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Week 30:
Buddy Holly
Artist Introduction
Charles Hardin Holley, aka Buddy Holly, was born in September 1936 and sadly was killed in a plane crash in February 1959, Age 22. But in his short life, from the release of his first record in July 1957, “That’ll Be The Day”, until his death, Buddy Holly changed the way music had ever been heard before. The man was an absolute genius, an early pioneer, and an innovator of technique, sound, and production of rudimentary Rock & Roll. A self-taught guitar player, B.H. made his bones playing country/western music in Texas in the early 1950’s. His first T.V. appearance was in 1952 (age 15) and actually opened for Elvis Presley in 1955 (age 18). It was around this time that B.H. started to experiment in studio recordings, changing his sound towards edgier (for that time) music. His record company agreed to let B.H. take over most of the production of his music, which had developed into 2 guitar, bass, and drums Rock & Roll. From estimated 1955 to mid 1957, while recording numerous singles in the studio, B.H. was performing live shows, opening for Jerry Lee Lewis, Waylon Jennings, and other popular acts of the time. With the release of “That’ll Be The Day” in July 1957, the Buddy Holly bandwagon (with alternating musicians The Crickets backing him) took off. He now headlined large musical showcases, both in America and Europe. During this time,he also appeared on numerous T.V. programs, including American Bandstand and The Ed Sullivan Show (twice, YouTube it, kinda cool). He also did the unthinkable. For 1 week in 1957, Buddy Holly and The Crickets played The Apollo Theatre in Harlem, the very first white act to perform at this legendary venue. I mentioned innovator early in the intro so I’ll give a few examples for now. He was the first to attach strings and orchestras to Rock & Roll studio recorded music. He also was the first to overdub his own voice to R & R recordings. Unheard of during this time. He experimented in the studio, using body slaps, foot stomps, odd musical instruments, and different vocalizations while recording. As for his overall music and lyrics, we’re not getting very deep here. Most of his music is basic 3 or 4 chord rhythm, with most songs covering about 3 minutes, give or take. There are a few basic, quick guitar leads, but mostly strumming and chords. His lyrics are simple, easy love tunes mostly (he was actually married at Age 21). And many of his songs sound similar, though with different arrangements. But Buddy Holly has influenced countless Rock & Roll music artists, including but not limited to, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones (listen to their version of Not Fade Away), Linda Ronstadt, Bob Dylan, Elton John (who once said there may not have been an Elton John without a Buddy Holly), and Eric Clapton. Many of these, and others, have recorded Buddy Holly music. A 2010 survey in Rolling Stone magazine listed Buddy Holly as #13 in the top 100 Greatest Musicians. The same magazine, in 2023, listed Buddy Holly as #74 in the top 200 Greatest Singers. He was inducted into the very first class of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1986. While only 3 of his albums, along with 22 singles, were released while he was alive, he had recorded enough music that his record companies were able to release new materials for 10 years after his death. And as we all know, his death was memorialized in the Don McClean song American Pie, “The Day The Music Died”. I know we sometimes get bored listening to 9 songs from one artist, especially when the songs are similar sounding. So take your time with this one. Listen to the arrangements and the different sounds. Rudimentary? Absolutely. But remember, it was mid to late 1950’s, and for that time, it was new, fresh, and exciting. Enjoy Buddy Holly.
Dad Cascella
Most Popular
It's So Easy
A rock-a-billy sound to another love song (of course), this one features a short, cool guitar lead, but by Cricket Tommy Allsup, not B.H. Again, nothing fancy, but Buddy’s use of raspy voice at times works in this one. Covered and recorded by numerous artists, and regularly performed by the Beatles live. In fact, Paul McCartney recorded his version in 2011 for the tribute album Rave On. And Linda Ronstadt’s version hit #5 on Billboard charts. Not bad.
