Customer Reviews

From Original Masters

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Some of Holly's best is found on this CD.

One thing about this CD-There were several different versions made of this CD. The one you want is the one made in Japan since this was made from master tapes. There are editions that were made from lp production masters.

The best quality version should say: Manufactured in Japan for MCA INC. The disc inside ring should read "MCAD 5540 M1E1"

This is a marvelous collection and by far the best single-CD collection out there on Buddy's music. Most people listening to Buddy's music for the first time can never stop at just one CD, so this will serve as a fine introduction to some of the best music you'll ever hear. Though these songs are all more than 45 years old, they wear well and are timeless.

Most casual rock fans can name only a few Holly tunes: That'll Be the Day and Peggy Sue, but there is so much more than that. This collection includes two of his most haunting, beautiful ballads, True Love Ways and Raining in My Heart. Listen to the innovative string arrangements on these tunes and you'll plainly know why Paul McCartney (who owns the Holly musical catalogue)adopted these arrangements ten years later as a Beatle. In addition, this CD includes the musicians and Buddy counting down as an intro to these two songs. It's sad to realize that just months later, he would be dead.

Perhaps the best song on the album is the amazing It Doesn't Matter Anymore, about a love gone wrong. Again, the string arrangement is years ahead of its time and makes you ponder what might have been had Holly's life not ended so tragically and prematurely. He was a genuine innovator and talent. This compilation proves that. The sound quality is superb, I can't recommend this CD enough.

This isn't nearly as good a compilation as another MCA CD on the market [the two-CD The Buddy Holly Collection] for a couple of reasons. First and foremost, there are neither liner notes nor discography, whereas the BH Collection gives you reams of information. That accounts for the 4 stars instead of 5.

Secondly [and admittedly a minor complaint] the tracks aren't numbered on the back so, if you're listening to the disc and want to jump to a certain track you have to reach for the jewel case and manually count the tracks to determine the one you want.

As for the contents, the sound - "digitally remastered from the original stereo and mono first generation masters" by Steve Hoffman of MCA is just fine - and the selections include most of his 11 charted Top 100 singles [not counting 1958's Real Wild Child, credited to "Ivan" - who was really Jerry Ivan Allison, with lead guitar by Buddy and backing vocals by The Roses].

For example, both sides of his first four hits are here: That'll Be The Day/I'm Lookin' For Someone To Love; Peggy Sue/Everday; Oh Boy/Not Fade Away, and Maybe Baby/Tell Me How. From there, however, it's a hit-and-miss affair because, while Rave On and Think It Over (his 5th and 6th hits) are included, the flipsides, Take Your Time and Fool's Paradise (which also charted at # 58 in 1958), are missing. Early In The Morning (# 32 in 1958 with The Helen Way Singers) is also omitted, along with the excellent, and VERY hard-to-find B-side, Now We're One.

Heartbeat [incredibly only a # 82 in January 1959] and its flipside, Well ... All Right, are here, but only the A-side of the song that was just charting when he died in February 1959 is included. It Doesn't Matter Anymore eventually went to # 13, but it would have been nice had they included Raining In My Heart, which also charted at # 88.

Oh well, it's not as if they advertised the CD as "The Best Of" and then left off some charted hits. It's a good collection of his music, but you'd be better served with the afore-mentioned Buddy Holly Collection since the ONLY song not in that set which is included here is Tell Me How.

This CD is superb in song selection and sound quality. Couldn't be better! If you are to have only one Buddy Holly album in your collection, pick this one. Five stars are not enough; I give this one TEN!

Let me state right off the bat that the sound quality of these remastered tunes is fabulous. The music of Buddy Holly has never sounded better to me. That being said I would defintely not recommend this one to collectors. To me the packaging is downright ugly and there are absolutely no liner notes included here. Most of his biggest and best are here but this compilation does not include "Early In The Morning" and one of my favorite Buddy Holly songs "Raining In My Heart". I'm only guessing but it looks like this might have been the first collection of Buddy Holly that featured remastered tracks. There are much better and more complete options out there now. I would skip this one altogether.

This is a cheap Buddy Holly CD but has all of the hits on it sounding as good as ever. If you are a die-hard Buddy Holly fan then you may want more than just this, but this has all that you need from Buddy Holly including most if not all of his hits and songs.

i love him he's number one in my book'

Beside Gene Vincent, Eddie Cochran, Elvis and Johnny Burnette Trio his was on of the most influential artists in rock 'n' roll. Here you can hear why. This is more than just a greatest hits and sound quality is great!

During Buddy Holly's brief career, he recorded many songs which are now regarded as rock and roll classics. Every song on this CD is great. The only thing wrong with this album is that it doesn't include more songs. I highly recommend this CD.

I bought this 15 years ago at a well known record store in Chicago. I love it and wanted to buy one for my brother as part of his Christmas present. The store no longer carried it, but I found it hear on Amazon from a private seller. I was so happy. It came in the mail on Christmas Eve, again I was so happy with the CD and the seller. Original Masters.