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Album #8 of 1001

The "Chirping" Crickets

Buddy Holly and The Crickets

Sleeve of The "Chirping" Crickets by Buddy Holly and The Crickets

Slipping? Well OK I missed a day, but now I’m back on top of it. Hey, there’s a lot of jazz albums on the way and I’m trying my best OK?

Anyway, this was a surprise.

Everyone knows Buddy Holly right? That’ll be the Day? Peggy Sue? Well, like the Elvis album a few posts back, this is the sound of an icon not QUITE fully formed.

Oh let’s be clear here. This album is still rocking “Oh Boy” and “That’ll be the Day”. It still has Buddy’s rock roots with with a rousing burst into “Not Fade Away: and the warm doo-wop of “Send me some Loving”. It’s still the sound of something that was about to change the world, the prequel to a teenage Lennon, Jagger and Dylan, all sat listening and being inspired as this rolled along at 33 rpm.

And nostalgia aside, this is a capable album. For a debut, it’s blinding. Utterly professional and humble, it’s fun and soulful (if “Last Night” doesn’t get you, you are dead inside). The fact that it was just the start of an all-too-short career makes every heartstring moment just a little more vivid.

Track listing

  1. Oh, Boy! 2:09
  2. Not Fade Away 2:23
  3. You’ve Got Love 2:08
  4. Maybe Baby 2:03
  5. It’s Too Late 2:24
  6. Tell Me How 2:01
  7. That’ll Be the Day 2:17
  8. I’m Looking for Someone to Love 1:59
  9. An Empty Cup (and a Broken Date) 2:14
  10. Send Me Some Lovin’ 2:36
  11. Last Night 1:55
  12. Rock Me My Baby 1:49

12 tracks, total running time 25:56. Track data from MusicBrainz.