Buddy Holly - who played lead?

jhundt · November 14th, 2006, 12:12 PM

I'm wondering about "Ollie V" and "Annie's Been Working on the Midnight Shift". Anyone here know who played the lead, and what guitar/amp he used?

Stuco · November 14th, 2006, 12:29 PM

I thought buddy played lead and rhythm.

del · November 14th, 2006, 01:25 PM

thought the same .. and a strat + twin ?

jhundt · November 14th, 2006, 01:49 PM

I'm listening to a Buddy Holly Greates Hits disc. There's lots of songs where it sounds like him playing lead. On these two songs it's a whole different style, real rockabilly travis-picking, like Carl Perkins and those guys. Maybe I'm wrong, but I think someone else is playing these parts.

teledude66 · November 14th, 2006, 02:06 PM

maybe it was Waylon......

WickedGTR · November 14th, 2006, 02:08 PM

Sonny Curtis played lead in that era.

(He also wrote I Fought the Law... and had a lot of other success...)

http://www.sonnycurtis.com/

momotrucker · November 14th, 2006, 02:13 PM

Tommy Allsup also played lead with Buddy, Check this link and also memory serves that he played lead on 'Wishing' and memory also serves that it was great playing...the kind that makes you say 'i gotta find ou who this guy is!'

http://www.rockabillyhall.com/TommyAllsup1.html

WickedGTR · November 14th, 2006, 02:20 PM

Tommy Allsup is one of my favorites- He played with Buddy after the original Crickets broke up-

He played on Heartbeat and It's so Easy, and a few others. He was on the last tour.

The songs mentioned at the beginning were done in Nashville before the Crickets were successful.

jwells393 · November 14th, 2006, 02:23 PM

Ah ............... Buddy Holly .......... His successful songs were recorded in my home town .......... Clovis New Mexico at the Norman Petty Studio.

jhundt · November 14th, 2006, 02:26 PM

I just spent an hour or so researching on the 'net, and it does indeed appear to be confirmed that Sonny Curtis played lead guitar on the two songs in question. In fact he wrote "Ollie V".

we bow to your immense knowledge, brother WickedGTR

Sonny Curtis' site implies that these recordings were done with a Strat (amp not mentioned), and that Sonny was the first rock'n'roll player to record with a Strat. Very interesting....

Sea Devil · November 14th, 2006, 02:27 PM

Many of the tracks released after Buddy's death were overdubbed by the Fireballs in Norman Petty's Clovis, NM studio. The Fireballs have a MySpace page and might be willing to answer questions about specifics. I think that the tracks that you're talking about were recorded before all of that stuff, though. I have the BH vinyl box set that came out in the late 70's, and I believe it has specific personnel listings, but I'm too lazy to check right now...

txspreacher · November 14th, 2006, 02:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WickedGTR

Tommy Allsup is one of my favorites- He played with Buddy after the original Crickets broke up-

He played on Heartbeat and It's so Easy, and a few others. He was on the last tour.

The songs mentioned at the beginning were done in Nashville before the Crickets were successful.

Tommy ran a honky-tonk in the Deep Ellum section of Dallas back in the late 80's or early 90's called "Tommy's Heads-Up Saloon" in reference to the ill-fated coin toss. Just a little sidebar trivia, FWIW.

Hiflyer · December 14th, 2006, 10:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jhundt

I just spent an hour or so researching on the 'net, and it does indeed appear to be confirmed that Sonny Curtis played lead guitar on the two songs in question. In fact he wrote "Ollie V".

we bow to your immense knowledge, brother WickedGTR

Sonny Curtis' site implies that these recordings were done with a Strat (amp not mentioned), and that Sonny was the first rock'n'roll player to record with a Strat. Very interesting....

Yes, Sonny Curtis was on lead on both of them, and Grady Martin on Rhythm Guitar on Midnight Shift (according to the cover of the LP "Nashville Sessions"). These songs were recorded in Nashville in 56. There is also an awesome alternative version of "Rock Around With Ollie Vee" with sax and ... with Grady Martin on lead.

Chris

Dave Hopping · December 14th, 2006, 12:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sea Devil

Many of the tracks released after Buddy's death were overdubbed by the Fireballs in Norman Petty's Clovis, NM studio. The Fireballs have a MySpace page and might be willing to answer questions about specifics. I think that the tracks that you're talking about were recorded before all of that stuff, though. I have the BH vinyl box set that came out in the late 70's, and I believe it has specific personnel listings, but I'm too lazy to check right now...

