Instead of simply copying the original 1950s tracks, Los Lobos infused the recordings with an authentic, raw energy that honored Valens while sounding vital to 1980s audiences. Their performance on the soundtrack includes blistering renditions of Valens' biggest hits:

The original 1987 release contains 12 tracks. The song "Frenzy" (an instrumental) appears near the end.

: Renowned power-pop craftsman Marshall Crenshaw stepped up to cover Buddy Holly's melancholic "Crying, Waiting, Hoping" . Crenshaw actually portrayed Buddy Holly in the film's tragic "Day the Music Died" winter tour scenes.

The soundtrack for the 1987 film tells the story of the meteoric rise and tragic end of Ritchie Valens