Let Us Praise the Bobby Fuller Four

For the love of God, people. It's high time Bobby Fuller got his own thread.

For the longest time, I thought he was just the dude who sang I Fought The Law. How wrong I was. Let Her Dance, Never To Be Forgotten, Another Sad and Lonely Night...holy moley these are good songs.

Bobby Fuller Fever....catch it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This is a goddamn good idea for a thread, especially what with his apparently mysterious death and all.

Was thinking about the mysterious death but didn't want to mention it second post in, but now that Ned has gotten that out of the way...

*shrug* Might as well! But yeah, talking about his work as a whole = a good idea. Is there a key anthology/starting point?

Isn't there a chapter on him in one of those Richie Unterberger books?

i jsut posted this on tumblr about an hour ago

http://youtu.be/ulMfnYLLSd0

Also think there is some novel based on his death- The Dead Circus, maybe?

Is there a key anthology/starting point?

The Rhino best of disc is a good place to start. I think Ace released a 2CD version of this also. If you like what you're hearing and want to dig deeper look for the two volume "El Paso Rock" series that Norton released.

If anything, just make sure that whatever comp you're getting has "Magic Touch" on it. It's his last single and my fave of his - really packs a wallop.

His instrumental surf tracks are pretty essential - rivaling Dick Dale on some cuts.

I never see his old records where I live (San Diego). Wonder if it was a regional thing. Don't know anything about the other artists on Mustang either:

http://www.globaldogproductions.info/m/mustang.html

the first records I acquired were two 45s I conned my mom into buying at the grocery store: "I Fought The Law" and "Nowhere Man"

byron coley once called bobby fuller "the true son of buddy holly" or something similar and that still fits

There is that Sonny Curtis connection

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bP9Xc9Nq4YU&playnext=1&list=PL59A4C243E546748F

does the el paso rock series duplicate the stuff on that long out-of-print del-fi set (which i proudly still own!) that collects the stuff he recorded in texas. that is fucking amazing.

The mono version of "I Fought the Law" is so killer. I have been listening to it obsessively. It's such a perfect rock and roll song, and their version is the best recording of it. I love "Another Sad and Lonely Night" too. Beautiful voices. Such a good sound. It makes me sad that there aren't any '60s music stations in my city anymore.

I have a live e.p. as part of a 4 disc pack (various bands) of French origin. "Wine, wine, wine" and so on. It is Fierce!

New bio co-authored by Miriam Linna and Bobby's brother:

http://bobbyfullerbio.blogspot.com/

nice

This article says the book solves his murder

http://www.laweekly.com/music/new-book-may-finally-put-to-rest-the-mystery-of-bobby-fullers-death-5420456

Believe it when I read it.

It doesn't. Did you read it, James Redd?

No, never did.

Delightful book. I've seen some criticisms of its structure and editing but I liked it a lot.

Thanks for the rec. There was another, fictional book which touched upon this topic which a pair of us discussed once.

I Am Reading A Novel That Seems To Be Something That Elvis Telecom Would Like

I Fought the Law has to be a contender for the best rock album of 1966. As consistent as a Beatles album.

I like that the only reason I ever knew his version of "I Fought the Law" before I knew the Clash's was because of that episode of Cheers where Sam keeps playing it on the jukebox to taunt Rebecca after he boyfriend is arrested.

has the mono mix of the I Fought the Law LP ever been released on CD? I can only find mono versions of individual tracks online, and I haven't come across any vinyl rips of the mono LP. the mono version of 'I Fought the Law' (the song) has so much more punch than the stereo version.

http://forums.stevehoffman.tv/threads/bobby-fuller-four-mono-cds.29655/
http://forums.stevehoffman.tv/threads/bobby-fuller-albums-in-mono-on-cd.120743/

http://img.cdandlp.com/2014/11/imgL/117268173.jpg

^^^
This

the mono version of 'I Fought the Law' (the song) has so much more punch than the stereo version.

so otm

Would have been 77 today.

When it's playing, "Let Her Dance" is the greatest rock song of all time.

Unbearably tragic loss, such lost potential. Also just learned he started taking LSD not long before he died; he probably would have made some primo psych rock (imo you can already kind of hear it in the jangling wall of guitars and propulsive garage beat of "Let Her Dance")

Looks like Bobby's brother Randy has passed away, I am sorry to say.

His songs have all aged well. A lot better than much of the stuff that was popular in the mid 60s.

I have an old friend who always gives me a mix-CD or two whenever we meet up. Hadn't thought about this song for years; it's so great. I was thinking that if you gave me about five minutes of Harris out on the campaign trail--laughing, having a great time--I could cut an ad that would be as good as Bernie Sanders' "America" ad. The "Freedom" ad is effective, but I don't think much of the song (wanted to test "Let Her Dance" out over the same ad, but Real Player doesn't seem to let you download from YouTube anymore).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ISqPnSNcVG0