Down the Line: Rarities

Down the Line: Rarities is an album by Buddy Holly, released in 2009. A treasure trove of Buddy Holly's raw, energetic rockabilly and poignant ballads showcasing his innovative spirit. This album matters as it sheds light on the breadth of Holly's work beyond his well-known hits, revealing his artistic process and experimentation in the studio. The release further solidifies Holly's status as a pioneer in rock music, influencing countless artists across genres. It garnered positive critical reception for its historical significance and musical quality. Here's what makes it worth your time and what to listen to next.

Frequently Asked Questions

Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.

Disc 1

• 1 My Two-Timin’ Woman 2:15
• 2 Footprints in the Snow 1:20
• 3 Flower of My Heart 2:36
• 4 Door to My Heart 2:23
• 5 Soft Place in My Heart 2:16
• 6 Gotta Get You Near Me Blues 1:53
• 7 I Gambled My Heart 2:43
• 8 You and I Are Through 2:05
• 9 Down the Line 2:03
• 10 Baby, Let’s Play House 2:28
• 11 Moonlight Baby 1:58
• 12 I Guess I Was Just a Fool 2:19
• 13 Don’t Come Back Knockin’ 2:00
• 14 Love Me 1:53
• 15 Gone 1:12
• 16 Gone (alternate take) 1:16
• 17 Have You Ever Been Lonely (alternate take) 0:53
• 18 Have You Ever Been Lonely 1:18
• 19 Brown-Eyed Handsome Man 2:08
• 20 Good Rockin’ Tonight 1:57
• 21 Rip It Up 1:25
• 22 Blue Monday 1:57
• 23 Honky Tonk 3:26
• 24 Blue Suede Shoes 1:53
• 25 Shake Rattle and Roll (partial) 1:21
• 26 Bo Diddley 2:20
• 27 Ain’t Got No Home 2:01
• 28 Holly Hop 1:36

Disc 2

• 1 Last Night (undubbed) 1:56
• 2 Not Fade Away (partial alternate overdub) 2:23
• 3 Peggy Sue (alternate take) Standout 2:33
• 4 Oh Boy! (undubbed) 2:09
• 5 That’s My Desire (two false starts plus undubbed master) 4:11
• 6 Take Your Time (false start & partially undubbed take) 3:32
• 7 Fool’s Paradise (alternate take undubbed) 2:30
• 8 Fool’s Paradise (undubbed master) Standout 2:32
• 9 Fool’s Paradise (alternate #2, undubbed) 2:33
• 10 Think It Over (false start & rehearsal take, take 1) 2:13
• 11 Think It Over (undubbed alternate, take 2) 1:51
• 12 Think It Over (undubbed master, take 3) 1:51
• 13 Love’s Made a Fool of You (undubbed) 2:04
• 14 That’ll Be the Day (greetings to Bob Thiele) Standout 0:35
• 15 That’ll Be the Day (greetings to Murray Deutsch) 0:32
• 16 That’s What They Say (with fragment) 1:52
• 17 What to Do 1:54
• 18 Peggy Sue Got Married 1:50
• 19 That Makes It Tough 2:17
• 20 Crying, Waiting, Hoping 1:52
• 21 Learning the Game 1:34
• 22 Wait Till the Sun Shines Nellie 1:14
• 23 Slippin’ and Slidin’ (slow version #1) 3:11
• 24 Slippin’ and Slidin’ (slow version #2) 3:35
• 25 Slippin’ and Slidin’ (fast version) 1:27
• 26 [Buddy & Maria Elena Talking in Apartment] 3:28
• 27 Dearest (fragment) 1:13
• 28 Dearest 1:53
• 29 [untitled instrumental] 1:20
• 30 Love Is Strange 1:43
• 31 Smokey Joe’s Café 2:14

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What to play next

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Memorial Collection

2009