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Buddy Holly — Well All Right
Album: The Definitive Collection
Avg rating:
7.7

Your rating:
Total ratings: 1480









Released: 1958
Length: 2:11
Plays (last 30 days): 2
Well all right - so I'm being foolish
Well all right let people know
About the dreams and wishes you wish
In the night when lights are low

Well all right - well all right
We'll live and love with all our might
Well all right - well all right
Our lifetime of love will be all right

Well, all right - so I'm going steady
It's all right when people say
That those foolish kids can't be ready
For the love that comes their way
Comments (124)add comment
 cc_rider wrote:

The amazing thing about his music is how well it holds up. Fifty years later, it still works. How much music has that kind of staying power?



50 years later? How 'bout almost 70!
Recorded February 12, 1958 at the Norman Petty Recording Studio in Clovis, New Mexico.  In the middle of nowhere between Albuquerque and Lubbock.  Clovis was really quite an important cultural place for a few years before it slipped back into obscurity.
 rdloewen wrote:

Carlos Santana does a nice job of this tune as well.




Blind Faith also does a nice job.
Buddy Holly - Besser als vieles andere!! 10!
I first heard the Santana version when it first came out many years ago...Conclusion...They are all truly great.....
Carlos Santana does a nice job of this tune as well.
 d-don wrote:

That makes two of us. I've always loved Blind Faith's version, but I love it even more knowing Buddy's was the original...and the better one, in my opinion. The Glasses live on.
 
I frigidly remember the day the music died. In jr. high school in Florida.  Must have been 45 degrees, and the rules were 'no pants-wearing by girls." Take your freezing legs outside.  The Beatles are the Beatles because Buddy had the Crickets.
Who is Blind Faith?
 JeriF wrote:


Sigh, yes. If only.  
I am sure he would have gone on to rock immortality.  


Buddy is the epitome of simplicity and greatness...SUPERB  
In simplicity there is great beauty. The essence of Buddy Holly. Nobody could touch him
 VV wrote:
No offense but Stevie Winwood did the definitive version. The original is rather soul-less.

 
The Steve Winwood version was my original for decades.  I didn't know it was a Buddy Holly song.  And sure, I appreciate the energy of Winwood's version.  But I like this as well.  Stripped down (or more accurately, prior to being clothed) the strength of the song itself really asserts itself.
 pvg44 wrote:
So far ahead of his time.  What a tragedy; imagine the even bigger impact he would have had on music.

 

Sigh, yes. If only.  
Buddy Holly, the real king of rock and roll.
RP, you keep playing marvelous things that I've never heard before. I just did the wave at my desk for you. :)
"'cause it's alright, yeah it's alright"

that was the last line in the previous song
The original. The greatest.
So far ahead of his time.  What a tragedy; imagine the even bigger impact he would have had on music.
Wilco
Cracker
Buddy Holly
Well played, sir, well played. 
No offense but Stevie Winwood did the definitive version. The original is rather soul-less.
Thanks DJ!  I love hearing Buddy sing, it's like you've raised his smiling love-filled spirit
RIP Buddy Holley. Today is the day the music died.  {#Cheers}

The day the music died
this song blows me away!  I love all the covers out there too.  A tribute to BH's mastery.
Wow... I had never heard this version.  Outstanding.  Made me sit up and listen.

I need to get some BH for my collection. 
Hard to believe this is what had parents worried in 1958.
The corrupter of youth!
Love this just cranked up the volume.Blind Faith's version was excellent as well.
 Proclivities wrote:

Joe 90 was pretty cool but I preferred The Thunderbirds.  F.A.B.!  Great tune here.

 
Thunderbirds are making a comeback........
 The_Walrus wrote:
Still so fresh sounding, could be released today. Amazing track

  The quality was really there; nice to hear his voice outside the constraints of the terrible AM-radio mixes of the day.


 fredriley wrote:

So did Joe 90, the nerd's hero :o)
 
Joe 90 was pretty cool but I preferred The Thunderbirds.  F.A.B.!  Great tune here.  One of his only hits where he's not using his Stratocaster - just acoustic.
 Stingray wrote:

Buddy looks like the drummer of the BLACK KEYS!

