Cecily Zamora
I Fought the Law is a song that was first recorded and released by The Crickets in 1960. It was written by Sonny Curtis, who joined the band after the death of its founder, Buddy Holly. The song gained popularity when it was covered by The Bobby Fuller Four in 1965, becoming a top-ten hit and a rock classic. Since then, it has been covered by numerous artists, including The Clash, whose version helped them gain their first taste of airplay in the US.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Song Writer | Sonny Curtis |
| Song Writer's Band | The Crickets |
| First Performer | The Crickets |
| First Performed | 1959 |
| First Recorded | 1960 |
| First Recorded Version Released | 1964 |
| First Recorded Version Label | Exeter |
| First Recorded Version Album | In Style with the Crickets |
| Most Popular Cover | The Bobby Fuller Four |
| Cover Singer | Bobby Fuller |
| Cover Band | The Bobby Fuller Four |
| Cover Released | 1965 |
| Cover Label | Del-Fi Records under Mustang Records |
| Cover Peak Chart Position | Top 10 in the US, Top 40 in the UK |
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What You'll Learn
Songwriters Sonny Curtis and The Crickets
Sonny Curtis, born on May 9, 1937, in Meadow, Texas, is an American singer-songwriter. He is known for his collaborations with Buddy Holly, with whom he formed a group called the Three Tunes in the mid-1950s. Curtis joined Holly's band, The Crickets, in late 1958, shortly before Holly's death in 1959.
Curtis wrote "I Fought the Law" in 1958 and recorded it in 1959 with The Crickets, taking the place of Buddy Holly on guitar. The song was included on The Crickets' album "In Style with the Crickets", which was released in late 1960. Curtis recalled that he wrote the song in about fifteen minutes and that it was originally a country song.
"I Fought the Law" has since been covered by numerous artists, including The Bobby Fuller Four, whose version became a Top Ten hit in 1965 and is considered one of rock's classics. The song has also been covered by The Clash, Sam Neely, Dead Kennedys, and Hank Williams Jr., among others.
Sonny Curtis has had a successful career as a songwriter, with several of his compositions becoming hits for various artists. In addition to "I Fought the Law," his best-known songs include "Walk Right Back," "More Than I Can Say," "Love is All Around," and "The Straight Life." Curtis has been inducted into multiple halls of fame, including the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, the Musicians Hall of Fame, and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of The Crickets.
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The Bobby Fuller Four's 1965 version
"I Fought the Law", written by Sonny Curtis of The Crickets, became a popular song after it was covered by The Bobby Fuller Four in 1965. The band comprised Bobby Fuller (vocals, guitar), Randy Fuller (backing vocals, bass guitar), Jim Reese (backing vocals, guitar), and DeWayne Quirico (drums). Their version of the song was a top-ten hit and is considered one of rock's classics. It stood out for its sleek update of '50s rockabilly and its genuinely dangerous edge. The exuberance in Fuller's voice is unmistakable, even as he sings about defeat. The band's instrumental performance adds to the track's celebratory vibe.
The Bobby Fuller Four's version of "I Fought the Law" was released after an all-night recording session and became a huge hit on US radio. It also scraped into the UK top 40, attracting notable British admirers, including George Harrison, who called the band his most listened-to group in an early 1966 interview. The song was ranked No. 175 on the Rolling Stone list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time in 2004 and was named one of the 500 "Songs that Shaped Rock" by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in the same year.
The song was originally released by The Crickets in 1960 on their album "In Style with the Crickets". However, it did not gain much traction until The Bobby Fuller Four released their version. The Bobby Fuller Four's rendition is considered to have a more rock 'n' roll feel than the original, with added quarter-note triplet gunshots at the beginning.
The Bobby Fuller Four's version of "I Fought the Law" has an intriguing backstory. Just six months after the song entered the Billboard Top 100, Bobby Fuller was found dead in his mother's car in a parking lot near his Los Angeles apartment. The cause of death was initially ruled as suicide, but it was later changed to accidental, and some believe he was murdered. The song's lyrics about breaking the law and facing consequences took on a haunting new meaning in light of Fuller's mysterious death.
