As biography, the show was pretty pathetic -- badly written and directed. But they did make one real smart decision: they used Little Richard's original tracks for the music. The performance scenes really popped.

The usual routine is to rerecord period music with some anemic sound-alike, because then you (as producer) can sell the "new" CDs, and take a much bigger cut, without having to share with the aging (or dead) star off of whose life you are feeding. "The Buddy Holly Story" was an infinitely better film -- except for Garry Busey's barely competent singing. He never got any of the "hiccuping" energy of Holly's original sound -- just to make a few extra bucks. "Sweet Dreams", on the other hand, just took off on Patsy's voice -- Jessica Lange seemed to be literally carried by the sound.

James, now in Paris