For those unaware, David Box is surely one of the great unknowns from the rock ’n’ roll era. A previous album, ‘The David Box Story’ (RCCD 3024), dedicated to the memory of David, was so warmly received and so deeply appreciated by his many fans, that a follow-up, volume two of “The David Box Story” was conceived.

This 2CD set compiles the remaining known recordings of David Box which were not included on “The David Box Story”. The tracks on CD1 are mostly high quality studio recordings. On CD2 we have included home demos, acetates and other recordings.

Also included in their acclaimed Rolapak cover is a 48-page booklet designed by David Gibsone, crammed with photos, memorabilia together interviews and memories, contributed by those who knew David. This package was lovingly supervised by David Box fan and archivist John Davison-White who supervised the first volume of David Box Story to critical acclaim.

David Box was born into a musical family (his father, Harold Box, was a western swing fiddler) in the small town of Sulphur Springs in East Texas. In 1945, the Box family moved to Lubbock, where David would live for the next 17 years. On his ninth birthday, his parents bought him an acoustic guitar. He showed great determination in his efforts to master the art of guitar playing. Having growing up with country music, David’s horizons were widened with the advent of rock ’n’ roll in the 1950s.

He became a regular spectator at Radio KDAV’s weekly Sunday Party, where he watched the development of Buddy Holly, who became his role model. He was a founder-member of the Rhythm Teens, later the Ravens, a group styled on the Crickets. They cut several demos in February-April 1960. Two of these were sent to Jerry Allison (the drummer of the Crickets), which resulted in David and his band-mate Ernie Hall being invited to record with the Crickets, who were looking for a vocalist after Sonny Curtis had been drafted.

On his 17th birthday, David recorded Peggy Sue Got Married and his own song Don’t Cha Know (co-written with Ernie Hall) as lead vocalist with the Crickets. The two recordings (issued on Coral 62238 in November 1960) fulfilled the Crickets’ contractual obligations with Coral, before they moved on to Liberty Records.

In 1961 David signed with Ted Groebl’s Joed label in Big Spring, TX, first only as a songwriter. David’s first solo professional recording session was on April 5, 1962, in Nashville. While there, David stayed at the home of Roy Orbison, in whom he found his next great influence. Box recorded two songs by the trio of Roy Orbison, Joe Melson and Ray Rush: I’ve Had My Moments and If You Can’t Say Something Nice). Apart from a positive review in Billboard on August 18, 1962, the recordings received no further promotion, excellent as they were.

David graduated from Lubbock High School on June 1, 1962. Sensibly seeking a possible alternative to music, he enrolled on a correspondence course with the School of American Art in Westport, Connecticut. This was completed in the summer of 1964, after which he had more time for touring. He had come to realize the limitations of being signed to a small independent label that had never had a hit record.

On his 21st birthday, he was able to take control of his legal affairs, cancelling his contract with Joed. Thanks to Ray Rush, Box was signed to RCA Victor, a major label. David and Ray were invited to travel to Nashville on October 24 for their first RCA session.

Meanwhile, David worked with a local band named Buddy and the Kings: Buddy Groves (vocal/guitar), Carl Banks (bass) and Bill Daniels (drums). Daniels was a qualified pilot and the quartet hired a Cesna Skyhawk 172 to take them to a gig in Harris County on 23 October 1964. The plane crashed, probably due to a defective fuel gauge. There were no survivors. After the sad news broke in Lubbock the Box’s first visitors were Buddy Holly’s parents. Mr. Holly hugged Harold Box and said simply It’s better you should know this now; people will tell you that time heals the pain but it doesn’t.

David Box didn’t live long enough to reach his full potential. He took his music very seriously and although he was heavily influenced by Buddy Holly, he was extremely talented in his own right.

CD 1:
1. She Does The Best She Can (Stereo); 2. Selfish; 3. Lucky Penny; 4. That’s Too Bad (Take 1) That’s Too Bad (Take 2); 5. Gettin’ In Good; 6. Raining In My Heart; 7. The Crickets: Peggy Sue Got Married; 8. The Crickets: Don’t Cha Know; 8. When You’re In Love; 9. Laugh A Little Bit; 10. If You Can’t Say Something Nice (Stereo); 11. Funniest Thing; 12. Leave Me Alone To Dream; 13. Happy Once Again; 14. Crying Over You; 15. Sweet, Sweet Day; 16. THE BUMPER JUMPERS: Woody; 17. I’ve Got A New Love; 18. Waitin So You’ll Be Mine; 19. You’ll Miss Her Smile; 20. Mist Of Blue; 21. A Thousand Kisses; 22. Rainbow Of Love; 23. No One Will Ever Know; 24. Little Lonely Summer Girl; 25. Little Lonely Summer Girl (Part Alt Take); 26. Apache; 27. Some Sweet Day; 28. Slippin’ And Slidin’; 29. That’s Too Bad (My Heart Cries For You)

CD2:
1. THE RAVENS: Look At Me (Recorded as The Rhythm Teens); 2. THE RAVENS: Ting A Ling (Recorded as The Rhythm Teens); 3. THE RAVENS: Don’t Cha Know; 4. THE RAVENS: Some Sweet Day; 5. THE RAVENS: That’ll Be The Day; 6. THE RAVENS: Well All Right; 7. Cotton Fields; 8. Peggy Sue Got Married; 9. Slippin’ and Slidin’; 10. An Empty Cup (And A Broken Date); 11. It’s So Easy; 12. David’s Blues; 13. That’s All I Want From You; 14. It’s Too Late; 15. Tell Me How; 16. Valley Of Tears; 17. Last Night; 18. Wait Till The Sun Shines Nellie; 19. Think It Over; 20. SYDNA TAYLOR: You Only Pass This Way One Time; 21. SYDNA TAYLOR: Joy Of Love; 22. SYDNA TAYLOR: Sometimes I Love Him, Sometimes I Hate Him; 23. No One Will Ever Know; 24. I Do The Best I Can; 25. Sweet Sweet Day; 26. Lucky Penny; 27. The Other Side Of Me; 28. Laugh A Little Bit; 29. Somewhere In This Town; 30. Don’t Leave Me Here; 31. What’s Wrong With You