Rave On
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"Rave On" | |
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Song | |
B-side | "Take Your Time" |
"Rave On", also written "Rave On!", is a song written by Sonny West, Bill Tilghman and Norman Petty in 1958. It was first recorded by West for Atlantic Records, which released his version in February 1958 (as Atlantic 45-1174).[1] Buddy Holly recorded the song later the same year, and his version became a hit, one of six of his recordings that charted in 1958. Holly is instantly recognizable as the artist: the record begins with a drawn-out "Well…" as stylized by Holly's distinctive hiccup ("A-weh-uh-heh-uh-ell…").
Background
Most of Holly's recordings were produced and engineered by Norman Petty, who also managed Holly, and recorded in Petty's studio in Clovis, New Mexico. "Rave On", however, was produced by Milton DeLugg and recorded in New York City. The title was inspired by the 1956 Sun Records recording "Dixie Fried" by Carl Perkins, which uses the refrain "rave on." The B-side was Holly's composition "Take Your Time".
Holly's rendition of "Rave On" is ranked number 154 on Rolling Stone magazine's 2004 list of "The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time."[2]
Track listing
Initial pressing
- "Rave On"
- "Take Your Time"
German pressing
As Buddy Holly and the Crickets
- "Rave On"
- "Ready Teddy"
EP (UK)
- "Rave On"
- "Take Your Time"
- "Early in the Morning"
- "Now We're One"
1968 Re-release (UK)
- "Rave On"
- "Peggy Sue"
1968 Re-release (US)
- "Rave On"
- "Early in the Morning"
Other versions
Cover versions of "Rave On" have been recorded by Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, Commander Cody, Status Quo, M. Ward, and the folk-rock band Steeleye Span. It was a hit for the Delta Cross Band in Denmark in 1980.
The song was used as comical background music in a television commercial for Arnott's Shapes in Australia in the early 1990s. The 1998 motion picture Pleasantville uses part of the song.
Joe Meek produced a version with the singer Michael Cox, released in 1964 (backed with "Just Say Hello", HMV POP1293 A).
John Mellencamp recorded a version for the soundtrack of the film Cocktail in 1988.
The Real Kids recorded a cover version on their 1977 self-titled album.
Nitty Gritty Dirt Band recorded a cover version for their 1970 album Uncle Charlie & His Dog Teddy.
In an interview, the Danish rock band the Raveonettes stated that their name is "a complete direct reference to the Ronettes and Buddy Holly Rave On."[3]
M. Ward recorded a cover of the song for his 2009 album Hold Time.
Denny Laine, the guitarist for the bands Wings and Moody Blues, recorded a cover of the song for his 1977 Holly tribute album, Holly Days, produced by Paul McCartney.
Marshall Crenshaw performed the song in concert, and a recording of a live performance of it was released as a bonus track on the reissue of his self-titled album.
Julian Casablancas recorded a cover of the song for the 2011 Holly tribute album Rave On Buddy Holly.
Cliff Richard recorded a cover of the song for his 2013 album, The Fabulous Rock 'n' Roll Songbook.
Terry Manning often plays the song in live shows and recorded a live version for later release.
References
- ^ "RHOF Inductee: Sonny West". Rockabillyhall.com. 1997-03-21. Retrieved 2016-08-29.
- ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2012-01-15. Retrieved 2012-01-21.
{{cite web}}
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suggested) (help)CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ Shankbone, David (2007). Interview with the Raveonettes. Wikinews. October 16.
Sources
- Amburn, Ellis (1996). Buddy Holly: A Biography. St. Martin's Press. ISBN 978-0-312-14557-6.
- Bustard, Anne (2005). Buddy: The Story of Buddy Holly. Simon & Schuster. ISBN 978-1-4223-9302-4.
- Dawson, Jim; Leigh, Spencer (1996). Memories of Buddy Holly. Big Nickel Publications. ISBN 978-0-936433-20-2.
- Gerron, Peggy Sue (2008). Whatever Happened to Peggy Sue? Togi Entertainment. ISBN 978-0-9800085-0-0.
- Goldrosen, John (1975). Buddy Holly: His Life and Music. Popular Press. ISBN 0-85947-018-0.
- Goldrosen, John; Beecher, John (1996). Remembering Buddy: The Definitive Biography. New York: Da Capo Press. ISBN 0-306-80715-7.
- Gribbin, John (2009). Not Fade Away: The Life and Music of Buddy Holly. London: Icon Books. ISBN 978-1-84831-034-6