Bobby Fuller's early recordings depict a man who was willing to
remain in the shade of his idol Buddy Holly, but his work for Mustang
records is that of someone who, for better or worse, was determined to
crack the national charts.
If that meant recording music that pumped up
some radio personality's ego ("Wolfman" features a hilarious and accurate
imitation of Wolfman Jack's growling delivery), shilled for a local radio
station ("KRLA Top Eliminator") or shoe manufacturer ("Gallenkamp's Shoe
Commercial"), or catered to the moment's teen craze (hot rodding on "King
of the Wheels"), so be it - at least he and his band did it all pretty
well.
It also meant that he handed the reins of production over to label
boss Bob Keane, who gave Fuller's songs a fuller, more radio-worthy sound,
but also pushed him to record ersatz soul ("The Magic Touch," which
features drumming and production assistance from Barry White - yes, that
Barry White) and teeny bopper material that was a bit fluffier than was
absolutely necessary. But Fuller earned his chart success with stirring
performances, most notably of "I Fought The Law," which is included here in both
single and album versions.
You get it all here; two CDs of studio
recordings, and a rather distant sounding live album that captures the band
running through a set of the day's hits as well as their own. The boxed
set's ultra-generous booklet includes two lengthy essays about Fuller's
career, an interview with his bass-playing brother Randy, and a provocative
story about Fuller's mysterious and shady death.
If you like The Bobby Fuller Four, check out:
Buddy Holly Oh Boy
The Bobby Fuller Four Shakedown! The Texas Tapes Revisited
Eddie Cochran The Early Years
Ritchie Valens The Ritchie Valens Story
The Byrds Sweetheart of the Rodeo
