The drumming on Buddy Holly's "Peggy Sue":

chet · May 7th, 2008, 09:54 AM

Was that done on a special drum setup or was it the normal setup that most drummers use?

jas468 · May 7th, 2008, 10:43 AM

The book "The Rockabilly Legends" by Jerry Naylor says:

Quote:

Buddy had originally written a little song with a Latin beat and named it for his niece, Cindy Lou. But as "Peggy Sue", the gentle Latin beat became enflamed rock-at-its-best, with Jerry isolated in the studio hallway, pounding the life out of his drums with "warm-up practice paradiddles" throughout the night.

I was a young kid and saw him on tv doing this, using his regular drum set. Of course the echo from the record was missing and the loss of it was noticeable.

hekawi · May 7th, 2008, 11:40 AM

check out this video of Buddy & the Crickets playing Peggy Sue "live":

how those kids in the crowd can stand still while he plays is beyond me.

jonzer · May 7th, 2008, 12:23 PM

It sounds awesome. Those drums rock and so does Buddy.

51mike · May 7th, 2008, 12:43 PM

It's an easy thing to do and I usually do it on the floor tom but really, you can play it among different drums do it all on one of the other toms, take turns between toms and even on the snare if you set the throw-off so the snares are off.
Fun little thing

getbent · May 7th, 2008, 12:44 PM

chet, what is cool about that setup is that it is so basic it jumps out at you!

I think JI is pretty much playing 16th note paradiddles on the toms and it sounds crazy good. it is almost like a practice exercise and yet it 'makes' the song that much better.

chet · May 7th, 2008, 01:01 PM

I'm getting "The Real Buddy Holly Story" in a few days so maybe I can check out how Jerry Allison (?) played it.
It sounds like about three different drums to me.

chet · May 7th, 2008, 01:04 PM

I have "The Chirping Crickets" and "Buddy Holly" reissue CDs and was listening to them this weekend. The bass really comes out on those cd's- I should try to learn the parts.

I'm trying to get the solo on "That'll Be The Day" right. He played some subtle stuff there that is hard to get right.

tazzboy · May 7th, 2008, 04:09 PM

The song was original going to be called Cindy Lou after Buddy Niece, but Jerry Allison ask Buddy to change to Peggy Sue to when her back after Peggy Sue and Jerry had broken up. Buddy agree to only if Jerry can do the Paradiddle beat of the song. It took Jerry 3 time before he got right.

At Least that it what I remember reading about

joeman335td · May 7th, 2008, 04:22 PM

And the thing that makes the record so cool is the switching of the echo on and off...listen close and it switches back and forth along with the pattern...very cool!

Joe M · May 7th, 2008, 05:46 PM

One of the drummers I used to play with always laid a cloth handkerchief on the head of his snare, got THE sound perfectly that way....I'm pretty sure he turned the snare off also...

WickedGTR · May 7th, 2008, 07:09 PM

Quote:

I'm trying to get the solo on "That'll Be The Day" right. He played some subtle stuff there that is hard to get right.

He did it with a capo on the 5th fret...

Johnny Isaacs · May 7th, 2008, 07:48 PM

did no wrong in my book. That'll be the day - amazing. Peggy Sue - amazing.

Johnny Isaacs

chet · May 7th, 2008, 08:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WickedGTR

He did it with a capo on the 5th fret...

Yeah, I have a hard time hitting that B7th chord with the capo in the way.

chet · May 7th, 2008, 08:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Johnny Isaacs

did no wrong in my book. That'll be the day - amazing. Peggy Sue - amazing.

Johnny Isaacs

I got turned on to :
"Peggy Sue Got Married" and
"Slippin' And Slidin'" a couple of weeks ago. Buddy's singing is very cool in those songs. It sounds like he's right there in the room with you. At least it does on the vinyl version which I also have.

Unseen · May 7th, 2008, 08:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hekawi

check out this video of Buddy & the Crickets playing Peggy Sue "live":

how those kids in the crowd can stand still while he plays is beyond me.

But he's not playing. He's lip-syncing. I don't even think they had the technology back then to make a live performance sound decent. Besides, that is EXACTLY the music on the single, so he's syncing.

Johnny Isaacs · May 7th, 2008, 09:47 PM

Johnny Isaacs

PeterUK · May 8th, 2008, 02:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Johnny Isaacs

Johnny Isaacs

Johnny

I'm not sure I agree with you.

Watch it again and Buddy seems to do nothing to change the tone and volume of the guitar when he plays the guitar solo, yet there seems to be a very distinct change in volume and tone.

To be fair, you can only really see Buddy at the end of the solo but he does nothing to go back into the rhythm strumming and tone. And I can see any pedals, if such things existed back then?