Maybe Baby
How cool musically is this opening. So different for music in the 1950’s. Again, a rock-a-billy sound, with B.H. overdubbing his own voice in verses, with the Crickets contributing harmonies, another common feature in Buddy Holly music. A song of hoping for love, “It’s funny honey, you don’t care. You never listen to my prayer. Maybe baby, you will love me someday”. One of the United Kingdom’s all time favorites, it charted at #4 in the U.K. at the time.
Everyday
I’ll start the selections with a very simple optimistic love song, with easy music and lyrics. A minimalistic sound, common in B.H. music. An acoustic guitar, stand-up bass, and that rhythmic percussion tapping you hear is knee slapping. And the instrumental bridge is from an instrument called a Celesta, a keyboard made to produce a bell-like sound. Already we’re seeing how Buddy Holly experimented in the studio with different sounds. Rolling Stone magazine named Every Day the 238th Best Song Of All Time.
Personal Favorites
True Love Ways
Maybe my favorite Buddy Holly song. This beautiful, haunting love song was a gift to Buddy’s wife, Maria, recorded just 3 months before his tragic death, and not released until after his death. With deeper lyrics compared to previous selections, it features a soft, strumming guitar, very light percussion, and an array of violins, harps, violas, and a saxophone lead. Again, unheard of instrumentation in Rock and Roll recording for that time. Mickey Gilley’s 1980 version hit #1 on Billboards Country Singles. And this song was in consideration for me and mom’s wedding song, but lost out to Wonderful Tonight.
Not Fade Away
A rocking Be-Bop sound (look it up boys) with very simple music and lyrics, with Buddy’s voice following the rhythmic drumming, which mostly was performed in the studio recording on a cardboard box. Something about the off-beatness really works for me. And B.H. has short guitar spurts throughout. The Rolling Stones recorded this one in 1964, their very first Top 10 hit, peaking at #3 in the U.K., and #48 in the U.S.
Rave On
A rocker/rock-a-billy song, almost the exact same as “Oh Boy”, (which didn’t make the cut). Simple 3 or 4 chord rhythm, featuring a piano lead midway, this song was kind of risque for the time. “Rave on, it’s a crazy feelin’, and I know it’s got me reelin” and “Rave on with me”. Overly enthusiastic or just downright horny. This song features numerous what is called Buddy Holly hiccups, a singing style such as the opening lyric “Well” pronounced with a stuttering “a-weh-uh-weh-uh-ell”. In 2014 Rolling Stone magazine ranked Rave On as the #154 Greatest Song of All Time.
Unique Songs
Well... Alright
Featuring just Buddy Holly on strumming acoustic guitar, not electric (different) and very soft bass and brushed drum. While its got pretty much the same formula as others, it’s different in that these are probably B.H.’s best lyrics in these selections. It’s a very quiet, soft song, which he sings straightforward and clear, with no hiccup styles or yelps. Oddly, this was a B-side of another song. Many music writers consider this song one of best all-time B-side songs.
That'll Be The Day
Opening with guitar strumming and leading to a bass leading rhythm (different). We also get a very short guitar lead. Again, nothing fancy, and nothing too new. It’s also different in that it’s the only Buddy Holly song to reach #1 in both the U.S. and the U.K. while he was still alive. Can’t find too much different/unique in B.H. music. But an interesting fact about THAT’LL BE THE DAY. It’s the very first song the Quarrymen (a.k.a. The Beatles) recorded as a demo to play for record companies. Pretty Cool. Ronstadt’s version also hit #11. Rolling Stone named That’ll Be The Day #39 of 500 Greatest Songs Of All Time.
Words of Love
Of course, we’ll end the selections with another love song. Music pretty similar to many others, though the twangy guitar throughout is a little different. But the main uniqueness is that B.H. sang the whole thing in a studio, didn’t like its sound, then overdubbed the whole song singing in a different octave. While he overdubs his own voice in others, this one covers the whole (short) song. Never had been done by a Rock & Roll artist. It’s also different because it was Buddy Holly’s first #1 hit, though not as recording artist, as a band called The Diamonds released it before B.H. He was credited as the writer/composer. And again, this song was a regular in live Beatles concerts.
