Customer Reviews

Singles Plus

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There's so many Buddy Holly "Greatest Hits" packages it's hard to know where to start. Well, this is a fine place to start because this is a marvelous collection and by far the best two-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 set enough.

Buddy Holly's place in popular music history is significant. He was a major influence on the Beatles and Rolling Stones as well as many other singers in a variety of genres. Whole tribute albums have been devoted to him. The Hollies named themselves after him (and covered several of his songs). Yet, all this was achieved despite his limited recorded output.

On this album, you get all the classics - Heartbeat, That'll be the day, Peggy Sue, Oh boy, Rave on, True love ways, Raining in my heart, Everyday, It's so easy, Listen to me, Maybe baby, Think it over, Wishing, Words of love, Peggy Sue got married, Well all right, Bo Diddley and It doesn't matter anymore among them. Many of these have been covered frequently down the years, and new versions continue to appear on a regular basis. The Rolling Stones covered Not fade away and it first appeared on one of their early B-sides. In 2002, British jazz singer Claire Martin recorded a magical version of Raining in my heart (on her album Too darn hot), perhaps the best cover of a Buddy Holly song I've ever heard - and I've heard a lot.

Besides those classic songs, there are some great covers here, some of which were also hits for Buddy, including Brown eyed handsome man (Chuck Berry). With so many tracks, there is still enough room to include some interesting but seldom-heard songs, such as Midnight shift, What to do, Learning the Game and Take your time.

This is the best double CD collection of Buddy's music that you are ever likely to find.

I could not help noticing that on disc 2 Track 8 is not the 'Peggy Sue Got Married',that i'm used to; nor track 9- Crying Waiting Hoping,nor Track 11 'Learning The Game' , and finally Track 12 'What To Do' .. the backing tracks must have come from somewhere else..sad really , as the sound and mastering is the best i've heard on Buddy yet .I have burned my own copy without these tracks , and i'm trading this in .It is a Dutch release ..so someone in Holland screwed up .Had to drop a star for this mess up; Where these tracks were dubbed i do not know .buyer and Holly fans beware .Track selection is what drew me to this release on paper; a great compilation ...the search continues for compilations featuring ALL original tracks .

This is one of the best Buddy Holly sets out there. The sound quality is fabulous and the track selection is excellent. Highly recommended even if you already have another "best of".