Product description

The Real Buddy Holly Story [1987]

Price: £5.38
Average customer rating: 5.0

Binding : DVD
EAN : 9780769777085
ISBN : 0769777082
Label : White Star
Manufacturer : White Star
Publisher : White Star
Release date : 2004-10-26
Title : The Real Buddy Holly Story [1987]
Actor : Array
Format : Array
Languages : Array
Number of items : 1
Original release date : 1987-01-01
Region code : 0
Running time : 86
Studio : White Star
Theatrical releaseDate : 2004-10-26
MPN : 1790

Customer reviews

review by: Alice Collector date: 2008-04-27 rating:

Authentic
Seems rather disgusting that this DVD has not been made available in the U K.Especially when its so important.
Only thing you can do is buy on import from HMV as I see its All Regions

review by: date: 2007-02-04 rating:

The Legend Lives On
Most of the content of this documentary has been seen before on BBC TV but this appears to be the full "uncut" version, produced and hosted by Paul McCartney. It opens with an excellent musical tribute by Holly's friend and fellow performer, Sonny Curtis. There are interesting and revealing interviews with Holly's family,musical contemporaries like fellow Crickets Jerry Allison and Joe B. Mauldin, and the various people involved in producing his records.

For anyone like myself who was around as a youngster in 1957 and 1958, this era was a magical time when new and exciting sounds were appearing over the radio and on records. Buddy Holly and the Crickets were central figures in this transformation. The initial style was certainly heavily influenced by Elvis Presley, but Holly went on to produce records that transcended the raw rock 'n' roll sound of Presley, Little Richard, Chuck Berry and the rest. With the able assistance of his producer and mentor Norman Petty, he created some masterpieces in a little studio in Clovis, New Mexico. We see Petty's widow Vi showing us round the now dusty and disused premises. She reveals her input on songs like "Think It Over", where her piano solo is neatly laid over the finished record.

Holly's star was in the ascendant during those heady days of 1957/8, but his life tragically ended in February 1959 in the crash of a small aircraft during a tour called the "Winter Dance Party". The sad reality is related by his friends Phil Everly and guitarist Tommy Allsup. Holly was forced to go on the road because his funds were running low and he desperately needed some income whilst he was waiting for his writing and performing royalties to turn up. The references to the wranglings behind the scenes are just a hint of the darker side of the music business.

This is a moving story of the emergence and subsequent exploitation of a great talent. The Gary Busey film of "The Buddy Holly Story", whilst excellent entertainment, was a romanticised version of the events, and Paul McCartney and the makers of this DVD felt they should produce a documentary which told the real story as near as possible - for the sake of Holly's family and friends, as well as the public at large.

I think they've succeeded in their efforts in setting the record straight.

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