Conclusions
So that’s Buddy Holly. As written in my intro, whereas Buddy Holly was a prolific writer of music and lyrics, his songs are basic, simple, and many sound alike. But it’s his uniqueness at the time of his career, 1950’s, that makes him stand out. Considering he was only in the spotlight for approximately 18 months, his influence on the creation of what we now know as Rock & Roll is undeniable. The countless, countless musical artists who have recorded, and charted, with Buddy Holly music is incredible. No single performing artist comes close to having this influence. NONE. PERIOD. With this in mind, I have to give Buddy Holly a solid 8.0
Cascella Family Reviews
Vin Cascella
I want to start off my review by mentioning how crazy it is that Dad went from Tool in his last selection to Buddy Holly this week. Makes me wonder what Buddy Holly would have to say about the direction some of the music he helped pioneer has transformed into over the last 50+ years. That being said, this will be a very different review for me. There isn’t much to say musically, or lyrically. The entire 9 song selection barely makes it over 19 minutes. However, not acknowledging the importance of his work would be a disservice to this club.
It’s So Easy: Just a solid early days rock n’ roll song. It’s a quick song at just over two minutes but it makes use of literally every second. No wind up or outro on this one, just straight into a short chorus. This song has pretty much everything that you’d find in a solid rock song today. Little guitar solos, vocal inflections, backing vocals, drum and bass fills. I like the snappy ending, gotta save space on the record.
Maybe Baby: Not to be outdone by the previous track, Buddy Holly was able to find a way to chop off 7 more seconds to get this song down to 2:02 and somehow the song even features an intro, bridge, and outro. Sonically it's very similar to most of his other work, as is to be expected.
Everyday: This is the first of the songs that I actually know well. I know most of the songs to some extent but this and That’ll be The Day are the two I’m most familiar with. Probably the most unique sounding song on the entire list. I like the lyrics and vocal inflections. I can’t stand the knee slap percussion. Sounds like drumming on my fat gut, why does it sound wet? For the time period the Celesta is a nice touch as well. I don’t like it now, it sounds like part of a kid’s show. Super innovative song, but it annoys me.
True Love Ways: This is a nice song. A mix of early rock and jazz with a nice ensemble of instruments. Probably my second favorite on the list. And it almost takes a staggering 3 minutes!
Not Fade Away: Lots of vocal inflections on this one. I’m sure that stutter-step singing influenced a ton of music. I can think of a few songs selected in this club that have featured a similar vocal style. The song is fine, it’s different from a lot of the other tracks while still sounding distinctly Buddy Holly.
Rave On: Check out this punk rocker! Getting it down under 1:50. Who needs a longer song when you can play the notes twice as fast in half the amount of time. This is the closest Elvis/ Chuck Berry sounding song on the list. Definitely the most “Rock n’ Roll”. Cool song. Wonder if the masses were calling this the “Devil’s Music” at the time. Rave On.
Well… All Right: I think my conclusions will focus more on this that in the individual songs but it is really cool that we wrote his own music. Strong lyrics in this one and I like the guitar picking up in the chorus. Once again, sounds like Buddy Holly.
That’ll Be The Day: This is definitely my favorite Buddy Holly track. Never knew that it was also his first single to be released. Really came out of the gates swinging. It sounds like a few other acts from that era with the rock a billy guitar and drums and the Elvis-esque vocal stylings. But yea it's just a solid early Rock song. The drum flair in this song is also really fun.
Words of Love: The melody of this song feels so similar to Everyday but without the kneeslapping. Outside of that nothing much new to say. Although the selection is barely over 19 minutes it does drag a bit. My social media age riddled brain doesn’t have the attention sometimes.