Vice versa...?



 
There have been many sightings of Buddy...

Buddy looks like the drummer of the BLACK KEYS!

Vice versa...?


and the hipster glasses are back in style ...
Still so fresh sounding, could be released today. Amazing track
Seems like it will always hold up. Waaay ahead of his time. 10
Great Song!
I wonder do we actually hear his song or does our mind blend in all the resonances of previous versions of the song we have heard. Like a taste we have a memory of and can never forget. 
Still, on it's own a 9 for me.  
I love this. 1958. This shows us the brilliance that is Buddy Holly. Love the lyrics, the guitar work. Way beyond its time...or right in there? Buddy Holly was inventing rock music right next to an amazing host of artists, most of whom I cannot name
my favorite song off "buddy holly '65" aka "rubber soul"


{#Bananapiano} 
 jagdriver wrote:
Who's this poseur attempting to cover a Blind Faith song?     {#Lol}
 
Wow. Exactly. Had no clue this was a Holly original. Learned something today...
 joelbb wrote:

Dude, you are even Older School than me and I was around when some bands still had a brontosaurus playing bass.
 

{#Lol}

That is a classic. 
And I'm right behind you.
I remember seeing Bill Haley on a *contemporary* 20" black and white TV screen.   He'd been recorded a year or three earlier Rocking Around the Clock on the kinetoscope system. Jeez. Antedeluvian. 
Also check the Santana version. Mr Buddy was such a prolific song writer. His deep understanding of music & phrasing is why his songs still hold up today.
 Pedro1874 wrote:
My hero.  I will never forget waiting for him to perform on "Six Five Special" the first UK pop show on TV.  I had a tape recorder at the ready given to me by my old man.  He blew the whole of UK away that night.  The single is actually a better recording than this one.  Then years later, homage was paid by Blind Faith which also blew me away.  RIP Buddy.{#Notworthy}
 
Dude, you are even Older School than me and I was around when some bands still had a brontosaurus playing bass.
 kismet700 wrote:
It took me a minute to place this song... I've heard it a hundred times on the album by Blind Faith.  You mean THEY didn't invent that song?  I had NO idea.
 
That makes two of us. I've always loved Blind Faith's version, but I love it even more knowing Buddy's was the original...and the better one, in my opinion. The Glasses live on.
I was listening  without looking, thinking that this might be the best version of this often-recorded tune I'd ever heard.  Then I looked.  Shoulda known.  There's a reason he's still considered so good.
I am blown away by this song. 10.  
 cc_rider wrote:
The amazing thing about his music is how well it holds up. Fifty years later, it still works. How much music has that kind of staying power?

 



..amen, bruddah!..
Holly Unplugged!?!  Terrific!
My hero.  I will never forget waiting for him to perform on "Six Five Special" the first UK pop show on TV.  I had a tape recorder at the ready given to me by my old man.  He blew the whole of UK away that night.  The single is actually a better recording than this one.  Then years later, homage was paid by Blind Faith which also blew me away.  RIP Buddy.{#Notworthy}
 jagdriver wrote:
Who's this poseur attempting to cover a Blind Faith song?     {#Lol}
 
Could not believe my ears when Buddy started singing. "Blind Faith did not write thees song?!?! Is thees trick by squirrel and moose!?"

But no. Time-travel reverse covers will have to wait another day for their debut. My musical education continues. Still prefer the BF version. 
 djengs wrote:

In retrospect you would think they had no respect for Buddy if they cast Gary as Buddy...but who knew what a wacko Gary would become. It was pretty good at the time even though full of holes. One of my favorite goofs was an outdoor shot supposedly in Lubbock- you could see mountains in the background. Closest thing to mountains up there are the landfills or the hairdos. AS someone once said, from the middle of the street you can see 50 miles and, if you stand on a tuna can, you can see 100 miles. Haven't tried tried the tuna can thing, but can confirm the 50 miles.
 


