The LP was released in the US in 1957, and in the UK in 1958. It was re-released by Coral in 1962 as Buddy Holly and the Crickets. After being out of print for many years, it was reissued as a remastered CD in 2004 with bonus tracks.
In July 2019 the album was the subject for the BBC Four documentary Classic Albums: The Crickets: The 'Chirping' Crickets.[5]
In July 2023, the album was reissued by Rollercoaster Records in England as The Alternative "Chirping" Crickets, a CD containing remixed Mono, Stereo plus the twelve tracks, in stereo but without the backing vocals that the Crickets felt were intrusive and inappropriate. Positive reviews followed.
Joe B. Mauldin – double bass (except “That’ll Be the Day” and “I’m Looking for Someone to Love”), backing vocals on “Not Fade Away”
Niki Sullivan – rhythm guitar (except on ”Oh, Boy!”, “Not Fade Away”, “It’s Too Late”, and “An Empty Cup (And A Broken Date”); backing vocals on “Not Fade Away”, “That’ll Be the Day”, and “I’m Looking for Someone to Love”
Additional personnel
Larry Welborn – double bass on “That’ll Be the Day” and “I’m Looking for Someone to Love”
The Picks (Bill Pickering, John Pickering and Bob Lapham) – backing vocals, except on “Not Fade Away”, “That’ll Be the Day”, and “I’m Looking for Someone to Love”
Ramona and Gary Tollett – backing vocals on “That’ll Be the Day” and “I’m Looking for Someone to Love”