Normally I focus on the music in my reviews but in the case of Buddy Holly there is so much more to discuss. Getting the music out of the way quickly. It's good, simple early days Rock N’ Roll. Nothing too crazy by today’s standards but that's just a fruitless comparison. Instead I think this review will be much better served discussing how an artist who was really only on the scene for 18 months had a lasting impact that helped shape music as we know it today. I always knew Buddy Holly as one of the pioneers of rock but I was very unaware of the things that he did that were actually unique and different for the time. Outside of overdubbing his vocals I didn’t know that Buddy Holly and the Crickets were one of the earliest formations of a core rock band. Lead and rhythm guitar, bass, drums, and vocals. It’s kind of crazy that such a normal practice would have been considered revolutionary 70 years ago. Buddy Holly also wrote, produced, and recorded his music. At the time it was unheard of for an artist to be involved in all aspects of the music production. Not that that was a bad thing, just a sign of the times. But with all of that being said how do I rate this? Subjectively I can’t really listen to this music for more than a few songs before I’m painfully bored. But that’s not fair at all and his work demands a ton of respect, possibly more than anyone else we’ve covered so far in this group. Grading on a curve here.
7.3
Joe Cascella
I know very little about Buddy Holly. I know his music is very old, I know he was a pioneer of a genre, I know Weezer has a song called Buddy Holly, and I know he died young in a plane crash. That’s about it, should be a fun listen.
It’s So Easy – Oh wow, we really have some classic 50’s/60s sound right off the rip, which is kind of crazy considering he was a huge part in developing this sound. I love the instrumentation in the beginning, very fun. Very basic but good song. Quick and to the point, cool style. The background vocals are everything for this era of music, pretty funny.
Maybe Baby – If this was brand new at the time, I would go absolutely nuts for it. Although basic to today’s standards, this is wildly impressive considering the timestamp. It’s Doo wop with rock n roll elements. Has the simplicity and beauty of doo-wop, but guitar work and rhythm of a rock n roll song. His voice is very enjoyable and I can listen to this all day. Would it be fair to say this is “Martha’s Dandee Cream” music?
Everyday – I can see how the Beatles were influenced by this music, specifically this song. For sure a creative genius for this era. Also, the music holds the test of time. You can easily enjoy this music. Nothing special obviously but a good enjoyable track.
True Love Ways – Was this a classic wedding song option? It’s beautiful. Slow paced, elegant, impactful lyrics (probably his best so far), beautiful sound. Maybe this would have made my short list of potential wedding songs. The Apollo Theatre story mentioned in dad’s intro sticks out with this one. You can hear the NYC music influence here that a lot of songs of this era have. It’s interesting he’s a Texas boy.
Not Fade Away – There’s that Doo-Wop Rock N Roll combo. This is the most rock n roll sounding song yet, with a bit more edge and cool sounding voice. Overall, pretty impressive this was happening then.
Rave On – Ooooo, even more rock n roll. This actually has a lot going on in a really good way. This song to me can be in any opening scene of a movie with a public pool, lifeguards, kids playing outside, and a beautiful summer day. Very enjoyable track.
Well…All Right – This is for sure ahead of its time. I know I sound repetitive here, and my overall review will say the same things, but this is pretty damn incredible. I’m not going to go outta my way today to listen to it, but the roots of today’s rock n roll will forever have to pay credit to this man!
That’ll Be the Day – This clearly has a direct impact on the Jersey Boys. Frankie just took a lot of this sound to perhaps an even bigger step, with his incredibly unique and high pitch vocals and iconic sounds. Buddy Holly when with the Crickets clearly initiated the sound of the 60s. Good solid tune here.
