February 3rd marks the 50th anniversary of "The Day The Music Died," when a plane crash took the lives of three, now legendary rock 'n' rollers --
Buddy Holly,
Ritchie Valens, and The Big Bopper. In spite of Holly's brief yet astonishing professional career, he changed the sound of music. The result was some of the most innovative and influential rock 'n' roll ever recorded. To commemorate his contribution to music history, the vault of rare
Buddy Holly tracks was opened for two multi-disc sets recently released.
The three-CD, 60-selection Memorial Collection (Geffen/Decca/UMe), presents thorough, digitally remastered and undubbed recordings with original duo partner
Bob Montgomery and backing band and collaborators, The Crickets. "The release of these sets will be a magical moment for the fans who have been waiting for a long time to hear the beginnings of Buddy's career to the end with the apartment tapes, his last recordings! Holly-lujah!" said
Maria Elena Holly.
The two-CD, 59-selection Down The Line - Rarities (Geffen/UMe), is filled with pre-fame home recordings, alternate takes, undubbed versions, and informal solo tapes. Original Cricket J.I. Allison fondly recalls laying down some of those famous recordings. "Many of the tunes were done just in Buddy's garage, but I remember doing a few of them like 'Bo Diddley' and 'Brown-Eyed Handsome Man' way out West at Petty's studio in Clovis, NM. The lineup was Buddy, myself on drums,
Sonny Curtis on guitar and
Don Guess on bass."
February 3, 1959, will forever be labeled "The Day the Music Died," but
Buddy Holly was, is, and always will be a rock 'n' roll icon whose legacy lives on.
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