Check this out.... http://www.fireballs-original.com

Clive Hugh · December 14th, 2006, 10:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by del

thought the same .. and a strat + twin ?

There was an article about Buddys gear in a Guitar Player mag. a while back, it wasn't a Twin it was something else, they had a shot of it, loaned by his wife for the article.
Grady Martin, he was a great player who I feel never got the recognition he deserved.

Slim · December 14th, 2006, 10:47 PM

That lead on 'It's So Easy', particularly the end 'dunk-dunka-dunk-dunka-dunk-dunka-dunk' is one of the greatest licks of all time. You know what I'm talking about, WickedGTR.

Steveinthesticks · December 14th, 2006, 11:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clive Hugh

There was an article about Buddys gear in a Guitar Player mag. a while back, it wasn't a Twin it was something else, they had a shot of it,

I think a Supro was used on the recordings, though Fender provided a pair of strats and twins that they toured with later. At least one of those strats was stolen while they were eating lunch in Kansas city.

Steve

WickedGTR · December 15th, 2006, 12:15 AM

Holly had one of the early Magnatone amps with the vibrato in his apt in New York. IIRC, the only thing he recorded with it were the song demos on his home tape recorder when he died. There were later overdubbed at by the Fireballs. Norman Petty's studio had a Fender Pro amp that was used on all the records- and it's still there. I think he used a Bassman live....

When I finally got a strat and could play the little little bar bend in the beginning of the solo on "Heartbeat" right for the first time, my life changed a little bit. I played on a song "Pretty Girls Don't Cry" and the guitar part was a (AHEM) homage (or ripoff?) of that whole Tommy Allsup feel.

I think he's swell.

Hiflyer · December 15th, 2006, 03:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clive Hugh

Grady Martin, he was a great player who I feel never got the recognition he deserved.

Great guitarist, with a wonderful tone.

ron jeffreys · December 15th, 2006, 03:46 AM

Tommy also produced Zager and Evans in the year 2525.

tazzboy · December 15th, 2006, 09:41 PM

I know that Buddy played a Fender Stratocaster and Pro Amp. I don't know if the Pro was a Narrow or Wide Panel. (I'm guessing a norrow panel). Buddy also got a Fender Bassman and the Fender Twin http://www.ampwares.com/ffg/twin_bigbox.html.

mudshark · December 15th, 2006, 09:51 PM

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tommy_Allsup

November 14th, 2006, 12:12 PM	#1 (permalink)
jhundt Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Netherlands Age: 55 Posts: 4,287 14 Photos	Buddy Holly - who played lead? I'm wondering about "Ollie V" and "Annie's Been Working on the Midnight Shift". Anyone here know who played the lead, and what guitar/amp he used?

November 14th, 2006, 01:49 PM	#4 (permalink)
jhundt Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Netherlands Age: 55 Posts: 4,287 14 Photos	I don't know... I'm listening to a Buddy Holly Greates Hits disc. There's lots of songs where it sounds like him playing lead. On these two songs it's a whole different style, real rockabilly travis-picking, like Carl Perkins and those guys. Maybe I'm wrong, but I think someone else is playing these parts.

November 14th, 2006, 02:06 PM	#5 (permalink)
teledude66 Friend of Leo's Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Lawndale,N.C. Age: 43 Posts: 2,775 20 Photos	maybe it was Waylon...... __________________ The fact that no one understands you doesn't mean you're an artist.

November 14th, 2006, 02:08 PM	#6 (permalink)
WickedGTR Friend of Leo's Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Hillbilly Hollywood Posts: 2,291 9 Photos	Sonny Curtis played lead in that era. (He also wrote I Fought the Law... and had a lot of other success...) http://www.sonnycurtis.com/ __________________ http://www.myspace.com/jameswilsey

November 14th, 2006, 02:20 PM	#8 (permalink)
WickedGTR Friend of Leo's Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Hillbilly Hollywood Posts: 2,291 9 Photos	Tommy Allsup is one of my favorites- He played with Buddy after the original Crickets broke up- He played on Heartbeat and It's so Easy, and a few others. He was on the last tour. The songs mentioned at the beginning were done in Nashville before the Crickets were successful. __________________ http://www.myspace.com/jameswilsey

November 14th, 2006, 12:29 PM	#2 (permalink)
Stuco Friend of Leo's Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: GA Posts: 4,568	I thought buddy played lead and rhythm.

