Wednesday, July 22, 2020

Buddy Holly - The NEW Complete Buddy Holly v. 2.0 (Purple Chick) (14 Disc Set + DVD)


Dag nabbit...

A couple of years ago, I posted what was known as the Holy Grail of Buddy Holly offerings, an eleven-disc set compiled by the elusive, reclusive Purple Chick collective purported to contain every known song, utterance and appearance on vinyl or film of the great rock 'n' roll pioneer Buddy Holly. I assumed, as did many of you, that this set was the be-all and end-all, the final definitive word on Holly's vocal and musical appearances, and I presented it as such, in a post laden with stylish poetic trappings and heartfelt tributes to the man and the mass of music he left behind...

Turns out, however, that the Complete Buddy Holly wasn't as complete as all of us thought it was.

Back in 2017, Purple Chick announced that they had put together an even MORE definitive Buddy Holly set, featuring songs that were inadvertently left out or otherwise unavailable for inclusion in the 2005 version. I didn't get wind of this new and improved set until last year... simply because I hadn't been looking for it, since I'd already assumed I had it all. I went ahead and acquired this new version, and started trying to document the changes between new and old for a possible later release on this blog. But honestly, my heart wasn't in it. It took me FOREVER to sort out the titles and tags on the previous set, and I just didn't have the stomach or wherewithal to go through the drudgery of putting together another writeup on this new set, and/or doing a disc-to-disc, track-by-track comparison of the former "Complete" Buddy Holly Purple Chick set and this replacement one. 

Fortunately, the people at Purple Chick saved me the trouble, and already put one together in a text file attached to this compilation. For the sake of my time and my sanity, I've taken the liberty of "appropriating" their narrative/description below:
The original Complete Buddy Holly remains one of our favorite projects. (Some Purple Chick restorations even made it - via Rev-Ola's "Gotta Roll" which added unnecessary processing - onto the wonderful-but-too-flawed Hip-O Select 'complete' collection).

Because a number of new and improved sources have appeared over the last fifteen years or so, we thought it was time for a Purpler Chick Completer Buddy Holly. We redid the whole set from scratch: almost everything has either been sonically improved from the earlier version or - most of the time - is from a different source entirely.

Even better, now that we have a complete* set of Buddy's undubbed recordings we can ignore the posthumous overdubs and present the absolute complete Buddy Holly on just five CDs.

So, if you want, you can completely forget the other discs, depending on how interested you are in their various themes. For example, you might not care about our (completely redone) selection of Buddy's record collection or the experimental stereo extractions and synchronizations. In particular, the "Peggy Sue Got Married" and "Crying, Waiting, Hoping" stereo tracks need more work but we wanted to get the set out before doomsday.

(*NOTE: we believe the so-called 'lesser dubbed' versions of "Wishing" and "Reminiscing" are actually undubbed versions. Even if that is not the case, any overdubs are so unobtrusive that it shouldn't prevent them from being the sole exclusions from the 'undubbed' section).

AND, here's the thing. Maybe you're not a CD person anymore. Maybe you just like the files. Well, they're all named so you can copy and paste into one folder and have them run chronologically, with session recordings and interviews all mixed with the studio sessions (you'll have to remove the 'i' prefix for the interviews. (You probably want to leave the 'BRC' and 'S' prefixes alone for Buddy's record collection and experimental stereo recordings.)

So here's what we have:

DISCS 1 - 5 - The Complete Buddy Holly
All of Buddy's studio recordings, live appearances, home recordings, and interviews.

Everything comes from the best available source; with many significant sonic upgrades including, for the first (*or second) time anywhere:
- Sonic improvements to the 'first four' recordings;
- An in-line "I Guess I Was Just A Fool" without the acetate skip;
- Un-composited alternate "Don't Come Back Knockin'" take fragments;
- The complete live Maybe Baby from Off The Record*;
- "Drown In My Own Tears" without the wow and flutter;
- A new, upgraded source for the KLLL promos; and
- Many more surprises...

DISC 6 - The Completer Buddy Holly

Outfakes, songwriting and a tribute

This disc collects the important outfakes (complete takes created from incomplete sources or edits patching audio errors); all of the songs Buddy co-wrote but never recorded; plus Buddy's friend Snuff Garrett's radio show from the day the music died.

DISCS 7 - 8 - Buddy For Others
All of the circulating sessions featuring Buddy as a session guitarist, vocalist and/or producer

Featuring numerous additional session recordings compared with our last set. It seems the only significant tracks now missing are Lloyd Call's "Little Cowboy" and Carolyn Hester's "A Little While Ago"

Caveat: some of the session appearances might not include Buddy after all. We excluded tracks that definitively did not include Buddy but otherwise took a 'when in doubt, leave them in' approach (while noting any questions about Buddy's contributions).