 
Only the guitars were overdubbed, otherwise it's all performed live by the actors. 
 WayUpNorth wrote:

Go get the movie "The Buddy Holly Story" or something like that ... it's really good.  I think Gary Busey stars in it? You won't believe all the familiar songs that he actually wrote..

 
In retrospect you would think they had no respect for Buddy if they cast Gary as Buddy...but who knew what a wacko Gary would become. It was pretty good at the time even though full of holes. One of my favorite goofs was an outdoor shot supposedly in Lubbock- you could see mountains in the background. Closest thing to mountains up there are the landfills or the hairdos. AS someone once said, from the middle of the street you can see 50 miles and, if you stand on a tuna can, you can see 100 miles. Haven't tried tried the tuna can thing, but can confirm the 50 miles.
Love the drums ... that jingly jangly cymbal.   So simple but so right.
Who's this poseur attempting to cover a Blind Faith song?     {#Lol}
Beautiful transition{#Sunny}, Bill
beautifully crafted song 
This is the beginning of rock/pop, the man was a god.
It took me a minute to place this song... I've heard it a hundred times on the album by Blind Faith.  You mean THEY didn't invent that song?  I had NO idea.
 Hannio wrote:
I used to have glasses like that.
 
I kind of still do.  They are back in fashion.

 Hannio wrote:
I used to have glasses like that.
 
So did Joe 90, the nerd's hero :o)

I was pretty fortunate to be on the Legendary Blues Cruise about a year ago or so and Dion DiMucci was on as well.  I think he originally signed up as a passenger.  Anyway, he ended up doing some very heartfelt and intimate shows about his time with Buddy and Richie and the rest of the bands.  It just tore at my heart.  He was only a kid when the plane crashed and said he had never really spoken much about the tragedy in detail.  He honored their memory so well.

Buddy was before my time, but I felt like I walked away with a little slice of musical history.  Dion was so warm and engaging!!
Sofa king good !!!!
 so far I only knew the (fantastic) Santana's version.  But I must say this one is ...interresting.  8 to me.
I used to have glasses like that.
So far ahead of his time, you can really here the roots of the next 40 years of popular music right here in this one song. Sounds like a Beatles song, but they were still schoolboys when this came out....
 run4more wrote:

Heard this in the background, turned it up when it was nearly over, thinking "well it sounds like a good heartfelt try anyway (to cover Winwood's song)". {#Lol}  I need to hear it again—I think I might prefer his vocals.

 
I always thought it was Winwoods, too.

Never knew, first listen an instant 10.

Tis true, the good die young. Buddy, Stevie, Janis. On and on.
Fantastic!!
his singing and songwriting so far, FAR ahead of his time, but check out the production on this. this sounds like it was recorded yesterday.
a trailblazer and from what ive heard and read a humble nice guy ...

i was born in Lubbock ...@ hospital down the street from where he was born

 run4more wrote:

Heard this in the background, turned it up when it was nearly over, thinking "well it sounds like a good heartfelt try anyway (to cover Winwood's song)". {#Lol}  I need to hear it again—I think I might prefer his vocals.

 
don't make me smack you.

 JrzyTmata wrote:

and how many people don't know it was his song.

 
Heard this in the background, turned it up when it was nearly over, thinking "well it sounds like a good heartfelt try anyway (to cover Winwood's song)". {#Lol}  I need to hear it again—I think I might prefer his vocals.

 n4ku wrote:

Look how many artists have covered this, too.

 
and how many people don't know it was his song.

 cc_rider wrote:
The amazing thing about his music is how well it holds up. Fifty years later, it still works. How much music has that kind of staying power?

 
Look how many artists have covered this, too.

 cc_rider wrote:
The amazing thing about his music is how well it holds up. Fifty years later, it still works. How much music has that kind of staying power?

 

As far as pop songs go, any well-crafted pop song tends to get "rediscovered" periodically.  For example, this old gem:


The amazing thing about his music is how well it holds up. Fifty years later, it still works. How much music has that kind of staying power?

Well, statistically speaking jerks have a similar mortality rate, but other than their mothers, no one misses them, so it creates a perception bias.

