Pat DiNizio/Buddy Holly
| Company type | Album |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 2009 |
| Founder | Pat DiNizio |
| Products | Music album |
Pat DiNizio/Buddy Holly represents the fourth individual project by Pat DiNizio, known from The Smithereens, released in 2009 through Koch Records. This album showcases DiNizio’s interpretations of eleven tracks originally performed by Buddy Holly. The string sections, executed by the Encore Chamber String Quartet, were arranged by Charles Calello, who has an extensive history working with artists such as The Four Seasons, Neil Diamond, Barbra Streisand, and Bruce Springsteen. Contributions also include vocal performances by 1960s pop star Bobby Vee and production led by Kurt Reil of The Grip Weeds, a longtime collaborator with The Smithereens. The liner notes contain an essay penned by Buddy Holly scholar Bill Griggs alongside reflections from Bobby Vee.
Background
DiNizio drew inspiration from the string usage in The Beatles songs "Eleanor Rigby" and "Yesterday", integrating string arrangements into most of the album's compositions. He explained, "We avoided altering the material in unusual ways merely for novelty’s sake. Instead, I enlisted Charles Calello, who was actively recording during Buddy Holly’s era, to craft all the string parts." His objective was to pay homage to the artist who influenced his own songwriting, commemorating the fiftieth anniversary of Holly’s death. Rather than producing a conventional tribute, DiNizio opted for a predominantly baroque style driven by strings, employing a string quartet on nearly every piece to personalize the interpretations.
Critical reception
Mark Deming of AllMusic awarded the album 4 out of 5 stars, observing that "DiNizio reveals an unexpected dimension of these songs on Pat DiNizio/Buddy Holly," highlighting how the arrangements bring a refined maturity that complements Holly’s original lyrics and melodies. Deming proposed that the album offers a vision of how Holly might have revisited these songs later in his career. Dave Tianen from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel emphasized the string arrangements, noting they render the tracks "richer, darker, and occasionally somewhat baroque," revitalizing the music while maintaining fidelity to Holly’s intent. In contrast, Gene Triplett of The Oklahoman expressed reservations about the slowed tempos on selections such as "Everyday" and "Peggy Sue," criticized the doo-wop style a cappella rendition of "That’ll Be the Day," and felt that the dominant string arrangements diminished the effectiveness of DiNizio’s homage.
Personnel
Information sourced from the album’s liner notes.
- Musicians
- Pat DiNizio – lead vocals, acoustic guitar
- Kurt Reil – drums, harmonica, backing vocals, guitar, six-string bass
- Charles Calello – arranger of string parts
- John DiPuccio – first violin
- Laszlo Pap – second violin
- Katrenna Johnson – viola
- Barbara Corcillo – cello
- Bobby Vee – harmony and lead vocals on "Listen to Me"
- Kristin Pinel – lead guitar on "Raining in My Heart"
- Tommy Frangione – guitar on "Raining in My Heart"
- Frank Iovino – bass vocals (a cappella) on "That'll Be the Day"
- Tony Alexander – baritone vocals (a cappella) on "That'll Be the Day"
- Spanky Pionegro – second tenor vocals (a cappella) on "That'll Be the Day"
- Dino Pionegro – first tenor vocals (a cappella) on "That'll Be the Day"
- Technical
- Kurt Reil – producer, engineer, mixer, liner notes contributor
- Zach Ziskin – engineer (Spectrum Studios)
- Arnold Mischkulnig – mastering engineer
- Paul Grosso – creative director, art director, designer
- Alice Butts – art direction and design
- Michael Halsband – photographer
- Bill Griggs – liner notes author
- Bobby Vee – liner notes contributor
- Notes
- Recording took place at House of Vibes in Highland Park, New Jersey
- String quartet and a cappella vocal parts recorded at Spectrum Studios in Pompano Beach, Florida
- Bobby Vee’s vocal sessions held at Rockhouse Studios in St. Joseph, Minnesota
- Mastering completed at Chop Shop Studios in Brooklyn, New York