DISCS 9 - 10 - Dick Jacobs and Norman Petty overdubs and mixes

All of the posthumous releases from the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s.

DISCS 11 - 12
The rest of the posthumous overdubs - from the 1980s right through the 2010s.
(You'll have to buy the recent Philharmonic Orchestra CD and slot in those tracks.)

DISCS 13 - 14
Buddy's record collection; and stereo Buddy.

The original versions of the songs Buddy recorded, plus a selection of Buddy's songs in synchronized stereo and/or digitally extracted stereo.

(Most of these are Purple Chick creations but some we grabbed from the Internet and, unfortunately, did not keep attribution notes at the time. Sorry!)

DVD
OK, this is just the old DVD. We couldn't face redoing it just for about a half-second of additional HighTime footage; and to change the mistaken "Clear Lake" caption. Then again, we improved the sound of some of the 'live' recordings on the CDs so maybe we should have fixed that on the DVD as well.
So, while I am leaving the old post from 2018 up (I hate taking posts down), I am retiring the request link for the music there (the 11-disc version) in favor of the one provided below (the 14-disc-plus set). I still have the old and now apparently obsolete 11-disc version; if you're still burning to have that one as well, let me know.  Just know that everything on that set is present here as well.

Once again, I proudly offer to you all Purple Chick's new and expanded The Complete Buddy Holly v. 2.0 from 2017, in the hope that this will be the final time they modify this huge collection. Take a look, have a listen, and as always, let me know what you think.

Please use the email link below to contact me, and I will reply with the download link(s) ASAP:

Send Email

104 comments:

  1. WOW! Thanks so much for all the great Buddy Holly - I love it!

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  2. Paul from Pittsburgh says Thanks so much. This is incredible. Love Buddy Holly.

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  3. just sent an email request as this looks frikkin` amazing!!!

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  4. such a nice offering thanks so much I`ll treasure this one!

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  5. I've been collecting Buddy Holly for over 40 years. Still amazed that more comes to the surface. Thanks so much for sharing!

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  6. Bob Y gives thanks for the great Buddy Holly comp. So much better than version 1! Very much appreciated!!

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    1. I wouldn't say it's necessarily BETTER than the old comp... there's certainly more here. But even the compilers are a little bit iffy/cagey regarding whether all of the purported Holly session additions (Discs 7 and 8) actually include any of Buddy's input. And I lost interest in the Snuff Garrett radio show (Disc 6) very quickly, so I don't regard that as a quality add to the overall compilation either.

      But glad you're happy with it, warts and all! Enjoy!

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  7. Can't say "Thank you" enough for all the great posts

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  8. This is a great compilation of these materials in one place! Outstanding work. Thank you!

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  9. Amazing!
    Very Cool.
    I would not have known about this if not for your Blog. :-D
    Christmas is here a little early this year!
    Cheers and Thank You Very, Very Much :-D

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    1. Glad you’re happy - all the best!

      (Arrrgh - you had to mention ‘Christmas’… gotta start thinking about what holiday stuff to post for this year…)

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  10. Can't say "Thank you" enough for the Buddy Holly Set

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  11. Thank you! I have quite a lot of BH material already, but I didn't know that Purple Chick had put out a Volume 2. I very much appreciate your making this upgrade available.

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  12. Thanks for the link! Love the Purple Chick stuff!

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  13. Thank you very much! I had the original set but never knew there was an updated version.

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  14. Fantastic! Thank you so much for the most comprehensive collection of Buddy Holly I've ever seen.

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  15. thank you very much for doing this! so cool

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  16. Beyound amazing!! Thanks for sharing this. So great to see this as I do have the original version and thought at the time, "I guess this is ALL of it"...but lo and behold...so much more!! Very grateful for the share!

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  17. Big thanks for this! Fan made stuff is often much better than official archive releases. Fascinating to listen to the genesis of a rock 'n' roll legend. He was an amazing all-round talent, no wonder he inspired Lennon and McCartney and so many others.

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  18. THANK YOU, i send the mail... Thanks for share... Buddy is my idol!

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  19. Buenos dias, te acabo de enviar un correo, quedo a la espera del link y gracias

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  20. thank YOu very much... a great gift to remember Buddy on this sad day... thanks.

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    1. No worries… be sure to check out my post on The Big Bopper as well on this unfortunate anniversary, if you’re so inclined.

