True Love Ways

"True Love Ways" is a song attributed to Norman Petty and Buddy Holly, and recorded with the Dick Jacobs Orchestra in October 1958, four months before the singer's death. It was first released on the posthumous album "The Buddy Holly Story, Vol. 2" (Coral 57326/757326), in March 1960. The song was a hit in Britain in 1960, reaching number 25 on the pop singles chart. In a 1988 re-release of the recording by MCA, the single reached no. 65 on the UK singles chart in a 5 week chart run.
In the extended version of the song, in the first ten seconds Holly can be heard preparing to sing. The audio starts with audio saying "Yeah, we're rolling." A piano player and a tenor saxophone player play some notes, and Holly mutters, "Okay," and clears his throat. The producer yells, "Quiet, boys!" to everyone else in the room, and at the end of the talkback, the producer says, "Pitch, Ernie", to signal the piano player to give Holly his starting note, a B-flat.
Along with It Doesn't Matter Anymore, Raining in My Heart, and Moondreams, this song was recorded at Holly's last recording session before his death on February 3, 1959.
The session took place at the Pythian Temple on October 21, 1958. The musicians were Al Caiola (guitar); Sanford Block (bass); Ernie Hayes (piano); Doris Johnson (harp); Abraham Richman (saxophone); Clifford Leeman (drums); Sylvan Shulman, Leo Kruczek, Leonard Posner, Irving Spice, Ray Free, Herbert Bourne, Julius Held and Paul Winter (violins); David Schwartz and Howard Kay (violas); and Maurice Brown and Maurice Bialkin (cellos).
Although Holly's widow, Maria Elena Holly, claims that the song was written for her as a wedding gift, a listing of producer Norman Petty's productions claims that Vi Petty, Norman's wife, recorded the first version of this song on June 4, 1958—two weeks prior to Buddy's engagement with Maria. Holly biographer Bill Griggs points out that the melody borrows heavily from the gospel song "I'll Be All Right," a favorite of Holly's, and one that would be played at his funeral in 1959. According to Griggs, the framework of the melody was written by Buddy, with the remainder, and lyrics, added by Petty. On April 29, 2011, Mrs. Holly unveiled the never-before-seen "True Love Ways" photo of their wedding kiss, now displayed at P.J. Clarke's above Table 53, the table where they became engaged while on their first date, on June 20, 1958.
Two albums by Buddy Holly have used the title of the song. The 1989 Telstar album reached no. 8 on the UK album chart. The 2018 Decca album with the RPO reached no. 10 on the UK album chart.
Mickey Gilley version.
Mickey Gilley, country singer, released a successful cover version in 1980 (during the height of his popularity). Gilley's version reached the No. 1 spot on the "Billboard magazine" Hot Country Singles chart in July 1980.
Cliff Richard version.
British pop singer Cliff Richard released his cover as the lead single from his "Dressed for the Occasion" album in April 1983. The recording is of a live performance at the Royal Albert Hall in 1982 with the London Philharmonic Orchestra. Richard's version reached No. 8 on the UK Singles Chart and was a hit in several other countries.
Other notable versions.
Anna Nalick version 2019