Available as a live stream as of June 19 on the US-based National Public Radio’s (NPR) website, the album features 19 tracks from the Holly songbook, revised and reworked by celebrated musicians. Holly, who was only 22 when he died in a plane crash in 1959, produced an impressive collection of pop classics in just a few years, and “his catalog offers many unforgettable odes to wide-eyed, open-hearted youth,” writes NPR.
To honour what would have been Holly’s 75th birthday, the album has been generating considerable buzz in the media with the release of a slew of singles in recent weeks.
The album’s lead track is The Black Keys’ rendition of “Dearest,” followed by McCartney’s “It’s So Easy”, My Morning Jacket’s “True Love Ways”, and Modest Mouse’s “That’ll Be the Day”.
Fiona Apple contributes a “gorgeous” (Spin magazine) cover of “Everyday”, while Cee Lo Green offers up a fresh take on “You’re So Square.” Also check out tracks by Patti Smith, She & Him, Florence and the Machine, and Nick Lowe. The album is available for streaming until its release date, June 28. — afprelaxnews.com
