That'll Be the Day
Encyclopedia
"That'll Be the Day" is a song written by Buddy Holly
and Jerry Allison
and recorded by various artists including The Crickets
and Linda Ronstadt
. It was also the first song to be recorded (just as a demonstration disc) by The Quarrymen
, the skiffle group that subsequently became The Beatles
. Although Norman Petty
was given a co-writing credit on it, he was not actually involved in the composition, but only in the production of this well-known recording.
in June 1956. The John Wayne
film The Searchers
was playing. Wayne's frequently-used, world-weary catchphrase, "that'll be the day" inspired the young musicians.
The second recorded version of this song was recorded eight months later, at the Norman Petty studios in Clovis, New Mexico
, on February 25, 1957, and issued on Decca's
Brunswick
label three months later.
Because Holly had signed a recording contract with Decca, he was contractually prohibited from re-recording any of the songs recorded during the 1956 Nashville sessions for five years, even if Decca never released them. To dodge this, producer Norman Petty credited the Crickets as the artist on this new recording of "That'll Be the Day" to shield Buddy from possible legal action. Ironically, Brunswick Records was a subsidiary of Decca Records. Once the cat was out of the bag, Decca re-signed Holly to another of its subsidiaries, Coral Records
, so he ended up with two recording contracts. His group efforts would be issued by Brunswick, and his solo recordings would be on Coral.
The re-recorded version of "That'll Be the Day" was released by Brunswick Records on May 27, 1957, and is featured on the debut album by the Crickets, The "Chirping" Crickets, which was issued on November 27, 1957. The song is considered a classic in the rock and roll genre and is listed at #39 on Rolling Stone
's list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.
The version recorded at Bradley’s Barn
, Nashville on July 22, 1956 was released as B-side to "Rock Around With Ollie Vee", credited to Buddy Holly, on 2 September 1957 (Decca D30434) and can be found on the 1958 album That'll Be the Day
.
chart in Billboard magazine
. The song also went to number two on Billboards R&B singles chart
. On September 20, 1986 the song appeared on the UK Album Charts at #85, it then came off the charts a week later at #100.
On December 20, 1969 a re-issue of the single by Coral Records
was awarded a gold single by the RIAA.
(July 22, 1956 at Bradley’s Barn
, Nashville)
, who later became The Beatles
; their rendition, intended just as a demonstration disc, was issued officially on the Beatles compilation album Anthology 1
in 1995. The one and only 1958 pressing is thought to be one of the world's most valuable records, worth an estimated £100,000 Norman Petty sold the publishing rights to the Buddy Holly catalogue to Paul McCartney
in 1979.
It was covered by The Everly Brothers
who released it as a 45 single, Warner Brothers 5611, in 1965. The single reached number 30 on the UK charts. Linda Ronstadt
covered the song on 1976's Grammy award winning Hasten Down the Wind
. The single made it to number 11 on the Billboard Pop Singles chart and number 27 on the Billboard Country Singles chart.
The Flamin' Groovies covered "That'll be the Day" in 1972; their rendition is on the reissue of their album Teenage Head
.
Paul and Barry Ryan
covered the song on their debut album Two of a Kind (Decca LP LK4878, 1967).
Overboard
has a rendition on their 2008 album Castaways.
Foghat
did a cover on their Energized
album.
The La's
covered the song in 1986.
Modest Mouse
covered the song for the 2011 album Rave On Buddy Holly.
Linda Ronstadt
's 1976 cover version is included on the 2011 tribute album, Listen to Me: Buddy Holly.
Buddy Holly
Charles Hardin Holley , known professionally as Buddy Holly, was an American singer-songwriter and a pioneer of rock and roll...
and Jerry Allison
Jerry Allison
J.I. Allison is an American musician, best known for being the drummer for The Crickets and co-writer of their Buddy Holly hit "Peggy Sue"....
and recorded by various artists including The Crickets
The Crickets
The Crickets are a rock & roll band from Lubbock, Texas, formed by singer/songwriter Buddy Holly in the 1950s. Their first hit record was "That'll Be the Day", released in 1957....
and Linda Ronstadt
Linda Ronstadt
Linda Ronstadt is an American popular music recording artist. She has earned eleven Grammy Awards, two Academy of Country Music awards, an Emmy Award, an ALMA Award, numerous United States and internationally certified gold, platinum and multiplatinum albums, in addition to Tony Award and Golden...
. It was also the first song to be recorded (just as a demonstration disc) by The Quarrymen
The Quarrymen
The Quarrymen are a British skiffle and rock and roll group, initially formed in Liverpool in 1956, that eventually evolved into The Beatles in 1960...
, the skiffle group that subsequently became The Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
. Although Norman Petty
Norman Petty
Norman Petty was an American musician, songwriter, and pioneer record producer who helped shape modern popular music, including pop and rock....
was given a co-writing credit on it, he was not actually involved in the composition, but only in the production of this well-known recording.
