Buddy Holly and the Crickets are right up there on rock 'n' roll's Mt. Rushmore remembered best for several Tex-Mex raveons they did under the tutelage of Norman Petty in 1956-58 or so: "That'll Be the Day," "Oh Boy," "Maybe Baby," "Peggy Sue." Holly's death seemed to end the Crickets' career as well-though the continuing influence could be heard at times in later rock stars as diverse as Bobby Vee and the Beatles. Blind Faith and Dewey Martin's Medicine Ball. Then, some months ago. Crickets Jerry Allison and Sonny Curtis suddenly resurfaced as back-up singers on Eric Clapton's first solo album; now here they are on their own "rockin' Fifties rock & roll" revisited.

"There's been some improvement," sings Curtis confidently in the title song, the only new number on the album and it's a rebel rouser produced (as is one other cut) by Delaney Bramlett. Horns and keyboards and a Delaney-influenced vocal make for a promising beginning.

Unfortunately, half the album falls way short of that mark sweet, string - laden remakes of "Raining in My Heart," "Everyday," and "True Love Ways" (Curtis' remarkable vocal on that last, however, could make it a county - pop single a la "For the Good Times"), and bland covers of "That'll Be the Day" and "It's So Easy."

The rest, however, is a knockout. "Well All Right" happily dispenses acoustic guitar riffs, electric piano tingles, soft tamborines, a tune-filled bass, and a splendid Curtis vocal. "Peggy Sue" duplicates the original almost exactly same frenzied drumming, same guitar break, same "ah-ooh" each in the voice, same movin' and shakin' spirit, plus a new nostalgic closing "Well, we loved you, girl, and we miss you, Peggy Sue." "Oh Boy" features insistent piano, fuzzy guitar, and in irrepressible eclar that'll simply make your day, while "Think It Over" is the toughest cut of all climbing horns and diving rhythm at first, till the Crickets' gritty harmonics and the piano bring it all back home. A taste of "Maybe Baby" ends things, followed by a brief reprise of that saxy, punchy title tune: "Rockin' 50's Rock & Roll" indeed!

Though the whole idea of a group redoing its own hits goes against my grain, much of this album is a strong argument in favor of that gimmick. Chirp on. Crickets. My luck's getting better already. (RS 75)

ED I FIMBACHER