But, yeah, I know what you mean.  Songs left unwritten.

 
gratefulgator wrote:
Would have been so great to be able to see him live!  Only the good die young, huh?

I'm even younger I guess.  The first time I heard it was as a Santana cover on their Inner Secrets album from the late seventies.  For years I thought it was a cover of a Blind Faith song.  The styles are different in each incarnation, and I guess it's the sign of a good song that it holds up when done in various styles.  i.e. it wasn't just a song that depended on the arrangement and production.

 
bachbeet wrote:
Great song.  First time I heard it was on Blind Faith's album.

Great song.  First time I heard it was on Blind Faith's album.
Would have been so great to be able to see him live!  Only the good die young, huh?
 gjr wrote:


first - it was a bit tongue-in-cheek.  but if you listen to their first 3 or 4 albums you can hear his influence all over them (including their cover of "words of love") songs from "do you want to know a secret" up to "it's only love" have holly's fingerprints all over them.  and if you listen to this song ("well alright"), it could have easily been a lennon/mccartney composition on help or rubber soul.  the beatles took what he was doing and RAN with it, i mean they even said they loved this guy.......that's what i meant (don't forget lennon's glasses either)
 
Oh. Peace. {#Cheesygrin}

 WonderLizard wrote:

Huh? Well, okay, the name "The Beatles" was a play on "The Crickets"—like "The Hollies"—and that's a tribute, and lord knows the fact that all of his hits were self-penned was a huge inspiration to both Lennon and McCartney; but I've never read anywhere that they started out as a Buddy Holly tribute band. You got a cite for this?

 

first - it was a bit tongue-in-cheek.  but if you listen to their first 3 or 4 albums you can hear his influence all over them (including their cover of "words of love") songs from "do you want to know a secret" up to "it's only love" have holly's fingerprints all over them.  and if you listen to this song ("well alright"), it could have easily been a lennon/mccartney composition on help or rubber soul.  the beatles took what he was doing and RAN with it, i mean they even said they loved this guy.......that's what i meant (don't forget lennon's glasses either)
Nice segue!
I remember listening to my Mom's 45s in the mid 60s. The 3 artist I still remember groov'n to are: Elvis, Johnny Cash, and  Buddy. Still love groov'n to Johnny and Buddy!

Elvis fans, please don't flame me, I still respect him.


 gjr wrote:
remember - after all, the beatles were originally a buddy holly tribute band {#Bananajam}
 
Huh? Well, okay, the name "The Beatles" was a play on "The Crickets"—like "The Hollies"—and that's a tribute, and lord knows the fact that all of his hits were self-penned was a huge inspiration to both Lennon and McCartney; but I've never read anywhere that they started out as a Buddy Holly tribute band. You got a cite for this?

 WayUpNorth wrote:

Go get the movie "The Buddy Holly Story" or something like that ... it's really good.  I think Gary Busey stars in it? You won't believe all the familiar songs that he actually wrote..

 
Right on both counts. It's interesting if very fictionalized. For instance, Charlie Martin Smith plays "Ray Bob" the stand-up bassist, who is supposed to be Joe Mauldin. Norman Petty, the guy who broke Holly—and later stole him blind—isn't even in the movie. Paul McCartney subsequently produced The Real Buddy Holly Story for BBC, a documentary which is supposed to answer the biopic and correct the factual errors. I haven't seen it, but hear it's pretty good. Better still, get the CD Buddy Holly: From the Original Master Tapes. The sound quality is pretty good—it's been improved on since, but it's the only single-disc collection I know of that has all of his hits with and without The Crickets. It's on my iPod...{#Wink}


 big_gare wrote:
Where were BH's friends when he bought those glasses.  Wow!

 
"Do you think he has a sense of humor?"

"It looks like his optometrist had a sense of humor."

 


remember - after all, the beatles were originally a buddy holly tribute band {#Bananajam}
If this wasn't such a BH classic and rare to hear, I'd say....well you know what I'd say.
 holborne wrote:
It's funny — everyone is saying they never knew this was a Buddy Holly song. Well, though it's always been one of my favorite Buddy Holly songs, I never knew anyone covered it.

