Buddy Holly's record collection

▪ Primary Source

When he went on performance tours, Buddy Holly brought a collection of 45-rpm records with him in two carrying cases (see photo). The 48 records that comprise this collection (listed below) reveal Holly's eclectic musical influences—from blues (Jimmy Reed, Little Walter), rhythm and blues (Hank Ballard and the Midnighters, Ray Charles), and gospel (Mahalia Jackson) to pop (Doris Day, Peggy Lee), rockabilly (Buddy Knox), and rock and roll (Bo Diddley, Little Richard, Ritchie Valens).

Performer Songs Release Date

Angelic Gospel Singers “Jesus Never Fails Me”/ “I'll Be Alright” (unknown)

Toni Arden “Padre”/ “All at Once” (1958)

Ray Campi with Johnny Maddox, Henry Hill, and the Debs “With You”/ “My Screamin' Screamin' Mimi!” (unknown)

Valerie Carr with Hugo Peretti and His Orchestra “Look Forward”/ “Bad Girl” (1958)

Wynona Carr “Should I Ever Love Again?”/ “Till the Well Runs Dry” (1956?)

The Channels “Stay as You Are”/ “That's My Desire” (1957)

Ray Charles “Mary Ann”/ “Drown in My Tears” (1956)

Ray Charles “What Would I Do Without You”/ “Hallelujah I Love Her So” (1956)

Ray Charles “Swanee River Rock”/ “I Want a Little Girl” (1957)

Ray Charles “You Be My Baby”/ “My Bonnie” (1958)

Ray Charles “I Want to Know”/ “Ain't That Love” (1957)

Ray Charles “Come Back”/ “I've Got a Woman” (1955)

Nat “King” Cole “Bend a Little My Way”/ “Non Dimenticar” (1958)

Doris Day with Frank De Vol and his Orchestra “Everybody Loves a Lover”/ “Instant Love” (1958)

Doris Day with Frank De Vol and his Orchestra “A Very Precious Love”/ “Teacher's Pet” (1958)

Doris Day with Frank De Vol and his Orchestra “Heart Full of Love”/ “The Sound of Music” (1958?)

De John Sisters “(My Baby Don't Love Me) No More”/ “Theresa (The Little Flower)” (1955)

Bo Diddley “Hey! Bo Diddley”/ “Mona” (1957)

Bo Diddley “Before You Accuse Me (Take a Look at Yourself)”/ “Say (Boss Man)” (1957)

The Everly Brothers “Bird Dog”/ “Devoted to You” (1958)

The Everly Brothers “Problems”/ “Love of My Life” (1958)

Eddie Fontaine “Nothin' Shakin'”/ “Don't Ya Know” (1958)

Johnny Fuller and Band “All Night Long”/ “You Got Me Whistling” (1958)

Hugo and Luigi “Honolulu Lu”/ “La Plume de Ma Tante” (1959)

Mahalia Jackson “Have You Any Rivers”/ “For My Good Fortune” (1958?)

Roland Johnson “I Traded Her Love”/ “I'll Be with You” (1959)

The Jones Boys “No One Home”/ “Mary Smith” (unknown)

Kitty Kallen “Come Live with Me”/ “Be True to Me” (unknown)

Buddy Knox with the Orchids/Jim Bowen with the Orchids “Party Doll”/ “I'm Stickin' with You” (1956/1957?)

Peggy Lee “You Don't Know”/ “Fever” (1958)

Little Richard “Good Golly, Miss Molly”/ “Hey-Hey-Hey-Hey!” (1958)

Little Walter and His Jukes “Thunder Bird”/ “My Babe” 1955

Little Walter and His Jukes “I Got to Go”/ “Roller Coaster” (1955)

Skeets McDonald “I Can't Stand It Any Longer”/ “Number One in Your Heart” (unknown)

The McGuire Sisters “Banana Split”/ “Sugartime” (1957)

Mantovani “Love Song from 'Houseboat' (Almost in Your Arms)”/ “Almost in Your Arms (Love Song from 'Houseboat')” (1958)

The Midnighters “Work with Me Annie”/ “Until I Die” (1954)

The Midnighters “Don't Say Your Last Goodbye”/ “Sexy Ways” (1954)

The Midnighters “Annie Had a Baby”/ “She's the One” (1954)

Jimmy Reed “Honey, Don't Let Me Go”/ “You've Got Me Dizzy” (1956)

Jimmy Reed “You Got Me Crying”/ “Go on to School” (1958)

Shirley and Lee “Now That It's Over”/ “I Feel Good” (1956)

The Slades “You Gambled”/ “No Time” (unknown)

Ritchie Valens “La Bamba”/ “Donna” (1958)

Larry Williams “Dizzy, Miss Lizzy”/ “Slow Down” (1957/1958?)

Roger Williams “Take Care”/ “Autumn Leaves” (1955)

Chuck Willis “Thunder and Lightning”/ “My Life” (1958)

Peanuts Wilson “Cast Iron Arm”/ “You've Got Love” (1958?)

See as table:

      Source: From the collection of the Buddy Holly Center, Lubbock, Texas

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