In 1956, Holly recorded for Decca Nashville (including a fairly dire version of "That'll Be The Day"), but having released a few tracks, Decca dropped him.

He then drove over to Normal Petty's studio in Clovis, and re-recorded "That'll Be The Day", although his Decca contract specifically forbade him from re-recording any tracks he had already cut for Decca.

Somebody (I wonder who????) put him up to confirming this in a recorded phone call to Decca. (I interviewed Norman and he denied that he had put Holly up to doing it, but admitted that Buddy might have phoned Cohen from his studios!)

Next, Norman went to New York and placed "That'll Be The Day" with Brunswick - crediting it not to Buddy Holly - but simply to "The Crickets".

When it came out, Decca objected to this new version of "their" song "That'll Be The Day", before realising that the Decca group already owned Brunswick Records anyway and would simply be suing themselves!

Not only that, but Norman had signed Holly to a solo contract with Coral Records, also owned by - guess who? -Decca Records.

So Decca had to swallow their pride and put up with things. They cashed in by releasing an album called "That'll Be The Day" anyway but having lost Elvis, and then Buddy Holly, they were not well pleased.

Clever man Norman Petty.

• RE: Royalties - John 10/24/2008 14:45:48 EDT (0)
• RE: Royalties - John 10/25/2008 23:55:35 EDT (1)