[SunkenCiv]

The Crickets - I Fought The Law (1960) | 2:20
Four Seasons Oldies | 10.3K subscribers | 233,491 views | July 17, 2015

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The Story Behind the Song: 'I Fought The Law' | 26:03
Tennessean | 56.3K subscribers | 128,930 views | October 3, 2016

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The Bobby Fuller Four - I Fought The Law HQ | 2:18
TheGrayCat | 20.1K subscribers | 33,822 views | March 20, 2015

"I Fought the Law" is a song written by Sonny Curtis of the Crickets and became popularized by a cover by the Bobby Fuller Four, which went on to become a top-ten hit for the band in 1966 and was also recorded by the Clash in 1979. The Bobby Fuller Four version of this song was ranked No. 175 on the Rolling Stone list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time in 2004, and the same year was named one of the 500 "Songs that Shaped Rock" by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

After enjoying regional success in Texas, Bobby Fuller and band decided to switch to a major label—Del-Fi Records under Mustang Records—and they became known as the Bobby Fuller Four. While producing minor hits, the band broke the national top ten when they re-recorded "I Fought the Law" in 1965 with Bobby Fuller (vocals, guitar), Randy Fuller (backing vocals, bass guitar), Jim Reese (backing vocals, guitar), and DeWayne Quirico (drums).

Just six months after the song made its first appearance on the Billboard Top 100 chart, Fuller was found dead from asphyxiation in his mother's car in a parking lot near his Los Angeles, California apartment. The Los Angeles Police Department declared the death an apparent suicide, but others believed him to have been murdered. Fuller was 23 years old.

[vladimir998]

“Just six months after the song made its first appearance on the Billboard Top 100 chart, Fuller was found dead from asphyxiation . . . Fuller was 23 years old.”

I always thought Fuller’s death was a tragic loss for pop music.

[Fiji Hill]

I read that Bobby Fuller apparently died from ingesting gasoline. His death was ruled a suicide, but this has been hotly disputed. He, or perhaps Bob Keene, the prexy of his record company, may have come into conflict with mobsters.

[Fresh Wind]

There are several recorded variants of the song (Crickets and Bobby Fuller):

1. Robbing people with a zip gun...
2. Robbing people with a shot gun...
3. Robbing people with a six gun...

There’s another interesting question in the Crickets version. They sang...

“I miss my baby and uh good fun...”

But did he really sing “I miss my baby and uh good ****”?

Either way, it’s a great song, and the Crickets’ version was the best in my opinion.

RIP Sonny.