| I Remember Buddy Holly | |
| Type: | studio |
| Artist: | Bobby Vee |
| Cover: | Bobby Vee - I Remember Buddy Holly.png |
| Released: | December 1963 |
| Genre: | Rock and roll |
| Length: | 25:35 |
| Label: | Liberty |
| Producer: | Snuff Garrett |
| Prev Title: | Bobby Vee Meets the Ventures |
| Prev Year: | 1963 |
| Next Title: | The New Sound from England! |
| Next Year: | 1964 |
I Remember Bobby Holly is a studio album by American singer, Bobby Vee, and was released in December 1963 by Liberty Records.[1] Ernie Freeman arranged the album, while Snuff Garrett produced it. It is a tribute album to the songs of Rock and roll and Rockabilly singer Buddy Holly, whom Vee listed among his influences. After Holly was killed on February 3, 1959, along with Ritchie Valens, the Big Bopper, and pilot Roger Peterson when their plane crashed in Iowa on their way to Fargo, North Dakota, Vee was selected to replace Holly on the tour, which led to the launch of his recording career.[2]
The album features a collection of Holly's greatest hits, including "Maybe Baby", "That'll Be the Day", "Oh, Boy!", "Everyday" (which he previously recorded and appeared on his 1960 album, Bobby Vee Sings Your Favorites), "Raining in My Heart" (which he also previously recorded and appeared on his 1962 album, Take Good Care of My Baby),[3] and a song titled "Buddy's Song" which Holly wrote, but never recorded.[4]
The album peaked at No. 54 on the Cashbox albums chart.[5]
Bruce Eder of AllMusic called it an "inevitable development", and stated that the album contains "Vee's underrated vocal ability and Garrett's killer production work, which successfully encompasses pop/rock, rockabilly, straight-ahead rock & roll, and some surprisingly sophisticated balladry".
Billboard called it "[Vee's] salute to late great Holly, by giving his own treatments with an assist from the Eligibles".[6]
Cashbox gave a positive review, writing that Vee delivers the songs in a "successful Holly manner" with "these twelve favorites".[7]
The New Record Mirror felt that Vee makes a "tribute to Buddy in the only possible way – by recording an album of his great songs".
South Pasadena Review called it a "wonderful tribute" and stated that "He had wanted to make an album in tribute to Buddy for some time and finally has gotten around" to it.[8]