The Buddy Holly music wagon

During his lifetime, Buddy Holly (real name Charles Hardin Holley) released only three albums. However, an Internet search on "Buddy Holly" would make it seem like he was one of the most prolific and successful recording artistes of the 1950s.

Truth is, yes, he did record a lot of songs, including demos and home recordings, but these never saw the light of day. It was only after his death that the record companies began churning out album after album in his name. For example, Coral Records was able to release brand-new albums and singles for 10 years after his death. As the technical quality tended to be very mixed, his demo recordings were overdubbed by studio musicians to give them a fuller sound for commercial release. That's why I really don't know what's real and what's not any more where Buddy Holly is concerned.

But it's acknowledged that he was a great pioneer of rock and roll. Unfortunately, his success lasted only 1½ years as he died in a light airplane crash on 3 Feb 1959 that also snuffed out the lives of Ritchie Valens and JP Richardson. His works inspired and influenced a whole lot of his contemporaries and later musicians, notably The Beatles, The Beach Boys, The Rolling Stones and even Bob Dylan. His death too inspired people like Don McLean with his American Pie album.

I've only one compilation album of Buddy Holly's songs. It may not have his greatest all-time hits but to me, it is good enough for my listening pleasure.

Side One: Brown-Eyed Handsome Man, Rock Around With Ollie Vee, Ready Teddy, Rock Me My Baby, It's Too Late, Blue Days, Holly Hop, I'm Looking For Someone To Love, Crying Waiting Hoping, Peggy Sue Got Married
Side Two: Rave On, Love Me, Baby I Don't Care, Ting-A-Ling, Tell Me How, Love's Made A Fool Of You, Baby Won't You Come Out Tonight, Dearest (Umm Oh Yeah), Slippin' & Slidin', Everyday