Customer Reviews

Rave On Buddy Holly [+Digital Booklet]

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(12)
3 star:		(12)
2 star:		(10)
1 star:		(23)

 

 

Let me concur with my fellow reviewer that if you don't own the originals, rush out and buy the 3-disc BUDDY HOLLY MEMORIAL EDITION. That collection is required listening for any fan of rock music. However, this September would have been Buddy Holly's 75th birthday and this tribute album hits all the right notes.

Keep in mind, this is a tribute album, not a bar band cover album. Although some of the most memorable cuts on this album don't stray far from the originals: Nick Lowe's "Changing All Those Changes," Justin Townes Earle's "Maybe Baby" and Graham Nash's "Raining in My Heart" are highlights.

But there are new interpretations like Florence + The Machine's New Orleans-influenced "Not Fade Away," The Black Keys slinky interpretation of "Dearest," and perhaps my favorite track, Patti Smith's plaintive reading of "Words of Love."

Buddy Holly may have tragically left this earth in 1959 leaving behind only three years' of recordings, but as this disc proves; his music will live on forever. Listen to this with open ears and there are many rewards to be discovered. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

Got the CD and love it. I know a lot of purists out there will come into the CD without an open mind but there are tracks on this for everyone. Some tracks are more true to Buddy's originals like My Morning Jacket or Fiona Apple + Jon Brion while other versions are out there like Modest Mouse and McCartney's.

The highlights are "Dearest" by The Black Keys, "True Love Ways" by My Morning Jacket, "Not Fade Away" by Florence + The Machine (a rousing New Orleans-style take on the classic track), and Cee Lo Green's take on "(You're So Square) Baby I Don't Care." I also love the Julian Casablancas track, the aforementioned "Everyday" by Fiona Apple + Jon Brion, "Words of Love" by Patti Smith, the Jack White-produced "Crying, Waiting, Hoping" by Karen Elson, and "Oh Boy!" by She & Him. Even the Kid Rock track is good...which might surprise some folks as I was leery of his contribution to this compilation previously. He really does a good job with "Well All Right" so kudos.

19 tracks for $10 is a real deal but if you check out Amazonmp3 today, they have it for only $3.99 on today's daily deal. This is a MUST-HAVE summer record. Pick it up!

Okay, "it's better than it sounds" is something Mark Twain said about Wagner's music. And if you spend any time immersing yourself in Wagner, you find out that Twain was right.

Same with this album. First listen, I found myself thinking there wasn't much to hear. But then I ripped it to my iPod, and took a second listen. Let me tell you, the whole album just gets better and better each time I listen to it.

I'm old enough to have heard these songs the first time around. I actually remember the day the music died. And I think Buddy would be quite happy with what these guys have done with his songs. I know I am.

Sure there are some misses but generally the good outweighs the bad, and some of the tracks are fantastic in my opinion. Love The Black Keys cover of Dearest and Fiona Apple's cover of Everyday is excellent as well. It's really cool to hear new takes on some old favorites. I love Modest Mouse's That'll Be The Day.

Of course new takes don't all work out, and I might have to delete Lou Reed's Peggy Sue. It's pretty terrible.

Overall a good buy, especially when only 3.99

Let me concur with my fellow reviewer that if you don't own the originals, rush out and buy the 3-disc BUDDY HOLLY MEMORIAL EDITION. That collection is required listening for any fan of rock music. However, this September would have been Buddy Holly's 75th birthday and this tribute album hits all the right notes.

Keep in mind, this is a tribute album, not a bar band cover album. Although some of the most memorable cuts on this album don't stray far from the originals: Nick Lowe's "Changing All Those Changes," Justin Townes Earle's "Maybe Baby" and Graham Nash's "Raining in My Heart" are highlights.

But there are new interpretations like Florence + The Machine's New Orleans-influenced "Not Fade Away," The Black Keys slinky interpretation of "Dearest," and perhaps my favorite track, Patti Smith's plaintive reading of "Words of Love."

Buddy Holly may have tragically left this earth in 1959 leaving behind only three years' of recordings, but as this disc proves; his music will live on forever. Listen to this with open ears and there are many rewards to be discovered. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

I have to rave about "Rave On." I understand the purists who might not like anything but the original, but these new interpretations are just so fresh and fun. I don't normally like covers myself, but I found this collection irresistible and the $3.99 price makes it even sweeter. A trip back in time with some great artists at the helm.

You will have never heard of me, but at one time, I had a place in the music business. As "Eddie Love" I did studio guitar work, wrote songs, sang harmony, and "fronted" a couple of bands; "The Strummers," "Eddie Love and The Lovers" and, at the end, almost went 'big time' with "Apokolypz."

I knew Buddy Holly and most of the incredibly talented young rockers that exploded outta the Great State of Texas - before the English Invasion (No, the Beatles were NOT the first!), and Buddy's death, in 1959, really got me. I have all the original vinyl, reissues, CDs, etc, etc.

This ablum is a treat! Just as some of us brought great songs from the 1920s through the "swing" era into the rockin' 50's, these incredible musicians featured on "Rave On Buddy Holly" have done a stunningly good job of honoring Buddy's legacy to the world. Did I like every second of it? No. That's okay; I heard people re-interpret some of the great music from the dawning of Rock'N' Roll. I didn't have to "like" everything. I'm glad I bought it, I highly recommend it to one and all.

I also recommend that you buy the VINYL. I sure did!

I listened to bits and pieces of this before I purchased it, but it was enough to let me think it was worth owning the entire thing; I wasn't disappointed. It's an eclectic. but still familiar mix, some renditions very similar to Holly's, some artists take greater license, but I like all of them enough to listen through each time, and the different choices give the disc texture.

I find the bad reviews of this record tiresome at best and irksome at worst. This is a really interesting collection. Seems like everyone hates the Lou Reed cut, but what's Lou supposed to be? Frank Sinatra? Mel Torme? Lou is Lou. If you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen.

I have always loved Buddy Holly's music. I even took my stage name partly from his when I started my first band, Buddy Love and the Tearjerkers. Holly would probably be amused and amazed by this compilation--and the stranger interpretations are better than the slavish ones. Get the originals, but don't let this one go.

The Rave On compilation is a wonderful tribute to the late Buddy Holly. I am not going to spend much time picking apart each song or suggest tracks as the other actual reviews of this album have already done a great job. I want to caution people that this is a tribute album! Tribute albums should never be by-the-book recreations of an artist's songs. They should include some of the character of the band which is covering the artist. A tribute album's purpose is to potentially get newer generations into an already esteemed artists fan base. The idea of a tribute is just that...a tribute. The tributes found on this compilation are well done (except for a few such as Kid Rock). For non-fans of Holly, I would suggest this album. It is a good place to get you in touch with the late, great musician and hopefully get you to check out his actual work. For fans, it is a bit mnre two sided. If you are a closed minded Holly fan, then steer clear. If not, it's worth checking out.