A Bright, Rhythmic Rock and Roll Record That Captured Buddy Holly’s Youthful Energy While Revealing How Different Artists Could Shape the Same Song
Released on July 5, 1958, “Early in the Morning” found Buddy Holly bringing his unmistakable youthful energy to a song written by Bobby Darin and Woody Harris. The recording arrived during a remarkable period in Holly’s career, when his distinctive voice, black glasses, and fresh approach to rock and roll were helping establish him as one of the defining young artists of the late 1950s. His version reached No. 32 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and No. 17 on the UK Singles Chart.
The story behind the song is especially interesting because Holly was not the first artist to release it. Darin had recorded “Early in the Morning” earlier in 1958, but contractual complications made the record’s original release unusually complicated. It first appeared under the name the Ding Dongs before being reissued as a recording by Bobby Darin and the Rinky Dinks. Holly’s version then entered the American charts while Darin’s recording was also climbing, creating an unusual contest between two interpretations of the same composition. Darin’s version peaked at No. 24, slightly higher than Holly’s American chart position.
Holly’s recording also differed from the sound many listeners associate with the Crickets. Recorded in New York on June 19, 1958, and produced by Dick Jacobs, the session featured tenor saxophonist Sam “The Man” Taylor, drummer Panama Francis, and backing vocals by the Helen Way Singers. These musicians gave the track a fuller, more polished arrangement than the leaner guitar driven sound heard on some of Holly’s best known recordings. The saxophone adds a lively flourish, while the rhythm keeps the song moving with an easy confidence.
What makes Holly’s performance memorable is the naturalness of his delivery. He never sounds as though he is trying too hard to sell the song. His clear, slightly nasal voice rides comfortably over the rhythm, giving the recording a relaxed charm that suits the playful premise. There is a sense of movement in the music, the kind of sound that belongs to an era when rock and roll was still young, radio was introducing listeners to new sounds every week, and a two minute single could make an ordinary morning feel full of possibility.
In 1958, Holly was still only 21, yet he was already building a catalogue that would influence generations of musicians. “Early in the Morning” may not have become one of his biggest American hits, but it remains a revealing snapshot of his versatility. Behind the familiar image of the bespectacled rock and roll pioneer was a singer willing to explore different arrangements while keeping his own personality at the centre of the music.