Background
The song had its genesis in a trip to the movies by Holly, Allison and Sonny CurtisSonny Curtis
Sonny Curtis is an American singer and songwriter. Most of his work falls into the Pop and Country genres. He was a teenage pal and band member with Buddy Holly in Lubbock, Texas...
in June 1956. The John Wayne
John Wayne
Marion Mitchell Morrison , better known by his stage name John Wayne, was an American film actor, director and producer. He epitomized rugged masculinity and became an enduring American icon. He is famous for his distinctive calm voice, walk, and height...
film The Searchers
The Searchers (film)
The Searchers is a 1956 American Western film directed by John Ford, based on the 1954 novel by Alan Le May, and set during the Texas–Indian Wars...
was playing. Wayne's frequently-used, world-weary catchphrase, "that'll be the day" inspired the young musicians.
The second recorded version of this song was recorded eight months later, at the Norman Petty studios in Clovis, New Mexico
Clovis, New Mexico
Clovis is the county seat of Curry County, New Mexico, United States. Its population was 32,667 at the 2000 census; according to 2010 Census Bureau estimates, the population had risen to 37,775....
, on February 25, 1957, and issued on Decca's
Decca Records
Decca Records began as a British record label established in 1929 by Edward Lewis. Its U.S. label was established in late 1934; however, owing to World War II, the link with the British company was broken for several decades....
Brunswick
Brunswick Records
Brunswick Records is a United States based record label. The label is currently distributed by E1 Entertainment.-From 1916:Records under the "Brunswick" label were first produced by the Brunswick-Balke-Collender Company...
label three months later.
Because Holly had signed a recording contract with Decca, he was contractually prohibited from re-recording any of the songs recorded during the 1956 Nashville sessions for five years, even if Decca never released them. To dodge this, producer Norman Petty credited the Crickets as the artist on this new recording of "That'll Be the Day" to shield Buddy from possible legal action. Ironically, Brunswick Records was a subsidiary of Decca Records. Once the cat was out of the bag, Decca re-signed Holly to another of its subsidiaries, Coral Records
Coral Records
Coral Records was a Decca Records subsidiary formed in 1949. It recorded pop artists McGuire Sisters and Teresa Brewer, as well as rock and roller Buddy Holly....
, so he ended up with two recording contracts. His group efforts would be issued by Brunswick, and his solo recordings would be on Coral.
The re-recorded version of "That'll Be the Day" was released by Brunswick Records on May 27, 1957, and is featured on the debut album by the Crickets, The "Chirping" Crickets, which was issued on November 27, 1957. The song is considered a classic in the rock and roll genre and is listed at #39 on Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
's list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.
The version recorded at Bradley’s Barn
Owen Bradley
Owen Bradley was an American record producer who, along with Chet Atkins and Bob Ferguson, was one of the chief architects of the 1950s and 1960s Nashville sound in country music and rockabilly.-Before the fame:...
, Nashville on July 22, 1956 was released as B-side to "Rock Around With Ollie Vee", credited to Buddy Holly, on 2 September 1957 (Decca D30434) and can be found on the 1958 album That'll Be the Day
That'll Be the Day (album)
That’ll Be The Day is the third album from American rock and roll icon Buddy Holly. Decca, Holly’s first major record label, after failing to produce a hit single from Holly’s early recordings, packaged these 1956 tunes after he had some success with recordings from the Brunswick and Coral labels,...
.
Charts and certification
The Brunswick single became a number-one hit on the 1957 "Best Sellers in Stores"Number-one hits of 1957 (USA)
This is a list of number-one songs in the United States during the year 1957 according to Billboard magazine. Prior to the creation of the Hot 100, Billboard published multiple singles charts each week...
chart in Billboard magazine
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
. The song also went to number two on Billboards R&B singles chart
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, is a chart released weekly by Billboard in the United States.The chart, initiated in 1942, is used to track the success of popular music songs in urban, or primarily African American, venues. Dominated over the years at various times by jazz, rhythm and blues, doo-wop, soul,...
. On September 20, 1986 the song appeared on the UK Album Charts at #85, it then came off the charts a week later at #100.
On December 20, 1969 a re-issue of the single by Coral Records
Coral Records
Coral Records was a Decca Records subsidiary formed in 1949. It recorded pop artists McGuire Sisters and Teresa Brewer, as well as rock and roller Buddy Holly....
was awarded a gold single by the RIAA.
Personnel
(February 25, 1957 at Norman Petty Recording Studio)- Buddy HollyBuddy HollyCharles Hardin Holley , known professionally as Buddy Holly, was an American singer-songwriter and a pioneer of rock and roll...
- lead guitar and vocals - Larry Welborn - bass
- Jerry Allison - drums
- Niki Sullivan - background vocals
- June Clark - background vocals
- Gary Tollett - background vocals
- Ramona Tollett - background vocals
(July 22, 1956 at Bradley’s Barn
Owen Bradley
Owen Bradley was an American record producer who, along with Chet Atkins and Bob Ferguson, was one of the chief architects of the 1950s and 1960s Nashville sound in country music and rockabilly.-Before the fame:...
