The Very Best of Ritchie Valens

Ritchie Valens

Product Details

• Audio CD (November 21, 2002)
• Original Release Date: November 21, 2002
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Repertoire
• ASIN: B000023XRE
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #12,266 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Reissued 1999 compilation. In 1957 the young singer/ guitarist self-penned single, 'Come On, Lets Go', immediately reached the Billboard charts. An even bigger smash, 1958's double A-side 'Donna', 'La Bamba' established Valens as the first hispano-American rock star. He was tragically killed in a plane crash on 3rd February 1959 with Buddy Holly and the Big Bopper. This album contains his classic hits.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Ritchie may have been another Buddy, if he'd lived..., December 17, 2001

By	William E. Adams (Hobbs, NM USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

I have this collection, but under the title "Rockin' All Night" on Del-Fi and it is a bit shorter, but has all of RV's best work.In 1959, shortly after THE CRASH, I bought Richie's only existing LP on vinyl. I wore it out and eventually gave it away, so I was glad to find this compilation on CD a couple of years ago. I have always been a great Buddy Holly fan, and have everything he ever recorded. However, when you listen to this album and realize that Ritchie was not yet l8 when he died, you conclude that we lost a musical genius who, if he had lived, may well have surpassed Buddy in his influence on rock and roll. Ritchie had IT, whatever IT is...poetry, soul, passion, charisma. Of course, "La Bamba" and "Donna" are the great hits of his brief lifetime, but "In a Turkish Town" and "Malaguena" show the promise of an adult, accomplished, self-confident RV that alas, was never to be realized. This is a fine collection, and essential to anyone who wants the best of the 1950's. Thank God that Ritchie laid down so many tracks before he left us, but I will always wonder what he could have done had he lived through his next decade. He and Buddy died together after having briefly performed together, and each was a true giant.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good CD, August 23, 2003

By	Lee M. Williamson (Whittier, California USA) - See all my reviews

Good CD, but even better is the Ritchie Valens Story. It has Bob Keane doing wonderful naration of Ritchie's recording history and life. As far as "Bluebirds Over the Mountain," that is not the song that comes over the radio when you learn of Ritchie's death in the movie La Bamba. The song interrupted by the radio bulletin is "Over the Mountain and Across the Sea" performed by Johnnie and Joe.

2 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Review, March 21, 2003

By	"musicloverlady" (Cincinnati, Ohio) - See all my reviews

Ritchie Valens was a fantastic singer. I grew up with his music, and still like it today. I don't believe there is one song that is not good!
People who saw the movie wanted to know what the song was that was playing when the news of Ritchie's [end to life] came over the radio. It is on this recording and the title is "Bluebirds Over the Mountain". Get it and enjoy his music!