Discuss?

Peter

PeterUK · May 8th, 2008, 02:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PeterUK

Johnny

I'm not sure I agree with you.

Watch it again and Buddy seems to do nothing to change the tone and volume of the guitar when he plays the guitar solo, yet there seems to be a very distinct change in volume and tone.

To be fair, you can only really see Buddy at the end of the solo but he does nothing to go back into the rhythm strumming and tone. And I can see any pedals, if such things existed back then?

Discuss?

Peter

OK. I'm wiping the egg off my face as I type!

Pass me another towel.

I've just noticed that it's a different video of the same show and I agree, that is definitely Buddy Holly and the Crickets playing live! Awesome!

Peter

bonefish · May 8th, 2008, 03:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PeterUK

OK. I'm wiping the egg off my face as I type!

Pass me another towel.

I've just noticed that it's a different video of the same show and I agree, that is definitely Buddy Holly and the Crickets playing live! Awesome!

Peter

maybe i'm missing some inherent sarcasm, but if that's live, where's buddy's mic?

chet · May 8th, 2008, 08:31 AM

The mics on those old shows were usually hanging down from above them off camera.

I'll look the performances up in the two Buddy Holly books I have.

I got interested in him when the Garey Busey movie came out and Buddy Holly's picture was on Rolling Stone magazine so I bought John Goldrosen's book "The Life And Times O Buddy Holly". It's been updated and I have the newer version at home.

They did do a lot of lip-syncing then.

I remember reading in one of the books that Niki Sullivan had to flip the switch for him while Buddy recorded the solo to "Peggy Sue".

chet · May 8th, 2008, 02:01 PM

I found this in an old TDPRI thread:

Percussion: Buddy Holly’s recordings were nothing if not inventive, specifically in the use of percussive effects. On "Everyday," Buddy has Jerry Allison simply slap his knees in basic rhythm for the song’s backbeat. The use of a cardboard box was something used readily by Norman Petty in his studio ever since Buddy Knox used one in place of a snare drum on his hit "Party Doll." The Crickets were no exception to the rule, using it on such songs as "Not Fade Away," "I’m Gonna Love You Too," "(You’re So Square) Baby I Don’t Care," and "Take Your Time." In the song "Well All Right," Allison just plays his ride cymbal, alternately choking it and letting it ring out. "Peggy Sue," though appearing to be played on several tom-toms and done that way live, was only played on one tom in the studio while Norman Petty changed the equalization and echo patterns on the drum’s microphone.

Fret Wilkes · May 8th, 2008, 02:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chet

The mics on those old shows were usually hanging down from above them off camera.

Chet, I've also seen pictures of Buddy wearing a mic on a strap around his neck like a necklace.

Buddy RULES!

Fret

Joe M · May 8th, 2008, 02:21 PM

Have you guys heard that when Buddy appeared on the Ed Sullivan Show, there was somebody off camera at Buddy's feet that flipped the selector switch on his Strat when he played the solo, then flipped it back again....cool....I wonder if there's a video of that show??

May 7th, 2008, 09:54 AM	#1 (permalink)
chet Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: The Jersey Shore Posts: 5,972	The drumming on Buddy Holly's "Peggy Sue": Was that done on a special drum setup or was it the normal setup that most drummers use?

May 7th, 2008, 11:40 AM	#3 (permalink)
hekawi Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: greenville, sc Posts: 1,908	check out this video of Buddy & the Crickets playing Peggy Sue "live": how those kids in the crowd can stand still while he plays is beyond me. __________________ ____________________________________________ "Rule Number One: Obey All Rules" - Barney Fife

May 7th, 2008, 12:23 PM	#4 (permalink)
jonzer Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Virginia Posts: 1,016	It sounds awesome. Those drums rock and so does Buddy. __________________ http://816rocks.com/

May 7th, 2008, 12:44 PM	#6 (permalink)
getbent Moderator Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: San Benito County, California Age: 48 Posts: 9,012 37 Photos	chet, what is cool about that setup is that it is so basic it jumps out at you! I think JI is pretty much playing 16th note paradiddles on the toms and it sounds crazy good. it is almost like a practice exercise and yet it 'makes' the song that much better. __________________ I got a room at the top of the world tonight, I got a room at the top of the world tonight, and I ain't... comin'... down.

May 7th, 2008, 01:01 PM	#7 (permalink)
chet Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: The Jersey Shore Posts: 5,972	Can't see the link here... I'm getting "The Real Buddy Holly Story" in a few days so maybe I can check out how Jerry Allison (?) played it. It sounds like about three different drums to me.

