Memorial Collection (Dig) (Slip)

Buddy Holly | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (February 10, 2009)
• Original Release Date: 2009
• Number of Discs: 3
• Label: Geffen Records
• ASIN: B001G9LV9I
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #111,276 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

February 3, 2009, marks the 50th Anniversary of "The Day The Music Died," the anniversary of the crash of the flight that took the lives of `50s rockers Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and The Big Bopper. Finally, the vault of rare Buddy Holly tracks will be opened wide for this multi-disc set to be released on 02/10/09. Memorial Collection is the defining package for all Buddy fans new and old.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

40 of 43 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars The music is great, but this release is a disappointment, February 13, 2009

By 

Midwest Reviewer (The midwest) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Memorial Collection (Dig) (Slip) (Audio CD)

This 3-CD set, released to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the death of Buddy Holly in a plane crash, doesn't quite deliver what would have been expected. It was said to be a "Box Set" but it's just 3 CDs in digipak housing, with sleeves to hold the 3 CDs that quickly tear on the edges when removing or replacing the CDs, and the CDs slip out easily then. The notes in the booklet really don't provide much new information (at least to long-term fans). The personnel listings for some of the tracks included are sometimes incorrect; e.g., the Fireballs are listed on some undubbed tracks.
While the sound quality is generally pretty good, and a few tracks sound improved, it's questionable if the original master tapes were used to mix other tracks, as a few sound muddier than on other CD issues. And the three October 1958 New York string-session tracks which were recorded in stereo and released that way on most prior CD issues, are instead presented here in mono (or if it is stereo, the separation is very poor).
The copy I received has a sticker on it that indicates "Best Buy Exclusive".
In general, this release is a disappointment. The musical content is excellent, and it is good to have the recordings in chronological order, but questions about the sound quality of some tracks and the written material in the accompanying booklet disappoint.
I can't praise Buddy Holly's music enough and his legacy is valid, but can't recommend "Memorial Collection". I'd recommend other prior Geffen CD releases such as the two original albums from the 1950s, or the hits collections released on CD, and the 2-CD set "Down the Line-The Rarities" which was also just released is also excellent and has exceptional sound quality.

25 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The music hasn't died, February 10, 2009

By 

William Merrill "eclecticist" (San Antonio, TX United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Memorial Collection (Dig) (Slip) (Audio CD)

The 50th anniversary of Buddy Holly's death is being remembered in many ways, foremost among them the simultaneous release of this Memorial Collection and a Rarities set called Down The Line. Other things are happening too, like a good article in Rolling Stone about Holly's final days. It really is amazing to consider both the relative brevity of Holly's career and the major impact he had on others who followed, such as the Beatles and Marshall Crenshaw. For hardcore Buddy fans, you can combine the Memorial and Rarities sets and what you have is a nice 5-CD compendium of 119 songs, many of which are being released for the first time. Of course there are multiple versions of some of the same songs across the two sets, digging into the vaults for outtakes and alternate recordings as well as historic early songs performed by "Buddy and Bob" (with Bob Montgomery [not the baseball catcher!]). For casual fans interested in honoring the anniversary (or drawn because of the publicity), you're much better off getting one of the single-disc hits collections.

As one might expect with the originals being over half a decade old, the sound quality varies widely, but some tracks such as "Everyday" (the single take) sound better than ever. There, Norman Petty's celeste notes are as clear as day. On the negative side, there are some drop-outs here and there where the sound goes down to just one channel, and the sound quality is pretty harsh on other occasions (as on "Oh Boy!"). I was also disappointed by the flimsy packaging. The "pouches" that house the individual CDs don't hold them very well, and the cheap cardboard tore in a couple of places as I was sliding CDs into their places.

As I listened to these songs, they had a primary effect on me, undoubtedly intended by the compilers, of regretting that we lost such a great talent after he was on the stage such a short time. Beyond that, I was struck anew by Holly's talent as a guitar player, not just his innovative singing style. I also thought it was interesting to hear how strongly influenced Buddy was by Elvis, especially at the beginning. Overall, I appreciated the opportunity to hear the work of this rock icon/ pioneer in a new way.

33 of 37 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars The day the music died, Universal made another buck and no-one cared, February 11, 2009

By 

Luigi Facotti (Chicago Il) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Memorial Collection (Dig) (Slip) (Audio CD)

Way back in the dark ages of vinyl, MCA released a great 6 LP set of Buddy Holly's work lacking only the "Apartment Tapes" in their original undubbed format instead using the Jack Hansen overdubs that were released after Buddy's death and formed half of the Coral vinyl album "The Buddy Holly Story Vol. 2".
To honor the 50th Anniversary of Buddy's death, Universal using the dubious Geffen Decca logo have released 5 CDs in two sets, this 3 CD set (which clocks in at 127 minutes - hmmmmm could've got it on two CDs) that includes the "Apartment Tapes" in the Norman Petty Fireballs dubbed versions and the 2 CD set "Down the Line Rarities" which includes the undubbed "Apartment Tapes". In various forms all the tracks have been available before - in bootleg form on the Australian Vigo 4 CD set and on the excellent El Toro re-release series (a absolute must for any Buddy fan - now there's a company that respects Buddy Holly!).
Reviewers have complained about the shoddy packaging on both sets and I'll add to that the poor liner notes and the total absence of the Jack Hansen dubs of the "Apartment Tapes" that baby boomers like me grew up on. When one looks at Universal's superb Motown Singles series (now up to Vol 11B) and the re-issues of Chuck Berry and Bo Diddley - you wonder why Buddy Holly couldn't have received much better treatment. In addition to the Jack Hansen dubs, there are several alternate versions of the Fireball's dubs and versions of the hits with studio chatter.
Why did Universal short change Buddy Holly fans (you could've added an additional 100 mins to the 3CD set and had room) instead focusing on the Best Buy customer who was well served by the zillion other re-releases of much of this material? Andy McKaie - explain yourself!!!!