Buddy Holly & The Crickets: Buddy Holly (vocals, guitar); Niki Sullivan (guitar); Joe B. Mauldin (bass); Jerry Allison (drums). Producer: Norman Petty. Compilation producer: Steve Hoffman. Principally recorded in Clovis, New Mexico in 1957 and 1958. Digitally remastered by Steve Hoffman

1 That'll Be the Day 2:19 
2 Oh, Boy! 2:10 
3 Not Fade Away 2:23 
4 Tell Me How 2:01 
5 Maybe Baby 2:04 
6 Everyday 2:09 
7 Rock Around With Ollie Vee 2:13 
8 It's So Easy 2:11 
9 I'm Looking for Someone to Love 1:58 
10 Peggy Sue 2:31 
11 I'm Gonna Love You Too 2:16 
12 Words of Love 1:57 
13 Rave On 1:51 
14 Well ... All Right 2:15 
15 Listen to Me 2:22 
16 Think It Over 1:48 
17 Heartbeat 2:10 
18 Reminiscing 2:01 
19 It Does't Matter Anymore 2:08 
20 True Love Ways 3:01 

Though he was only 22 when he died in 1959, and had a recording career that lasted but three years, Buddy Holly remains one of the most influential figures in rock & roll history. A great stylist as well as ingenious synthesist, Holly forged a sound that combined elements of R&B, country, and pop, but was distinctly his own. To wit: such eternal classics as "That'll Be the Day," "Not Fade Away," "Peggy Sue," "Words of Love," "It's So Easy," "Heartbeat," and "Well...All Right"--all included in this 20-song package. At the time of his tragic death, he was moving in still new directions, hinted here by "Reminiscing" (with King Curtis on sax) and the string-aided "True Love Ways." --Billy Altman