Customer Reviews

Definitive Collection

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I'm a big fan of Buddy Holly's music, but I quickly found myself frustrated to discover just how many different Buddy Holly collections there are out there to choose from. I compared many of them & found that most of them all had his biggest hits, but they were also missing several of his other key, less popular songs that I really wanted. Then I came across this collection & found that it had just about all of his hits that I wanted & then some. I admit that I was then a little skeptical at first that these were going to be the true original recordings that I looking for & to my surprise, it was. So if you're like me & want to get as much bang for your buck as possible, then I would definitely recommend picking up this collection.

I'll keep this one short and sweet. If the fact that another Buddy Holly compilation is on the market bothers you - don't buy it. I really don't get why people are so worked up over this release. If you have a Buddy Holly collection that you prefer, that's great. Nobody is being forced to buy this one.

The Definitive Collection is a great collection of Buddy Holly material that is perfect for folks like me who want to get a better idea of what the pioneering rocker's sound was all about without laying out a lot of money for individual albums or box sets. You get 26 amazing rock & roll/rockabilly songs, all digitally remastered (they sound fantastic), for a bargain price. What's not to love?

I can't believe that they are actually bad reviews on this compilation. There are 26 classics here...all in excellent sound..on one disc. I also have the Buddy Holly Collection, an excellent 2 disc set that carries 50 songs. But if you are limited in space...want just one CD...and on a budget..this is the best deal out there. All of these songs have stood the test of time. It's amazing how many of his songs have been covered later on by such varied artists as Elvis, Peter & Gordon, Linda Ronstadt, Rolling Stones, The Beatles, James Taylor, Blind Faith (w/Clapton & Winwood) and others. He will prove to be an enduring songwriter of classic rock as well as a wonderful early rock band. He was only 22 when he perished on Feb. 3, 1959. I was 13 when I heard the news. One of the saddest days I can remember. He was a good kid too.

I'm reviewing the MP3 version of this collection. I downloaded it on a whim because it was on sale at a very low price, and I didn't know what to expect. I've never gotten around to buying any Buddy Holly music, so for me any collection is a good thing. But I've been terribly disappointed with the sound quality of several oldies reissues lately, so I held my breath when I started it up on my car stereo.

Ahhhh... It sounds wonderful. None of the extreme stereo separation that bugs the heck out of me, with instruments obviously coming out of the left front speaker of my car, and disembodied vocals from the right front speaker. No exaggerated percussion that takes over and distracts from the feel of the song.

The sound is clear and crisp, but well mixed together so you get one cohesive sound. The sound is so lush on True Love Ways and Raining In My Heart that I came close to tears. Every song is a keeper; I can play it start to finish without skipping one song. I'm a little too young to remember how this music sounded on the radio or on record when it first came out, so I can't say how authentic the production is. But I can say it sounds pretty darned good--not even considering the original recordings are now 50+ years old.

Once again, Universal has released another Buddy Holly CD, and once again, they've dropped the ball. There is nothing here that wasn't released on last year's GOLD. And that was a rehash of THE BUDDY HOLLY COLLECTION. This time we get even less, since almost half the tracks are missing.

In 2009, Buddy Holly's recordings will enter the public domain. Maybe then Bear Family or someone who cares will release the box set containing Holly's complete works.

This is the sound of Buddy Holly minus the pops and whirrrs of old tapes and old records. The songs are just as I remember - when my husband played an 8-track for me nearly 40 years ago. Listen and sigh - Listen and rock on . . . The sound of his youth is still real and still captivating.

Then read the liner notes and see the credits for composer of each of the songs. Then, when you think - "Oh - I thought he was more of a composer as well as a singer." - read Rave On: The Biography of Buddy Holly by Phillip Norman and rethink the validity of those liner notes. (I borrowed it from my library but it is also for sale at Amazon.) The liner notes giving credits to Norman Perry are legal, but laughable.

This man was a genius.The way he constructed his songs was sensational.I can play his songs over and over and never get sick of them.There is an element of saddness during his final official recording session,and all of the tunes appear here.Raining In My heart,is a real special song,the atmosphere of the Orchestra and the way he sung it is second to none.
I often do this when you get a particularly good tune,i analize it and i want to know what the hell makes it sound so good.
Another 2 songs from that session were It Doesnt Matter Anymore and True Love Ways,both songs are masterpeices.Reminiscing was the other.
There is a number of his tunes you can do that with,Heartbeat is one,and the excellent lead guitar,nothing over the top,just precision guitar playing.He had a sound studio in his house and even though on todays standard it may seem antiquated,he definitly produced the goods.
Heartbeat is a fine example of no computerization polishing.You can hear his strumming of the guitar,and there is nothing better than hearing that human side to a song.If you close your mind from the vocals and listen to what he was doing with the guitar,you realy appreciate this song better.
Maybe Baby was done with The Crickets,and there is something about the sound thats just brilliant.
Oh Boy gets you moving,i wish you luck if you can play this song and not tap your foot.
What about Rave On,that Bluesy bass is excellent,but why was this song so short.Its So Easy is another fine example of his fine lead guitar work.
What is it about the way he plays that song?Just precision thats the only way i can describe it.
Peggie Sue is probably his crowning glory.That drum beat echoing in the background is a sensation.
That'll Be The Day started it all,even though his record company wanted to scrap it.And in a brief 2 years this man was gone,how sad is that?
I dont care how old it is,his music was excellent.
Another song i have to mention is Everyday,that has a real catchy sing along tune and is a favorite also.
There is a fine collection of other songs here as well.

this is a great cd it is fun and enjoyable to listen to the best songs on this cd are



tracks

3. that'll be the day
4. i'm looking for someone to love
6. not fade away
7. everyday
9. oh boy!
10. peggy sue
13. maybe baby
21. it's so easy

if you have not listened to this cd then i recommend you do

I love Buddy Holly's music but I was very disappointed with the quality of this recording.

Non-stop catchy tunes from the foundation of popular rock n roll. What's not to like? If you weed out all of the reviews here by people who reviewed based on what they wished the album was instead of what it is, this would have a solid 5 star rating.