Today’s classic song of the day is “I Fought the Law,” a big hit for the Bobby Fuller Four. Released in October of 1965, it peaked at #9 on the Billboard Hot 100.
“I Fought the Law” was written by Sonny Curtis in 1958. (Mr. Curtis is equally well known for composing the theme to the The Mary Tyler Moore Show, “Love is All Around.”) Mr. Curtis joined the Crickets after the death of Buddy Holly in February of 1959 and the Crickets recorded “I Fought the Law” for inclusion on their 1960 album, In Style with the Crickets. In December of 1960, “I Fought the Law” appeared as the B-side on the “A Sweet Love” single, which unfortunately didn’t chart.
El Paso-based musician Bobby Fuller recorded “I Fought the Law” in 1965, for the local Exeter label. After the single gained airplay across the state of Texas, Mr. Fuller’s group—renamed to the Bobby Fuller Four—was picked up by national label Mustang Records. They re-recorded “I Fought the Law” for Mustang and the song rapidly climbed the charts, becoming a true classic.
Musically, “I Fought the Law” is simple enough that garage bands across the country could easily add it to their setlists. The verses went I – IV – I, twice, with a I – V7 – I tag at the end—and you can’t get much simpler than that. The song had no chorus, just a brief bridge (“I left my baby and I feel so bad”) that went IV – I – IV, leading back to the I – IV – I of the verse. All a band has to know is how to play G, C, and D7 chords, and they got this one.
Unfortunately, Bobby Fuller died of asphyxiation six months after “I Fought the Law” hit the national charts. The coroner ruled it suicide, but some believed he was murdered. He was just 23 years old.
Slightly younger listeners might know “I Fought the Law” from the Clash’s version in 1979. Their version was re-released in 1988 and got additional attention in 1989 when the U.S. military played it nonstop while trying to force strongman Manuel Noriega to leave his stronghold in Panama. Then, in 2004, the song was covered again by Green Day—and included in a much-viewed Pepsi commercial. Like I said, it’s an easy one for anybody to play.
So here’s your daily bonus video of the day, Bobby Fuller and the Bobby Fuller Four lip synching “I Fought the Law” on the March 21, 1966, episode of Hullabaloo. Yes, they’re introduced by each and every member of the Serendipity Singers.
