Search - Ritchie Valens :: Come On, Let's Go!

Ricardo Valenzuela--Gone BUT NOT Forgotten

Mary | San Antonio, Texas | 03/05/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I bought this CD box set in July of 1998 soon after I was told I had cancer. I had recently seen "La Bamba" on HBO and I decided to listen to Ricardo's tapes as part of my doctors'"positive attitude" therapy. And did it help! I have been cancer free for almost 18 months and I know that listening to him helped me immensely. He died before I was born, so I never had the chance to see and hear him in person; but seeing his pictures in the booklet and hearing him singing, laughing and being himself on tape is wonderful! This box set should convince the committee at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio that they should have inducted Ricardo years ago. Their refusal to honor him is unbelieveable! I'll ALWAYS remember you, Ricardo--My guardian angel. Until we meet in heaven---Mary"

Ritchie Is The King of the CENTURY!

07/05/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This boxed set demonstrates how great Ritchie's music and personality was.Disc 3 is a live performance by Ritchie Valens!Another cool thing to do is is listen to Come On, Let's Go and We Belong Together on Disc ONE and then listen to the same two songs on Disc TWO.It bares no resemblence!You Get a great Ritchie poster, Ritchie postcards, and a 62 page picture booklet with many rare photos.But at any rate if your a Valens fan this is a must!"

Everything he recorded in his all-too-short life

crazycjh | Cookstown, NJ United States | 09/21/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Arguably the first Chicano rocker, Ritchie provided three hits - his first release "Come On, Let's Go", scrapping the Top 40, and his double-sided smash "Donna/La Bamba", released just prior to his tragic death on February 3, 1959 [along with Buddy Holly & The Big Bopper]
But, beyond the 3 hits, and the all-too-brief career, Ritchie provided inspiration to many others along the way. Despite the maudlin nature on deejay Tommy Dee's tribute song "Three Stars", there is a degree of truth in the line "Why did God call him so far away; perhaps to light a star to show the way". Ritchie's "star" shone brightly as inspiration to others. From soundalike Chris Montez to fellow Latino Trini Lopez to instrumental band El Chicano to guitar impressario Santana, Ritchie's meteoric rise gave the foundation not only to Chicano Rock, but to many others. Ritchie was amongst the first to write his own songs, do his own arrangements, and play his own guitar.
Although there is much in this box set that is minimal in terms of actual music value, there is a sense of what Ritchie might have been (or might NOT have been).
From his mawkish cover of Ersel Hickey's BLUEBIRDS OVER THE MOUNTAIN to his plaintiff take of Robert & Johnny's WE BELONG TOGETHER, Ritchie gives his own soul to the material.
Sit quietly in a dim-lit room and listen to IN A TURKISH TOWN, or clap your hands and dance around to DOOBY-DOOBY-WAH. Ritchie died in his teens, and it's been more than 40 years since he's been gone, but as the old saying goes - his music lives on in the heart of his fans (both old & new)"