Runaway Express

One would have thought that Runaway Express had completed their ‘Buddy thing’ with the 2000 release of “Yeah, Buddy!”, which featured 20 Holly songs. Not so. We were amazed at the number of great tunes that we left off the first record. ‘Not Fade Away’, ‘Peggy Sue’, ‘Oh, Boy’, ‘Rainin’ In My Heart’, ‘True Love Ways’ and ‘Rave On’. These songs weren’t left-overs by a long shot. Besides, all of us were excited about re-creating the fun we had making the first one. The stage was set for “Oh, Boy!”.

The original “Yeah, Buddy!” took a slight bluegrass/country approach, conceived and inspired in the slickrock country of Utah. Jim, Salli and Ernie were taking in the sights at Canyonlands National Park one fall day when each scenic overlook became a spontaneous jam session, and each session yielded a few more Holly songs that sounded great with Ernie’s banjo. Buddy’s early musical influences were, after all, Hank Williams, Flatt and Scruggs and Bill Monroe. Buddy played both banjo and mandolin. Peggy Sue said Buddy had a ‘country soul’. We made a record of Holly songs with bluegrass overtones. To the surprise of some, that musical marriage worked, and “Yeah, Buddy!” did too. We couldn’t resist doing it again.

The companion disc to the first is called “Oh, Boy! (another yeah, buddy)”, and it’s our 2004 release. Spotlighted on this record is Jim’s Bo Diddley-influenced Buddy tribute tune ‘Caprock’. “Oh, Boy!” is less influenced by bluegrass, and contains powerful, contemporary arrangements with a folk-rock and roots-Americana flair. Big drums, multiple harmonies, all sorts of acoustic and electric guitars, mandolins, pedal steels, dobros and flutes swirling around in a joyous party atmosphere. A most flavorful West Texas gumbo. A celebration of Buddy Holly and those innovative ‘50s cats who built rock & roll from the ground up. “Oh, Boy!” ain’t no nostalgic romp in the past. There are no poodle skirts in sight. It’s a pure, modern-day, 21st century, love song-filled, smile-inducing musical extravaganza of joy and rock & roll passion. This record begs to be played loud and the neighbors won’t mind.

...and nobody has a cooler CD package than this one! Pop-up electric guitar and all!

Buy it now on our Discs Page!

Our 2000 Release:

The Songs

• Well, All Right •

• I'm Gonna Love You, Too •

• Everyday •

• Wishin' •

• Maybe Baby •

• Love's Made a Fool of You •

• It's So Easy •

• Rock Around With Ollie Vee •

• Peggy Sue Got Married •

• Cryin', Waitin', Hopin' •

• That What They Say •

• Look At Me •

• Words of Love •

• Heartbeat •

• Tell Me How •

• Take Your Time •

• Listen To Me •

• That'll Be The Day •

• Learnin' The Game •

• True Love Ways •

Listen to a Sample:

Jim Reports, "We began tracking our first Holly record "Yeah, Buddy!" in early February just after a four-hour celebration of his music. We performed 38 Buddy Holly songs that day and realized that we had no choice. We had to make a Buddy record! In the first week of the most joyful album tracking of my life, an amazing event occurred. I recieved what appeared to be an almost personal statement of encouragement from two of rock's most legendary icons, JohnLennon and Mick Jagger. Interested in the story? Click below and read the article I wrote for the August issue of Bill Griggs’ Rockin' 50's Magazine."

Here's some extra reading about "Yeah, Buddy!"

Hidden Site Links | Those Fabulous Sixties Editor's Letter | The Jack Len Tape | Co Springs Indy | Lubbock Magazine Interview

Runaway Express

E-Mail

PO BOX 2333
Englewood, Colorado 80150

303-781-3314