ALBUM REVIEWS / POP

*** Various artists, “Notfadeaway (Remembering Buddy Holly),” Decca. Unlike Elvis’ historic first sessions for Sun Records, Holly’s inaugural trip to a recording studio--40 years ago this month in Nashville--didn’t leave anybody very happy. Unable to force his round-peg proto-rock into the square-hole sound of traditional country, the Texas rocker left Music City to make history elsewhere.

Four decades later, he gets considerably more respect in this tribute from a slew of country and rock acts, including the surviving Crickets, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Marty Stuart, Steve Earle, et al.

About half show their respect to Holly’s records by hewing close to the original arrangements (the best of these being the Tractors’ rough-and-ready rendition of “Think It Over”).

The album moves beyond heartfelt nostalgia and really soars with those who demonstrate respect for Holly’s maverick spirit in vital new versions of his songs, among them: one-time Cricket Waylon Jennings’ starkly soulful “Learning the Game,” Los Lobos’ frighteningly intense “Midnight Shift” and the Mavericks’ achingly gorgeous “True Love Ways.”