The first three tracks on this CD are Versions of "Take Your Time" with Buddy having a hard time to get it just right! The first version Buddy's voice cracks, on #2 he loses his way with the words and music. The third verion has been cobbled together from a previously unreleased version joined (badly) with the released version after the middle keyboard break.
This version of "Oh Boy!" is a demonstration of how Norman Petty added vocals after the original recording was made which was quite unusual at that time.
The version of "Peggy Sue" featured here is the first recording on which Buddy found it was impossible to switch from rhythm to lead cleanly, a task performed by Niki Sullivan on the released version.
There are three versions of "Think It Over" on this CD all of which go to demonstrate that Buddy was always composing, even while they were recording! On the first version he says to Jerry that he wants him to do an alteration on the drum intro "da dum-da dum-da dum-da da da". No Piano is featured in the middle break. On the second and third you can hear Petty altering the sound levels and echo content.
Two versions of "Fool's Paradise", both without the backing vocals which as before Petty added later. The piano is missing again.
"Bo Diddley" and "Brown Eyed Handsome Man" are minus the later Fireballs overdub that was added after Holly's death by Norman Petty.
"Lonesome Tears" was the flip side of "It's So Easy" and features the guitar playing of Tommy Allsup who Buddy teamed up with for his final tour. The song does not seem to pick up many airplays, which is a shame because I think it's really good.
The hit version of "Maybe Baby" was recorded at the Tinker Air Force Base at Oklahoma City in September 1957. This version was an earlier take recorded at a jumpier pace.
Jim Robinson was a fellow Texan born in 1926 had a few song-writing successes in the 1960's with Johnny "Peanuts" Wilson but featured here are four recordings that feature Buddy Holly on guitar and Jerry Allison on drums.
"When Sin Stops" was recorded by Waylon Jennings for Holly's label PRISM. Featured here are version 1, an instrumental backing track. Waylon's voice is heard on the the next version. Version 3 is a track by the Nighthawks and was released on the Hamilton label #45-50006 on November 17th 1958.