Buddy Holly - "The Complete Buddy Holly" 6 X Vinyl, LP Box Set, Compilation, 1979 (MCA)

The first album I purchased when I got a turntable in the 21st century was Buddy Holly's "The Complete Buddy Holly."  Six vinyl albums that start off at the very beginning of Buddy with the influence of Country and Rockabilly to the recordings he did in New York City, right before his plane accident.  For me, Holly was the essence of modernity.   When I listen to him, I don't connect to a given moment or even place.  There was something futuristic about his vision and songs that I don't think was thought out to a great degree.  He just had that essential genius approach to music.  Also, the Crickets were an amazing band, so he had that fantastic backing to wander the music landscape of his time.  

"The Complete Buddy Holly" is a museum piece, and unlikely a package one is going to listen to in one sitting.  Well, you can, but I think mentally it may be healthier to take it bit-by-bit.   There are even interviews with the great man on the last disc.  I may have miscounted, but I think there are 119 songs in this box set.  That's a lot of work from a young man who died way too young.   If Buddy lived, I suspect that he would be making exciting music until he was an old man.  There were reports that he frequent the jazz clubs in New York during the 1950s, and god knows what sort of influence would have shown up in his music of the 1960s if he lived.   

Strangely, I see Holly as the less-eccentric brother of Moondog.  Both had a sense of minimalism in their work, that's driven by rhythm.  Also, Holly was interested in the recording process, and I think he would have used the recording studio as a separate instrument, in a similar fashion as Eno (but not...).   He was an artist that explored the cultural landscape, and his death took away a talent that I feel was much needed in our world.  "The Complete Buddy Holly" is a collection that I keep going back to, due that it's endless and nothing but beauty left on its grooves. 

Elvis Presley - "The Other Sides: Worldwide Gold Award Hits - Vol 2" 4 x Vinyl, Compilation, Mono, 1971 (RCA)

Since I own and play Elvis Worldwide Gold Award Hits Volume 1, I clearly need to have the four disk box set of Elvis' B-sides as well.  My theory is that the A-side is the conscious side of the music, but the B-sides express the inner workings of an artist.  Both sets are in Mono, which is a must for me regarding songs in the 1950s and 1960s.  There are famous Elvis cuts here, such as "(Marie's the Name) His Latest Flame" (wasn't this an A-side) and (You're So Square) Baby I Don't Care" but it's the songs I don't know that's the fun treasure hunt here. Oddly enough I don't think there is such a thing as a bad Elvis record.   Of course, there are the masterpieces, and then there are the 'others,' but in truth, he never gave a bad performance in a recording.   As mentioned playing the entire 4 album set is a trip to the artist's subconscious. There is always that feeling of regret that Elvis should have worked with David Bowie, or other producers and arrangers.  Alas, that obviously didn't happen.  Still, this is a very impressive collection of music.  Another highlight of the packaging is the inner sleeves show all the Elvis releases on RCA at the time of 1971, the release of this box set. 

Elvis Presley - "Wordwide 50 Gold Award Hits, Vol 1" 4 x Vinyl, LP, Mono, Compilation, 1975 (RCA)

Mr. Presley is a large subject matter.  It's hard to wrap one's head around this (once) young man's recordings as well as his stature in the 20th-century.   In many ways, he is the 20th century in all its glory and horror.   In my collection, I have some 45 rpm singles, and also the Sun Recordings, and then there is this:  "Worldwide 50 Gold Award Hits Vol. 1."   And in Mono!

For me and my ears, one really has to work at locating the Elvis gems from the pile of RCA recordings.  In other words, he recorded a lot of crap.  But with him, even his crap is better than someone else's shit.  A brilliant vocalist who can work poop into something listenable.  But then again when he has a great song, and his voice/presence is wrapped around it  - nothing can be better.  His instinct is a well-tuned radar.  

When Elvis works with songwriters like Doc Pomus/Mort Shuman (my faves), Jerry Leiber/Mike Stoller, and Otis Blackwell, he can't do no wrong.  Brilliant songwriting meets the voice equals masterpieces.  I'm a fan of Elvis' recordings such as "Surrender," "Return to Sender," "You're The Devil in Disguise," "Little Sister" and even the hyper Italian pop of "It's Now or Never.'  Operatic to blues is a huge landscape, and Elvis easily can jump from one spectrum to the other. 

Right now, this is not a hard collection to find on vinyl, and not that expensive. It's big in scope and deserves a spot in one's home/listening area.  The great thing about Elvis is that he's a springboard to investigate and enjoy contemporary music.  With respect to the songwriters and the different mediums such as Country n' Western, Blues, Rock, Pop, show tunes, etc. - Presley is a magnet for further and very enjoyable studies in American culture. 

Johnnie Ray - "High Drama: The Real Johnnie Ray" CD, Compilation, 1997 (Columbia)

Johnnie Ray is one of the most underrated singers of the 20th century.  For a man who was such a sensation is to this day, have problems with editors when it comes to the spelling of his name "Johnnie."  I can't count all the times I have read "Johnny" instead of Johnnie."  The causal culture historian may see Ray as one of the symbolic figures of the safe and bland 1950s (Ha!), but the fact is this gay orientated pop singer is more of a Rhythm and Blues performer than anything else.  He also wrote some of his songs, which are generally terrific.   As a performer, there is no one better than him.   His ability to have what looks like a nervous breakdown on stage, as well as his visually chunky hearing aid brings a vulnerability to the package that is downright seductive. 

This package "High Drama" is not the first Johnnie Ray compilation, but it's the first one to see him as a significant recording artist.  This and a collection put together by Bear Family Records (a label that never fails) are superb introductions to the magic that is Johnnie Ray.

Even the song titles bare a sense of wonder, mystery, anxiety, and existential dread, such as "The Lonely Ones," "How Long, How Long Blues," or "She Ain't Say Nothin' at All."  There is also in his songs tied into nature, that is sensual and more emotional than a picture postcard of a beautiful place - for instance, "Mountains in the Moonlight."   It is almost how a classical German approach to nature in the woods or forest.  There is a spirituality that goes hand-in-hand with one's mood, more than anything else. 

"Cry" is, of course, the hit on this collection, but there are two songs here that knock me to my knees, and that's "Soliloquy of a Fool" (perhaps the iconic type title from this singer) and "Such a Night."  Both are passionate somewhere on the scale of 1 to 10 being at least 12.  "Soliloquy of a Fool" is almost a minimal electronic piece but done with orchestration.  For my ears, a recording that is very much ahead of its time, and needs to be re-listen to in the 21st century.   "Such a Night" is Johnnie going wild and over-the-top in sexual overtures.   This collection is an excellent introduction into the mystique and wonderment that is Johnnie Ray.