 


I like Blind Faith's cover of this one also.
 RobRyan wrote:
Ditto. You could knock me over with a feather!
 
but you know that's not allowed ...

 paulpaar wrote:
People r such foo. Guess cause I'm 60 years- old now and perfect! Well, take care foo! I'm one, too. BY is so dam coo! TY, to. No comment rating.
 
WTF?

I still can't believe I never listened to BH when I was young.  At least I'm enjoying it now.
People r such foo. Guess cause I'm 60 years- old now and perfect!

Well, take care foo! I'm one, too.

BY is so dam coo!

TY, to.

No comment rating.
 Queue wrote:
WOW!
Add me to the list of those who never knew...

Very cool tune.  Buddy was SO far ahead of his time.

Q
 
Go get the movie "The Buddy Holly Story" or something like that ... it's really good.  I think Gary Busey stars in it? You won't believe all the familiar songs that he actually wrote..

Where were BH's friends when he bought those glasses.  Wow!
I don't know if I'm more surprised that he wrote it, or that he's singing and not annoying the hell out of me. a-hey a-hey hey.

What a cool segue from Cracker Something You Ain't Got, which ends with "...well, all right."

Mister Joe B. Mauldin on Bass

https://www.flickr.com/photos/misterfixit/2174302660/

What the hell is wrong with me that I never knew Holly wrote this?!?!
I've listened to the Blind Faith / Clapton version MY WHOLE LIFE !!

Wow - just awesome! {#Music}
 Queue wrote:
WOW!
Add me to the list of those who never knew...

Very cool tune.  Buddy was SO far ahead of his time.

Q
 
2nd that.

I sort of knew it was a Buddy Holly song, because I remember seeing the Holly-Petty-Allison credit on the Blind Faith record. But I'd never actually heard the original, and when this first came on, my reaction too was "Who's this covering 'Well All Right'?" But mostly because it didn't SOUND like Buddy Holly. And even after seeing who it was, I couldn't quite get over it. He sounds so much more subdued here than what I'm used to, and the recording quality sounds so good I thought it was new. Great to hear!
(Actually, I thought it was Nick Lowe!)

It's funny — everyone is saying they never knew this was a Buddy Holly song. Well, though it's always been one of my favorite Buddy Holly songs, I never knew anyone covered it.

Whenever we get around to Buddy Holly, usually via covers, my daughter asks, "You mean the guy with the nerd glasses?"
WOW!
Add me to the list of those who never knew...

Very cool tune.  Buddy was SO far ahead of his time.

Q
I like the Santana cover of this, too.
Great, great song on just about every level.
no comment  -   9.
n4ku wrote:
Slapped me upside the head, too. I had no clue.
Ditto. You could knock me over with a feather!
holy cow! I uploaded this almost 4 years ago. it's about time it got some air.
Mugro wrote:
Who knew? Blind Faith covering Buddy Holly? It just goes to show that Buddy Holly was a seminal source for much of what we know today as rock & roll. Incredible.
Slapped me upside the head, too. I had no clue.
Well AWRIGHT! Thanks Bill, really love hearing Buddy's original version
Brilliant! Thanks RP!
Very cool! Thanks for bringing this one out of the shadows. I have always loved the Blind Faith version, but nothing beats this....
Sweet. A reminder of a more innocent age. Not at all what I've heard from Holly before.
Who knew? Blind Faith covering Buddy Holly? It just goes to show that Buddy Holly was a seminal source for much of what we know today as rock & roll. Incredible.
Rave ON!!!!
holey canolli I didn't realize this was a Buddy Holly song, or is covering it, too? Swell song
nelamvr6 wrote:
OK, admit it: how many though this was someone covering Traffic?
I'd guess that would only be those few here who didn't know it was Blind Faith that did the most-often-heard version of it! (in any case - I gotta say I never knew that it was a Buddy Holly tune, despite being old enough to have heard him sing it live!)