On this, the forty first year of his death, it is a sad pleasure to dip back again into the great sinbger-songwriters back catalogue. Though really, from both the Stones and the Beatles early covers (and the Hollies naming themselves after him and the Beatles punning on the Crickets) all the way to “Dearest” on the Juno soundtrack in 2007, the man has simply never been out of style.
It Doesn’t Matter Anymore – Listen for three things: the jaunitiness of the piano before the strings bring the song all the way down again, the orchestration, and the way simple words sound when they are sung right. The first lines grab you and hurl you: “There you going baby, here am I, where you left me here so I could sit and cry…” The only guy who has ever come within a million miles of this is Marshall Crenshaw.
I’m Gonna Set My Foot Down – The hiccup sells it and the break is rock and roll in its clearest form.
Love’s Made A Fool Of You – Sold on that awesome electric guitar lick and the handclaps
Peggy Sue Got Married – An answer to his own huge hit and a better song though the single version which rides the acoustic guitar instead of the electric is even better., The story is of a secret and in the single he seems to be almost whispering it. And the song -all these songs. Just incredible constructions. I would say every rock songwriter should learn from this song but that’s silly because every one does.
Well… Alright – And you thought Eric Clapton wrote it. Holly could wand write R&B but he seemed to always manage to sweeten the pain.
(You’re So Square) Baby, I Don’t Care – The (only) problem with Presley’s version was Presley sounded so salacious you didn’t believe all he did in the movie theatre with his gal was hold hands. But Holly is a joyful throb of first love.
Rave On – “While we’re young, boys, everybody…” Titus sing on a song not yet released but what they grasp there is what Holly (and Berry) were about: the high spiritedness of youth. The joy of the moments… the rave in the rave on. Tell me not be lonely.
Bye Bye Buddy -you made my life better.