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  21. Muchas gracias amigo, no esperaba una respuesta tan rapida...ya estoy descargando y a disfrutar en este emblematico dia en que la musica murio!
    Saludos

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  22. I'd very much like the download link, please.
    Love his music :)

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    1. Sure thing - just click on the “Send Email” link above, so I have a return address to send the link to.

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  23. Wow Wow Wow! Might sound cheesy but this work is a real rare prime example for diy-admiration(and taste of course, I'm clearly not objective here ;]) and effort resulting in 14+1(!) Discs, not to forget the artwork and stuff. Just hats off to Purple Chick and a big thank you to both of you :] ✌️🌞

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  24. Awesome! Thanks! Buddy Holly is one of those artists for whom a greatest hits package could never suffice. All of it is great! Looking forward to swimming in this for quite a while.

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  25. Many thanks, fab set, quality brilliant of an unbelievable collection put together by yourselves. Thank you for sharing.

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  26. Thanks so much. I've had the previous version for years and was just setting about tagging it for personal use when I came across this updated marvel. Saved me a load of time and gives even more pleasure. Much appreciation to Purple Chick and to you.

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  27. Thank you so much for this incredible collection. Really appreciate you sharing and keeping Buddy's legacy alive for a new generation

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  28. Amazing ! Thanks a million, it's very kind of you to share this superb collection.

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  29. Amazing to have all of this material in one place finally. Cheers! Thanks so much.

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  30. Incredible as I thought I had everything! Thanks 👍

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  31. Thanks for making this available!

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  32. Thank You so much for this ❤

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  33. Seriously cannot thank you enough for this set! I'm a Buddy fanatic and this is a huge treasure

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  34. Buddy is One of the greatest when we talk about white Rock n' Roll and is fascinating how much his fans love him to make this compilations, not even Elvis fans are this devote
    Thank you so much for the album PP!!
    cheers from Mexico

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  35. Thanks for sharing this real treasure!

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  36. Marvelous! What a treat. Buddy Holly, gone too soon. What could have been...

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  37. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!! This is an amazing treat you have shared with us. This is indeed the MOTHERLOAD of all Buddy Holly stuff. I'm just finding the time to truly listen to your files for the first time. I'm having a whole lotta fun! Buddy Holly is one of the greatest artists of all time. I really appreciate your generosity.

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  38. Cracking set. The definitive BH - till the next upgrade. Thanks for sharing

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  39. Thank you very much! I look forward to having a good ol' listen. :)

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  40. Huge Buddy Holly fan, although he was before my time. I grew up about 100 miles from Lubbock, so that may have played a part. Buddy was an original. Thank you for this blog. Sorry it took me so long to find it. Keep up the great work.

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  41. Fantastic to have this upgrade. Buddy Holly was my first music obsession back when I was a teen in the late 70's.

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  42. Buddy Holly is a true legend and it's great to have such a comprehensive collection!

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  43. Thank you so much. This is great!

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  44. These are way better sounding than my original Purple Chick set which I got around 12 to 14 years ago. Beyond my expectations! Thanks muchly for sharing.

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  45. Can't get link to work? Is it gone, or should I do it differently?
    Thanks, Charlie

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  46. Thank you for the quick response, love this set.

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  47. Thanks for the set! Buddy's music will never die

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  48. Thank you so much HFM and kudos for the wonderful share!
    Regards, Bob. PS Please visit my humble blog.

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  49. Thank you, thank you, thank you, a wonderful one for me
    compilation of everything there is about buddy holly, i am happy i now own these records.

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  50. Thank you very much for this. I had an earlier "complete" version that wasn't as comprehensive, and the quality here is as good or better than I've heard previously. I'd only started discovering Buddy the year before he passed, it's amazing how much he actually managed to accomplish in a few short years. Rock on.

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  51. Thank you very much. I really appreciate yor kindness and sharing.

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  52. I cannot believe the generosity and kindness shown to pass on this incredible collection of Buddy Holly's legacy. This music really is timeless and so inspirational. As far as I am concerned, the Music Never Died. Thank you so much for sharing.

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  53. To Mr. Paul Geleedst - please send me a valid email address to forward the links to; the one you sent is not valid.

    All the best to you from Pee-Pee Soaked Heckhole

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  54. Thanks for the link! Buddy is the best, and it is great to have the most complete collection in the best available sound quality!

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  55. WOW! This set is beyond incredible, and I am so grateful that you shared it with us. THANK YOU!!

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  56. Thank you so much for the link and the set. It is incredible! I really appreciate you sharing it with me!

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  57. Thank you so much Pee-Pee Soaked Heckhole for sharing this Buddy Holly treasure trove!

