And just who was the real
Bobby Fuller, you ask?
Fuller was a grade-A rocker from El Paso, Texas, the next logical step in the tradition of Fender guitar wielding rockers blazed by fellow Texan
Buddy Holly. While heavily influenced by the
Buddy, his ear for emerging styles he could adapt and command of the guitar steered him to places (surf music, shake-'em-on-down instrumentals, bluesy string bending, etc.) that
Holly could have only realized in a longer life span and a wholesale commitment to rock & roll. This 24-track compilation of early goods by
Fuller and his embryonic bands, culled from early releases on dime-sized labels with some amazing live performances thrown in, gives you the big picture. Kicking off with a four-minute-plus live take of
Long John Hunter's "El Paso Rock" and closing with a live medley of "Louie Louie," "Farmer John," and
Fuller's "Jennie Lee (Do the Jerk With Me)," this collection rocks from beginning to end. Perhaps the most amazing thing of all is how much original material is on here from this early period, and how much of it is top flight stuff: his songwriting shows
Holly's fine craft and definitely his influence, but tracks like "Angel Face," "Keep on Dancing" and the instrumental "Stringer" show that Bobby was already headed in his own direction. Also included in the mix is the original version of "I Fought the Law,"
Fuller's first biggie when he recut it a couple years later. ~ Cub Koda