“The Real Buddy Holly” released on home video in the UK

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From Beatles Monthly Book N°124, August 1986:

Last year’s excellent BBC2/MPL “Arena” production on Buddy Holly is coming out on home video in the U.K. to celebrate this year’s Holly week — an extra special event because it would have been Buddy’s 50th birthday — and it will contain, as revealed in the February edition of this column, an extra 25 minutes of material, rounding up the documentary to a 90-minute production. Much of the extra footage will be archive material of groups performing Holly
numbers, and some Beatles material is believed to be included. It is unlikely that Paul will use the opportunity of the video to air any more of his unique 1958 Quarry Man recording of “That’ll Be the Day” beyond the 86 seconds already included.

MPL has concluded arrangements with EMI’s video arm, Picture Music International, to issue the tape, with PM I releasing it on August 26, in good time for the celebrations on September 7. The retail price will be £16.99 (catalogue numbers, VHS: MVN 99 1126 2; Beta: MXN 99 1126 4). Initial quantities of the video will be available in a special gatefold wallet. The new title of the tape is “The Real Buddy Holly Story”, the word ‘Real’ doubtless inserted by MPL to supersede the much-maligned US motion picture of 1978, “The Buddy Holly Story”, in which Paul was not directly involved. Rounding off the video package will be two audio cassettes, both included in the £16.99 retail price, containing 28 original and great Holly recordings.

Mark Lewisohn

Last updated on April 29, 2020