. I'd like to say clean sound, but its not really that, but you can hear that kind of naked sound of the strat in each song. This just fun and joyous. Its easy to enjoy and hard to hate.

Can I call this Punk? Well, I will anyways. Obviously a bit dated, but you can certainly hear the recipe for what would turn in some classic Brit-Rock (think Stones. Beatles, Kinks). I'M LOOKING FOR SOMEONE TO LOVE has a super catchy guitar solo/fill (not quite sure what to call it), but it was super neat and totally boss.

Don’t judge a book by its cover. Thought this was gonna be very corny but was very enjoyable and has since been downloaded

I enjoyed this. Very nostalgic and old timey

I had no idea Ronald Reagan played with Buddy Holly.

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

Okay

Echt nett. Vor allem der erste Song war toll.

Hokey, but easy and accessible.

acho buddy holly meio chatão das ideia entendo a importância, mas.......

bizarro que o buddy holly morreu com 22 anos pqp que deus o tenha mas eh rock né. eu até acho rockabilly legalzim, vo mentir não. mas eh bem normal, nada demais. ótima música de fundo!!

Totally fine, I’m sure great for the time, but not for me. A real happy snoozer

Expecting this to be not great, being more notable for Buddy Holly's early death but it is actually very well put together 4*

I’m a sucker for 1950s rock and roll. These guys in particular demonstrate the connection between country and rock for me. It’s fun, unapologetically sappy, and energetic.

Better than I feared it would be. I'm thinking because it's SO old, it's kinda quaint. Instead of thinking about the music I just keep thinking about it as the soundtrack to a movie, like Back to the Future or La Bamba. I definitely wouldn't want to queue it up every day, but for a one off album, I've got few complaints.

Fun to hear music from this era and how it shaped rock and roll for years to come.

The man had a gift for writing catchy songs

Good oldies. Buddy Holly is the jams. Fun fast piano

Weak lyrics, but it really rocks. Kind of a pop-punk. So nice to hear some of the Cricket's songs that haven't been overplayed. I'll come back here for certain. 4/5

Variations of love songs mostly, but definitely more diverse than the few Buddy Holly hits I’d heard in the past. Very obvious the influence on Elvis. Guitar so iconic. “That’ll be the Day” is so good. Overall, this is probably the album when it comes to Buddy Holly. “Send me some loving” seems to usher in later Motown sounds.

Simple and formulaic music, pure packaged product to satisfy the masses. No innovation whatsoever - the significance importance of this band isn't in its music, but in its architecture as a "band that writes its own music". I appreciate that, but that can't be worth more than one star Performance-wise it's good, but the music just makes it a slog. Even for a relatively short album, I got tired of the formula halfway through. The last song fortunately pick up the energy a bit as a payoff for the listen.

There is a generation of people that recognize Buddy Holly as one of the most iconic rock and roll stars of his time. This is also a generation of people that recognize Buddy Holly as the guy Rivers Cuomo of Weezer looks just like. I'm both of those people. Anyways, sweet stuff; not too crazy about it but it's cool. I respect a fellow Texan making a mark on rock and roll history (7/10, 3/5 on this scale)

Classic top to bottom.

I realize this has some importance, but really this is just fine to me. No real issues, but not really interesting either.

A really good example of 50s rock and roll, with some standouts including the exceptional "Not Fade Away" which has been covered by bands from Rush to Grateful Dead. It's early on enough in the history of the album as a music format, though, that I don't think they quite grasped how to structure one yet. Even at less than 30 minutes, the album was fairly front-loaded and didn't really have enough variety to keep me hooked the whole time.

I knew who Buddy Holly was but I had never actually heard any music he’s been a part of until now. I went into this in a grumpy mood, made even grumpier that I’d have to sit through more “old people music,” and I realized halfway through that there’s no way I could be grumpy while listening to this. What a pleasant surprise of an album! Just fun vibes throughout. You can definitely hear how so many acts were heavily influenced by him, namely the Beatles and The Beach Boys.

That's some rock n' roll alright. I got flashes of Elvis on a few songs; these boys may not have his swag, but they could still make a fun record. Standouts: Oh Boy! • I'm Looking For Someone to Love

Very solid album that influenced basically every white man playing rock music in the early 60s. Buddy Holly has an earnestness that is really unbeatable and doesn't overstay his welcome.

Quick and cute

This reminded me of working at Goodwill and Wednesdays would be senior Wednesdays where senior citizens could get a discount that day. They’d play a segregated sock hop radio that consisted of the same 50 songs every Wednesday and sometimes they’d loop if you worked long enough of a shift. One or two Little Richard songs would be my breath of relief. That being said, at least three songs from this album were a part of that playlist and therefore I cannot objectively rate this without the bias of retail trauma.

The songs were fine, but largely unmemorable. I think I might be too young to appreciate music from this era, but I still thought that artists like fats domino and muddy waters had much more soul and musical talent, whereas this just seems boring in comparison.

Bops.

Dated for sure, but historically important. Not an album that I would ever casually listen too, but I can appreciate it for what it is and the impact it had so many years later.

I do not have much to say about this one. It was alright, very 1950's which is like exactly when it dropped, so sure! I would expect the hear these tracks in something like the Irishman. I didn't really have a favorite track, but ig if you twisted my arm I'd say I'm Lookin' For Someone To Love.

I liked this a little. Recording in mono was probably hard. I wish I could hear the guitars and drums a little more. I liked It's Too Late and That'll Be the Day the most.

Lwk no idea why this website keeps giving me the most cowboy ahh albums like chill out there boy

Adorable.

Puh, ganz schön oll. So rockabillymäßig… „Rock me my Baby“ ist aber noch ganz annehmbar.

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

This was pleasant

Better than Coldplay

Never been much on Buddy Holly and this album proves it. Couple of good songs but not much more.

Je sais pas trop quoi en dire, rock des années 50, vibe Elvis, pas trop ma came

C’est sympa… route de vacances quoi

Très classique, 3/5

♥️ these guys but the song selection could have been better.

Oh boy--this is a tough one to rate. It feels like it should get a high rating since it's the only Buddy Holly inclusion in this entire collection, and he had such an outsized place in musical history. But aside from the really big hits, and mainly "That'll be the day", I'll admit somewhat sheepishly that their sound doesn't really do much for me, as pioneering as they were in their day. To paraphrase Loretta Lynn and Fatboy Slim, we've come a long way, baby.

1/3rd of this album is amazing, fresh, lively (tracks 1, 2, 4, 7). The rest is not.

Cool album.

Got us talking about "The Big Bopper" - worth it for that.

Classic sound. 4/5

It's fine.