, Nashville)
- Buddy Holly - vocals, guitar
- Sonny Curtis - guitar
- Don Guess - bass
- Jerry Allison - drums
Notable cover versions
In 1958, the song was the first track ever recorded by The QuarrymenThe Quarrymen
The Quarrymen are a British skiffle and rock and roll group, initially formed in Liverpool in 1956, that eventually evolved into The Beatles in 1960...
, who later became The Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
; their rendition, intended just as a demonstration disc, was issued officially on the Beatles compilation album Anthology 1
Anthology 1
Anthology 1 is a compilation album by The Beatles, released by Apple Records in November 1995. It was released as the first part of the Anthology trilogy of albums with Anthology 2 and Anthology 3, all of which tie-in with the televised special The Beatles Anthology. It contains "Free as a Bird",...
in 1995. The one and only 1958 pressing is thought to be one of the world's most valuable records, worth an estimated £100,000 Norman Petty sold the publishing rights to the Buddy Holly catalogue to Paul McCartney
Paul McCartney
Sir James Paul McCartney, MBE, Hon RAM, FRCM is an English musician, singer-songwriter and composer. Formerly of The Beatles and Wings , McCartney is listed in Guinness World Records as the "most successful musician and composer in popular music history", with 60 gold discs and sales of 100...
in 1979.
It was covered by The Everly Brothers
The Everly Brothers
The Everly Brothers are country-influenced rock and roll performers, known for steel-string guitar playing and close harmony singing...
who released it as a 45 single, Warner Brothers 5611, in 1965. The single reached number 30 on the UK charts. Linda Ronstadt
Linda Ronstadt
Linda Ronstadt is an American popular music recording artist. She has earned eleven Grammy Awards, two Academy of Country Music awards, an Emmy Award, an ALMA Award, numerous United States and internationally certified gold, platinum and multiplatinum albums, in addition to Tony Award and Golden...
covered the song on 1976's Grammy award winning Hasten Down the Wind
Hasten Down the Wind
Hasten Down The Wind is a 1976 album by singer/songwriter/producer Linda Ronstadt and was Ronstadt's third straight million-selling album. Ronstadt was the first female artist in history to accomplish this feat. The album earned Ronstadt a Grammy for "Best Pop Vocal Performance, Female" in 1977,...
. The single made it to number 11 on the Billboard Pop Singles chart and number 27 on the Billboard Country Singles chart.
The Flamin' Groovies covered "That'll be the Day" in 1972; their rendition is on the reissue of their album Teenage Head
Teenage Head (Flamin' Groovies album)
Teenage Head is The Flamin' Groovies third studio album, released in 1971. Released the same year as The Rolling Stones' classic album Sticky Fingers, Mick Jagger reportedly noticed the similarities between the albums and thought the Flamin' Groovies did the better take on the theme of classic...
.
Paul and Barry Ryan
Barry Ryan (singer)
Barry Ryan was an English pop singer. He is currently a photographer.The son of pop singer Marion Ryan, Ryan and his twin brother Paul began to perform at the age of 16...
covered the song on their debut album Two of a Kind (Decca LP LK4878, 1967).
Overboard
Overboard (a cappella)
Overboard is a male a cappella group based in Boston, MA. The group's repertoire consists of a cappella covers of popular contemporary pop/rock artists, such as Train, The Script, and Rascal Flatts, and of a cappella standards, such as "Blue Moon", "In the Still of the Night" and "Stand by Me".-...
has a rendition on their 2008 album Castaways.
Foghat
Foghat
Foghat are a British rock band that had their peak success in the mid- to late-1970s. Their style can be described as "blues-rock," or boogie-rock dominated by electric and electric slide guitar. The band has achieved five gold records...
did a cover on their Energized
Energized
Energized is the third album by the group Foghat. It was released in January 1974 and certified gold in the US.-Track listing:# "Honey Hush" - 4:19 Energized is the third album by the group Foghat. It was released in January 1974 and certified gold in the US.-Track listing:# "Honey Hush" - 4:19...
album.
The La's
The La's
The La's were an English rock band from Liverpool, originally active from the mid-1980s to early 1990s. Fronted by singer, songwriter and guitarist Lee Mavers, the group is most famous for their hit single "There She Goes". The band was formed by Mike Badger in 1984 and Mavers joined soon after...
covered the song in 1986.
Modest Mouse
Modest Mouse
Modest Mouse is an American indie rock band formed in 1993 in Issaquah, Washington, by singer/lyricist/guitarist Isaac Brock, drummer Jeremiah Green, and bassist Eric Judy. They are based in Portland, Oregon. Since their 1996 debut album, This Is a Long Drive for Someone with Nothing to Think...
covered the song for the 2011 album Rave On Buddy Holly.
Linda Ronstadt
Linda Ronstadt
Linda Ronstadt is an American popular music recording artist. She has earned eleven Grammy Awards, two Academy of Country Music awards, an Emmy Award, an ALMA Award, numerous United States and internationally certified gold, platinum and multiplatinum albums, in addition to Tony Award and Golden...
's 1976 cover version is included on the 2011 tribute album, Listen to Me: Buddy Holly.