November 14th, 2006, 01:25 PM	#3 (permalink)
del Tele-Meister Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: antwerp, belgium Age: 29 Posts: 106	thought the same .. and a strat + twin ?

November 14th, 2006, 02:13 PM	#7 (permalink)
momotrucker Tele-Meister Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: canada Posts: 133	Tommy Allsup also played lead with Buddy, Check this link and also memory serves that he played lead on 'Wishing' and memory also serves that it was great playing...the kind that makes you say 'i gotta find ou who this guy is!' http://www.rockabillyhall.com/TommyAllsup1.html

November 14th, 2006, 02:23 PM	#9 (permalink)
jwells393 Doctor of Teleocity Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Albuquerque, USA Age: 65 Posts: 14,522 101 Photos	Ah ............... Buddy Holly .......... His successful songs were recorded in my home town .......... Clovis New Mexico at the Norman Petty Studio. __________________ Jack's Disclaimer: When I say something.... always ask yourself ..... "What the hell does he know?" I'm just not cool enough to be a Mac person.

November 14th, 2006, 02:26 PM	#10 (permalink)
jhundt Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Netherlands Age: 55 Posts: 4,287 14 Photos	looks like Mr WickedGTR wins the prize I just spent an hour or so researching on the 'net, and it does indeed appear to be confirmed that Sonny Curtis played lead guitar on the two songs in question. In fact he wrote "Ollie V". we bow to your immense knowledge, brother WickedGTR Sonny Curtis' site implies that these recordings were done with a Strat (amp not mentioned), and that Sonny was the first rock'n'roll player to record with a Strat. Very interesting.... Last edited by jhundt; November 14th, 2006 at 02:30 PM.. Reason: additional info

November 14th, 2006, 02:27 PM	#11 (permalink)
Sea Devil Tele-Meister Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Brooklyn, NY Age: 47 Posts: 371	Many of the tracks released after Buddy's death were overdubbed by the Fireballs in Norman Petty's Clovis, NM studio. The Fireballs have a MySpace page and might be willing to answer questions about specifics. I think that the tracks that you're talking about were recorded before all of that stuff, though. I have the BH vinyl box set that came out in the late 70's, and I believe it has specific personnel listings, but I'm too lazy to check right now...

December 14th, 2006, 10:47 PM	#16 (permalink)
Slim Tele-Meister Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Fayetteville, AR Posts: 307	That lead on 'It's So Easy', particularly the end 'dunk-dunka-dunk-dunka-dunk-dunka-dunk' is one of the greatest licks of all time. You know what I'm talking about, WickedGTR.

December 15th, 2006, 12:15 AM	#18 (permalink)
WickedGTR Friend of Leo's Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Hillbilly Hollywood Posts: 2,291 9 Photos	Holly had one of the early Magnatone amps with the vibrato in his apt in New York. IIRC, the only thing he recorded with it were the song demos on his home tape recorder when he died. There were later overdubbed at by the Fireballs. Norman Petty's studio had a Fender Pro amp that was used on all the records- and it's still there. I think he used a Bassman live.... When I finally got a strat and could play the little little bar bend in the beginning of the solo on "Heartbeat" right for the first time, my life changed a little bit. I played on a song "Pretty Girls Don't Cry" and the guitar part was a (AHEM) homage (or ripoff?) of that whole Tommy Allsup feel. I think he's swell. __________________ http://www.myspace.com/jameswilsey

December 15th, 2006, 03:46 AM	#20 (permalink)
ron jeffreys Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: huntsville al Posts: 144	Tommy Allsup Tommy also produced Zager and Evans in the year 2525.

December 15th, 2006, 09:41 PM	#21 (permalink)
tazzboy Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: May 2005 Location: Oregon Age: 32 Posts: 5,093 1 Photos	I know that Buddy played a Fender Stratocaster and Pro Amp. I don't know if the Pro was a Narrow or Wide Panel. (I'm guessing a norrow panel). Buddy also got a Fender Bassman and the Fender Twin http://www.ampwares.com/ffg/twin_bigbox.html. __________________

December 15th, 2006, 09:51 PM	#22 (permalink)
mudshark Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Groover's Paradise Age: 58 Posts: 1,521	http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tommy_Allsup __________________ mudshark Klaatu barada nikto

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