It is said not to be the case that The Crickets chose their name while listening to a playback of "I'm Gonna Love You Too" ; rather, the name was chosen while going through an encyclopedia of names. Other names had been considered including The Scoundrels and The Spiders. Holly's manager (Norman Petty) and owner of the Norman Petty Studio in Clovis ,NM, decided to keep the chirping in the record, but this is in no way tied to the origin of the band's name. In real life, they chose the name due to huge number of crickets in Texas that particular time of year. It should be worth noting that they almost chose the name The Beetles (it is said that John Lennon later named his band in homage to Holly and The Crickets).
Rhythm guitarist Sullivan wasn't comfortable with the amount of traveling and to a lesser extent, he didn't fit in with Jerry and Joe B. For the same reason, Jerry and Joe were not ready to leave small town Lubbock for big city NY. The big move was the real reason why The Crickets initially broke up, but Holly was not daunted by the breakup; he chose a new back-up band for the Winter Dance Party Tour. The new band consisted of Tommy Allsup, Waylon Jennings and Carl Bunch on drums. Ritchie Valens and The Big Bopper were booked on the tour with Holly and his new band. Dion and newcomer Frankie Sardo also performed on this particular tour. But after about 4 months, Jerry and Joe B began to have second thoughts about the breakup of the band. They had planned to fly to Moorehead, MN, and surprise their friend. Destiny stepped in and the music world suffered its first tragic accident February 3, 1959.
The Crickets (Jerry and Joe) continued to record on their own with guitarist Sonny Curtis and vocalist Earl Sinks. The album Remnants was released in 1973 with band members Allison, Curtis, Albert Lee, Ric Grech, Steve Krikorian (later known as Tonio K.), Carol Montgomery, and Nick VanMaarth.
In the film The Buddy Holly Story, the story of the band was altered drastically and includes many inaccuracies. Due to The Crickets selling the rights to another studio, their film counterparts' names were changed for legal reasons. In addition, there are only two Crickets -- a bass player clearly being Mauldin and a drummer modeled on Allison, and the character of Sullivan and his quitting the band is omitted entirely. The real Crickets were outraged on being portrayed as racists, as well as the latter scene in which they appear at Holly's door wanting to reunite. In reality, they had discussed with Holly, shortly before his death, about going on a reunion tour.
The Crickets released The Crickets and Their Buddies in 2004, featuring classics from all parts of their career, with performances by several prominent artists, including Eric Clapton, Rodney Crowell, Waylon Jennings, Nanci Griffith, John Prine, Graham Nash, and Bobby Vee.
On 28 October 2008, The Crickets were inducted into the Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville, TN. On 14 April 2012, The Crickets were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
On February 6, 2016, "The Crickets & Buddies" performed in Clear Lake, Iowa, at the Surf Ballroom, the site of Holly's last performance. Members of previous line-ups appeared, including Sonny Curtis, Glen D. Hardin, Albert Lee, Tommy Allsup, Gordon Payne and others. After the show, Allison announced that it was the group's final performance.
Tell Me How
The Crickets Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You know how I need your love
Tell me how you keep the love
Within your heart from me
Don't you know that I love you
Let me show why I'm true blue
When I know our love is true
If you would say to me today
The time for love is now
Could I sway your love my way
Then I say tell me how
Tell me how to keep your love
You know how I need your love
Tell me how you keep the love
Within your heart from me
If you would say to me today
The time for love is now
Could I sway your love my way
Then I say tell me how
Tell me how to keep your love
You know how I need your love
Tell me how you keep the love
Within your heart from me
Tell me how you keep the love
Within your heart from me
The Crickets' "Tell Me How" is a love song that features reflections by the singer on their relationship with their partner. The lyrics follow an emotional journey, where the singer asks their partner to explain how to maintain their love. They express a great need for their partner's love, and pledge their loyalty and faithfulness. The first verse expresses the singer's desire to know how to keep their partner's love and keep it alive in their heart. In the second verse, the singer pleads with their partner not to keep their love from them, emphasizing their love and loyalty.
The last two verses of the song are particularly poignant, with the singer asking if they could sway their love to their partner's way if they were given the chance. The song ends with the singer again asking their partner to explain how to keep their love burning bright. The song is a touching expression of love and vulnerability that resonates with listeners.
Overall, The Crickets' "Tell Me How" is a beautiful song that expresses the depth of feelings that people experience in relationships. The lyrics capture the complexities of love, and the need for communication and understanding to keep it alive.
Line by Line Meaning
Tell me how to keep your love
The singer is pleading for guidance on how to maintain his partner's love
You know how I need your love
The singer is acknowledging his dependence on his partner's affection
Tell me how you keep the love
The singer is asking his partner to share her tactics for sustaining love in her heart
Within your heart from me
The singer is acknowledging that his partner's love is directed towards him
Don't you know that I love you
The singer is surprised that his partner may not be aware of his feelings
Let me show why I'm true blue
The singer is promising to demonstrate his loyalty and devotion
When I know our love is true
The singer is confident in the genuineness of their relationship
Don't keep your love from me
The singer is urging his partner to express her feelings for him
If you would say to me today
The singer is considering a scenario where his partner openly discusses their love
The time for love is now
The singer is suggesting that now is the most opportune moment for their love to flourish
Could I sway your love my way
The singer is asking if he can influence his partner to prioritize his love
Then I say tell me how
The singer repeats his request for guidance on how to maintain his partner's love
Tell me how to keep your love
The singer reiterates his plea for instruction on sustaining his partner's affection
You know how I need your love
The singer again confesses his reliance on his partner's love
Tell me how you keep the love
The singer repeats his request for guidance on sustaining his partner's love
Within your heart from me
The singer restates that his partner's love is directed towards him
Tell me how you keep the love
The singer reiterates his plea for instruction on sustaining his partner's affection
Within your heart from me
The singer repeats that his partner's love is directed towards him, stressing its importance to him
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Buddy Holly, Jerry Allison, Norman Petty
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Gerald Thorburn
Only a 'B' Side, but my all-time favourite BH and The Crickets track.
Daniel Kubacki
I love this song. I have this 45.
Keith Nation
I have this 45 as well, Great Song :)