That Old Rock ‘n’ Roll Spirit: A Testament to Youthful Exuberance and Early Rockabilly Fire! 🎸
Ah, the 1950s. If you were lucky enough to be there, you remember that electric feeling, that sense of a new world exploding onto the radio waves. Before the polished sounds of the later years, before the heart-breaking tragedy that stunned a generation, there was the raw, untamed spark of early rock and roll—and few songs capture that energy better than Buddy Holly‘s rollicking track, “Rock Around with Ollie Vee.”
This song is an absolute time capsule, a powerful reminder of where one of rock’s most enduring legends first planted his feet. It was initially released as the B-side to Buddy Holly and the Three Tunes’ single of “That’ll Be the Day” on September 2, 1957, by Decca Records (catalogue number D30434). Now, it’s important to note the specifics of this release. Although Buddy Holly and his band, The Crickets, had already begun to taste success with their re-recorded version of “That’ll Be the Day” on Brunswick, this Decca single was a release of earlier material—recordings from Holly’s ill-fated 1956 Nashville sessions with producer Owen Bradley. Those Nashville sessions, recorded on July 22, 1956, were meant to launch Holly, but Decca initially struggled to find the right formula, and none of the tracks issued at the time, including this one, managed to find their way onto the major national charts. For older fans, this is the very sound of pre-fame Holly, a snapshot of a young man still trying to find the perfect blend of Country and Rhythm and Blues that would soon make him a star.
🎙️ The Story Behind the Song and Its Soul
The story behind “Rock Around with Ollie Vee” is a sweet footnote in rock history, linking two young, immensely talented Texans. The song was penned by Sonny Curtis, a close friend of Holly’s and a fellow musician from Lubbock. Curtis, who played guitar on the recording (alongside bassist Don Guess), was inspired to write the track by a young woman named Ollie Vee, who worked on the Curtis family farm in Texas. This simple, personal inspiration was transformed into a pure, unadulterated rockabilly anthem.
The song itself is a straightforward declaration of youthful intent: the singer’s excitement about getting dressed up (“I’m gonna wear my blue suede shoes tonight”) and heading out with his girl, Ollie Vee from Memphis, Tennessee, to “rock to the rhythm and the blues.” It’s an affirmation of pure, unbridled joy and a little bit of defiant spirit, proclaiming that they’ll have fun dancing no matter what—even shrugging off the “mister cop” who might try to spoil the fun.
It’s in this track that you can hear the clear lineage of rock and roll. The reference to “blue suede shoes” pays homage to Carl Perkins‘ seminal hit and underlines the rockabilly DNA of the song. Most importantly, it showcases Buddy Holly‘s energetic, hiccuping vocal style, which was already distinctive, even in these early recordings. Listening back now, you can feel the authenticity and the raw, unrefined excitement of that first wave of rock music. It wasn’t just music; it was a movement, a declaration of independence for teenagers who just wanted to dance and feel alive. This track captures that feeling perfectly, even if it didn’t find its audience until it was re-released in the wake of Holly’s greater success. It’s an often-overlooked gem, reminding us of the foundational joy and fire that Buddy Holly brought to the world.