PRODUCT DESCRIPTION
This long-awaited compilation contains three vinyl albums released by The Crickets in the 70s - Bubblegum, Bop Ballds & Boogies, Remnants and A Long Way From Lubbock (featuring Jerry Allison, Sonny Curtis, Steve Krikorian, Nick van Maarth, Ric Grech & Albert Lee) Also included: unissued Crickets tracks, from the 1970s, and many more previously unissued recordings from the 80s and 90s, all digitally remastered,some never released on CD in the UK. A 36 page booklet is enclosed, with many photographs and the story behind the recordings by Crickets File Magazine editor, John Firminger. * indicates previously unissued

REVIEW
The early 1970s saw the Crickets make frequent visits to Britain, the timing of this coinciding with their recording contract with Phonogram. Using both British and American recording studios, with Bob Montgomery as producer, saw the release of three albums. These were: Bubblegum, Bop, Ballads & Boogies, Remnants, and A Long Way From Lubbock. The tracks for Bubblegum, Bop, Ballads & Boogies were cut in London in January 1973, with the group recording by day and playing gigs at night. Next came Remnants a few months later, in a USA release. Present on the test pressing was That Is Not What I Need, but somehow it was omitted before release. For the first time it can be heard on the penultimate track on Disc One. Seven unused tracks were left over from that album, and these with further new recordings would go towards the final album for Phonogram, this being A Long Way From Lubbock. Disc two begins with the rest of these album tracks. The Crickets had by 1978 moved near to Nashville, and a session with Waylon Jennings as producer, came up with The Breeze, Mulholland Drive and It's Only Rock'n'Roll. Rollercoaster's John Beecher was at the controls when they cut Cruise In It and Rock Around With Ollie Vee. Probably the oldest recording is by Sonny Curtis with Carolyn Walking Away. Also by Sonny is a Mercury single he cut in 1973, Rock'n'Roll (I Gave You The Best Years Of My Life) and My Momma Sure Left Me Some Good Old Days. Jigger, Crank & Jive were a group talked about by Cricket fans, but until now never heard. They originated from the Waylon Jennings Show, of which the Crickets were a part from 1978 to 1983. Singer guitarist Gordon Payne and singer/ bass player Jerry Bridges, together with J.I.Allison were hopeful of getting a record deal. This didn't happen, but they did record I Got A Woman, She's Got A Right To Cry and Do You Ever Think Of Me. Next is the Rollercoaster 1988 EP, which contained Back Home In Tennessee, Blackmail, I Can't Hold On Any Longer and For A While We Helped Each Other Out. Moving to the nineties, the Crickets had a session produced by Jack Clement and Dale Hawkins. The outcome was Rain On The Roof, Well.All Right, So What and I Had A Dream. The final track on Disc Two is Ain't Protestin', a demo made by J.I. Allison. In the history of the Crickets, the Phonogram albums have tended to be somewhat overlooked. Their issue on CD was long overdue, with many quality recordings to listen to and enjoy. In addition, Rollercoaster have added a number of other recordings which may otherwise have never seen a release, but which were relevant to the Crickets story, and they sound good too. Overall this release contains some material that is as far from the 50s Crickets as Lubbock Tx is from Nashville Tn. However, there are also enough traditional Crickets sounds to ensure the album s appeal to anyone who appreciates later recordings that still have roots in rock n roll. Hardcore Crickets fans will love everything this release has to offer.Further details: rollercoasterrecords.com John Davison-White --John Davison-White, 'Now Dig This' Magazine

ABOUT THE ARTIST
The Crickets are an American rock'n'roll band from Lubbock, Texas, formed by singer-songwriter Buddy Holly in the 1950, with Jerry Allison on drums. Niki Sullivan on rhythm guitar and Joe B. Mauldin on bass. Their first hit record, "That'll Be the Day", released in 1957, peaked at number one on the Cashbox Hot 100 chart in September 1957. The Crickets helped set the template for subsequent rock bands, such as the Beatles, with their guitar-bass-drums lineup and the talent to write most of their own material. After Holly's death in 1959 the band continued to tour and record with other band members and to enjoy hits in the UK, Europe and Australia into the 21st century. Some of their finest material was included on later LPs such as In Style, Remnants, The Crickets and Their Buddies, Too Much Monday Morning, Three Piece and T-Shirt.

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