The Crickets will always be best known as
Buddy Holly's backup band, but they had a long, if somewhat less successful career on their own following
Holly's death in 1959. This collection is somewhat confusing since it splits things between classic
Crickets tracks with
Holly and later pieces without him (when for all practical purposes, they were a different band). Familiar
Holly material collected here includes "That'll Be the Day," "Oh Boy," "Not Fade Away," "Maybe Baby," and "It's So Easy." Guitarist
Sonny Curtis emerged as the focus point for the Crickets following
Holly's death, and he blossomed into a fine writer, penning "I Fought the Law" (a hit later for
Bobby Fuller), "More Than I Can Say" (a hit for
Bobby Vinton), and the delightful "Baby My Heart," all of which are collected here. There are a lot of collections of
Buddy Holly & the Crickets material available. Pick this one only if you want a taste of the post-
Holly band. ~ Steve Leggett