May 7th, 2008, 12:43 PM	#5 (permalink)
51mike Tele-Holic Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Webster, NY Age: 58 Posts: 583 11 Photos	It's an easy thing to do and I usually do it on the floor tom but really, you can play it among different drums do it all on one of the other toms, take turns between toms and even on the snare if you set the throw-off so the snares are off. Fun little thing

May 7th, 2008, 01:04 PM	#8 (permalink)
chet Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: The Jersey Shore Posts: 5,972	I have "The Chirping Crickets" and "Buddy Holly" reissue CDs and was listening to them this weekend. The bass really comes out on those cd's- I should try to learn the parts. I'm trying to get the solo on "That'll Be The Day" right. He played some subtle stuff there that is hard to get right.

May 7th, 2008, 04:09 PM	#9 (permalink)
tazzboy Friend of Leo's Join Date: May 2005 Location: Eugene, Oregon Age: 31 Posts: 2,726	The song was original going to be called Cindy Lou after Buddy Niece, but Jerry Allison ask Buddy to change to Peggy Sue to when her back after Peggy Sue and Jerry had broken up. Buddy agree to only if Jerry can do the Paradiddle beat of the song. It took Jerry 3 time before he got right. At Least that it what I remember reading about __________________ tazzboy Guitar: 1982 Gibson Les Paul Standard AMP: 59 Bassman Reissue. EFFECTS: 2 Boss TR-2 Tremolo, Boss CE-2 Chorus, and Boss DM-3 Echo Delay.

May 7th, 2008, 04:22 PM	#10 (permalink)
joeman335td TDPRI Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Iowa Posts: 59	And the thing that makes the record so cool is the switching of the echo on and off...listen close and it switches back and forth along with the pattern...very cool!

May 7th, 2008, 05:46 PM	#11 (permalink)
Joe M Moderator Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Michigan Posts: 1,094	One of the drummers I used to play with always laid a cloth handkerchief on the head of his snare, got THE sound perfectly that way....I'm pretty sure he turned the snare off also...

May 7th, 2008, 07:48 PM	#13 (permalink)
Johnny Isaacs Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Las Vegas, NV Posts: 1,419 3 Photos	Buddy did no wrong in my book. That'll be the day - amazing. Peggy Sue - amazing. Johnny Isaacs __________________ Myspace music page I've never trusted a guitar player who hasn't licked a few 9volts... Famous last words...... after this one, no new Tele's!

May 7th, 2008, 09:47 PM	#17 (permalink)
Johnny Isaacs Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Las Vegas, NV Posts: 1,419 3 Photos	Buddy live Johnny Isaacs __________________ Myspace music page I've never trusted a guitar player who hasn't licked a few 9volts... Famous last words...... after this one, no new Tele's! Last edited by Johnny Isaacs : May 7th, 2008 at 11:08 PM.

May 8th, 2008, 08:31 AM	#21 (permalink)
chet Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: The Jersey Shore Posts: 5,972	The mics on those old shows were usually hanging down from above them off camera. I'll look the performances up in the two Buddy Holly books I have. I got interested in him when the Garey Busey movie came out and Buddy Holly's picture was on Rolling Stone magazine so I bought John Goldrosen's book "The Life And Times O Buddy Holly". It's been updated and I have the newer version at home. They did do a lot of lip-syncing then. I remember reading in one of the books that Niki Sullivan had to flip the switch for him while Buddy recorded the solo to "Peggy Sue".

May 8th, 2008, 02:01 PM	#22 (permalink)
chet Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: The Jersey Shore Posts: 5,972	I found this in an old TDPRI thread: Percussion: Buddy Holly’s recordings were nothing if not inventive, specifically in the use of percussive effects. On "Everyday," Buddy has Jerry Allison simply slap his knees in basic rhythm for the song’s backbeat. The use of a cardboard box was something used readily by Norman Petty in his studio ever since Buddy Knox used one in place of a snare drum on his hit "Party Doll." The Crickets were no exception to the rule, using it on such songs as "Not Fade Away," "I’m Gonna Love You Too," "(You’re So Square) Baby I Don’t Care," and "Take Your Time." In the song "Well All Right," Allison just plays his ride cymbal, alternately choking it and letting it ring out. "Peggy Sue," though appearing to be played on several tom-toms and done that way live, was only played on one tom in the studio while Norman Petty changed the equalization and echo patterns on the drum’s microphone.

May 8th, 2008, 02:21 PM	#24 (permalink)
Joe M Moderator Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Michigan Posts: 1,094	Have you guys heard that when Buddy appeared on the Ed Sullivan Show, there was somebody off camera at Buddy's feet that flipped the selector switch on his Strat when he played the solo, then flipped it back again....cool....I wonder if there's a video of that show??

May 8th, 2008, 02:31 PM	#25 (permalink)
bradpdx Tele-Holic Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Portland, OR Age: 50 Posts: 648