Words of Love – Multiple dubs of his own voice on this track to create yes, a very unique sound. This song fits the category well. There’s only 9 lines in this entire song, but still there’s many new elements that we had not heard yet. Another good track
Overall Review: Buddy Holly clearly opened the door for many musicians to explore creativity with a whole new lens. His combined genre of Doo-Wop and Rock N Roll created a simple a beautiful sound, that at the time was heard by nobody. His influence led to many of the greats, specifically The Beatles stick out the most to me. It seems like his music inspired an entire decade of music in the 60s. It’s a shame he died so young because it would’ve been incredible to see where that brilliant mind could have taken him. As far as the music, it’s simple but catchy, easy to listen to, and overall, consistently solid. He’s at his best when he has that NYC summer daytime sound that you would hear on a jukebox at any diner in the 60s. With all of that, there is nothing particular that overly stood out where I’m adding songs to my playlist. It did get somewhat repetitive, but what would you expect from a guy whose playing this style of music for the first time ever. Music has just advanced so much in a quick 80 years that this is not exactly what I’m looking for. Either way, you have to respect the greatness that is Buddy Holly, and because there was nothing that I disliked at all, I’ll score him a 7.7.
Uncle Vin Cascella
Ahh, Buddy Holly. A true original from the late 50s. I knew some of his stuff but never gave it a deep listen so this 9-pack was a lot of fun! Although Chuck Berry is rightly considered one of the true founding fathers of Rock and Roll, Holly, as Tony very eloquently points out in his Artist Intro, was a true genius and innovator. I also feel that Holly’s compositions are much more developed as songs, a distinct difference from Berry’s records. If Holly was still alive in the early 60s, the Beatles might not have exploded the way they did- early Beatles music is basically Holly with a British accent and mop-top hair.
IT’S SO EASY: I didn’t realize how fun and a little raw Holly sings this song. Some very cool guitar work for 1959, and of course some doggone great backing vocals/harmonies. Linda Ronstadt’s version is also excellent.
MAYBE BABY: Some “dirty” sounding guitar and wonderfully nuanced lead vocals on this one. When blended with the typical harmonies, song structure and lyrics, it’s quite unique for 1957. And gold!
EVERYDAY: This 1958 song has a completely different sound both musically and vocally- a great example of Holly’s genius and innovative mind. The keyboard is a celesta which was used almost exclusively in classical and chamber music until Holly gave it a shot. The soft bell, almost glockenspiel quality of its tone, used in an early Pop/Rock tune, is, in today’s lingo, sick! Add to that a pants/leg slap as percussion and the chord structure of the chorus…. Unreal! The A-hey, a-hey hey is super corny but doesn’t detract from the overall brilliance of this track.
TRUE LOVE WAYS: Let me see if I have this correct: an orchestra and saxophone with a sweet and nuanced vocal (that low note sounds a little like Elvis!)- from a 21 year old heretofore known as a country music kid who most recently was messing around with a RnR sound? WTF? Totally insane!
NOT FADE AWAY: Damn, that’s an awesomely twisted rhythm and beat they’re running here. The recording is very rudimentary sounding. It’s also, IMHumbleO, early Rockabilly! Wow!
RAVE ON: A really cool song, lots of great things going on (guitar, vocals, production, etc), including a bit of a clunky start to the piano lead! Signature Buddy Holly sound.
WELL…ALL RIGHT: I had never heard this one. As an acoustic/folk sound from Holly, Tony gets major props for presenting something that perfectly fits the “unique” aspect of the song selection rules. There’s a fucking tamborine in there! And not just shaking it- the percussion includes tapping the MF with a drum stick too. Are you f’in kidding me! Some slightly sloppy guitar work is absolutely forgiven because the vocal is so outstanding. By the way, Yusuf Islam, the artist formally known as Cat Stevens, stole this vocal style from Holly!
THAT’LL BE THE DAY: Great song- very well structured, written and performed, with fantastic vocals. The absolute definition of a Pop/Rock song. 1957! Wow! By the way, Tony using his first pick and last pick that happen to be huge hits for Linda Ronstadt is not by accident! Kudos my brother! Well played!
Final Score: Buddy Holly was fucking Great Great Great! Absolute shame that he passed away in a small plane crash between 2 shows. Based on the music and adding in the fact that he was a pioneer and an influence on so many artists, a strong 8.8.
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