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  58. Absolute legend! Thanks so much :)

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  59. Thank you so much for sending me the complete files today. I am so overjoyed, even with the DVD.. clips I had never ever seen. Loving it so far! Your kindness is amazing, and as a huge Buddy fan who would have preferred to have lived in the 50s, I know this complete collection will give me a lot of happiness after losing my Mum, one of Buddy's many fans too!! Thank you... you amazing person! Love from Scotland ... Linda Hughes xx

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  60. Thank you very much for the quick response and the download link. This is a great blog.

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  61. Thank you so much for sending this over. I really really appreciate it!!

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  62. I can't thank you enough for sharing this. I've been searching for this set for years. Very much appreciated. You've made my day...week...month...year!

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    1. The pleasure is all mine; glad I could assist you in finding something you’ve been seeking for so long! Enjoy, and all the best!

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  63. This updated Buddy Purple Chick set is fantastic, thanks for providing it!

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  64. Thank you so much for this, a real long term gap that I've never been able to satisfactorily fill before, and just some of the most formative memories. Thanks again

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  65. This is an AMAZING collection that is well worth the time of any fan of Buddy Holly. Thank you for the effort that went into this.

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  66. Thank you for this fantastic update

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  67. Thank you for this great music

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  68. This looks way cool. I'm just realizing what a great figure Buddy made, this collection looks an awesome way to learn more.

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  69. Great chance to learn more about Buddy. I feel like I'm only now discovering him.

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  70. Thank you so much! Looking forward to working my way through this incredible archive.

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  71. Thanks so much for sharing this great collection of Buddy. It's a great upgrade to any collection.

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  72. This is incredible! You deserve everyone gratitude for making this great music available.

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  73. From Johnno27: “ thank you so much for this great set!! I had the old one, but this one has the {{{{ Stereo }}}}}
    versions, which are great, and the improved KLLL jingles, which I always loved. I’m still finding my way thru it all!!

    Thank you also for using Google Drive, it’s very fast!!”

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  74. Thank you, thank you. I have the first version but this is better. Love the {{{{stereo}}}} versions, and especially the KLLL jingles in much better quality. Still looking thru it....

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  75. What an incredible compilation effort. Wow!

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  76. THX SO MUCH !!! And what a service ... Asked 4 & a feg minutes later my request was met! Hipphipphurra! ☺️

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  77. These files are of the best quality that I have ever heard for Buddy Holly's music, and that includes "The Definitive Stereo Buddy Holly" (2002, Hit Parade records), which was, frankly, very disappointing.

    I like stereo as much as the next guy, but it has to be done right, as it is in the Beatles remixes. The all-stereo album almost always buries the drums in one channel, and they sound anemic. To me that's the unforgivable sin in stereo remakes of rock and pop music.

    Much better is Purple Chick's refurbishing of the classic mono versions ("Peggy Sue" ROCKS), including good stereo versions of the late 1958 songs.

    Thanks so much to them and to you for passing along this wonderful resource. I'm in "Holly Heaven."

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  78. An incredible collection and many thanks for allowing me access to it. This will give hours of pleasure.

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  79. Well, my friend, a million thanks for these tracks. What a haul! As an intro, I watched the DVD, which rekindled my Buddy worship. Now, to dive into the deep end.

    This is a public service and should be viewed as such. Thanks for spreading the word.

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  80. If you're interested in Buddy Holly, here is almost everything you could want -- and maybe even a few things you might not want quite so much -- in one swell foop. Far better to have too much than too little.

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  81. Thank you for sharing this Buddy collection! It's unlikely that Purple Chick (or anyone else!) will update this anytime soon, so THIS is it. (And even now, version 2.0 is already 6 years old!) Thanks, again. Buddy Holly Lives!

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  82. Thank you very much to you PPSH for allowing us to obtain this great set. I am very happy with this new set of 14 cds which improves the first box set of 2005 in sound quality and content.

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  83. Thankyou for a tremendous share of such a comprehensive record of Buddy Holly recordings and his film legacy.....a treasured item for all fans and collectors of the great man’s music ...
    Just brilliant

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  84. Thanks for the set. I'm excited to check it out.

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  85. Absolutely thanx...i had teh 5cd version..the 10cd...and now thi new improved 13 Cd version...good job to keep the flame alive...youngsters need this... grazie!

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  86. thanx to keep the flame alive. youung people need that...grazie!"

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  87. Awesome...just downloaded - love it !!! thank you very much !

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  88. Thanks for the upgrade! I got vol 1 many years ago and so excited to see this upgrade on the near 65th anniversary of that fateful night! I appreciate the work you do!

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  89. Thank you so much! Excited to hear the upgrades in this amazing set!

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