That'll Be the Day - Linda Ronstadt (1976) 1/17/23

How do you make an iconic song of the '50s a "Great Song of the '70s? Have Linda Ronstadt record a Buddy Holly Song!

The song in question is "That'll Be the Day," which Buddy actually recorded TWICE--once in 1956 with a group called The Three Tunes (which went nowhere), and the second time in 1957 with his new band: The Crickets.

The second version went to #1 in both the US and the UK, and currently sits at #124 on Rolling Stone Magazine's list of the "Top 500 Songs of All Time!"

There have been MANY cover versions recorded over the years...including an unreleased 1958 Demo recording by a group called The Quarrymen--aka John, Paul, and George, with Colin Hanton on Drums and John Lowe on piano.

It was their very first recording, and and let's just say it was pretty rough. (Check the link below.)

In 1976, Linda Ronstadt recorded an outstanding cover version for her Grammy Award-winning album, "Hasten Down the Wind," and when it was released as a single, it became a triple-chart hit in both the US and Canada!" Here are the numbers:

Top 40: #11 US, #2 Canada Adult Contemporary: #16 US, #14 Canada Country: #27 US, #17 Canada

"That'll Be the Day:" a "Great Song" TWICE: by Buddy Holly in 1957, and Linda Ronstadt in 1976!

Linda: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E4O_iA-nR1U

Buddy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eq9FCBatl3A

Quarrymen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R4_LMMKq8Hw