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The Clash's 1979 version
"I Fought the Law" was first recorded by The Crickets, an American rock and roll band, in 1959. The song was written by Sonny Curtis, a member of the band, in 1958. It was initially intended to be a country song, but it evolved into a rock 'n' roll anthem after being recorded by The Crickets.
The song became widely known after it was covered by The Bobby Fuller Four in 1965, becoming a top-ten hit in 1966. Bobby Fuller and his band were from Texas and had gained attention for their music beyond their home state. Their version of "I Fought the Law" stood out not just for its sleek, driving update of '50s rockabilly but also for its genuinely dangerous edge.
In 1978, The Clash, an English rock band, recorded their version of "I Fought the Law." Singer Joe Strummer and guitarist Mick Jones first heard the Bobby Fuller version of the song on a jukebox in a studio in San Francisco. They learned the song by the time they returned to England and included it in their repertoire. The Clash's version first appeared on their EP "The Cost of Living" in May 1979 in the UK. Later that year, it was included in the American edition of their eponymous album.
The Clash's cover of "I Fought the Law" gained them their first taste of airplay in the United States. It became one of the best-known versions of the song and helped to solidify the band's place in the music industry. The song was featured in the 1980 film "Rude Boy," directed by Jack Hazan and David Mingay, further contributing to its popularity.
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Hank Williams Jr.'s 1978 version
"I Fought the Law", originally written by Sonny Curtis and performed by The Crickets in 1959, has had numerous notable covers over the years. One of these was recorded by Hank Williams Jr. and released in 1979 as the first single on his album "Family Tradition". This version was a moderate hit, peaking at number 15 on Billboard's Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart and giving Williams his first Top 15 single in four years.
Williams' version of the song is true to the original in terms of lyrics and theme. The song tells the story of someone who has broken the law and is admitting their defeat. The lyrics describe a range of unlawful activities, from breaking rocks in the hot sun to holding up people with a gun. Despite the seriousness of the subject matter, the music and vocals convey a sense of exuberance and celebration.
The song "I Fought the Law" has a long and interesting history, with numerous artists putting their own spin on it. The version by Hank Williams Jr. is just one of many interpretations, each offering a unique take on the classic outlaw anthem.
Williams' version of the song has left a lasting impact, not only on the artist's career but also on the legacy of the song as a whole. It helped to introduce "I Fought the Law" to a new generation of listeners and showcased the song's enduring appeal and adaptability.
In conclusion, Hank Williams Jr.'s 1978 version of "I Fought the Law" is a memorable and successful interpretation of a classic song. By staying true to the original lyrics and theme, Williams captured the essence of the outlaw anthem while adding his own distinct style. This version stands as a testament to the song's enduring popularity and influence in the world of music.
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The Dead Kennedys' 1978 version
The song "I Fought the Law" has its roots in the late 1950s, when Sonny Curtis, a member of Buddy Holly's band The Crickets, is believed to have written it. However, it was The Bobby Fuller Four, an American rock band, who first recorded and released it as a single in 1965, and their version that gained widespread popularity. Now, let's focus on The Dead Kennedys' 1978 version and its unique characteristics:
The Dead Kennedys, an American punk rock band formed in San Francisco, California, in 1978, covered "I Fought the Law" and gave it their own distinctive twist. Their version was released in the same year and stands out for its raw, rebellious energy, reflecting the burgeoning punk rock scene of the late 1970s. Jello Biafra's snarling vocals and the band's frenetic instrumentation breathed new life into the song, transforming it into an anthem for the disaffected youth of the time.
The 1978 version by The Dead Kennedys maintains the basic structure and melody of the original, but the band infused it with their signature punk rock sound. The guitar riffs are sharper and more aggressive, the drums are played with relentless intensity, and Biafra's vocal delivery is filled with anger and sarcasm. This cover version captures the frustration and rebellion of a generation that felt misunderstood and marginalized by mainstream society.
Lyrically, "I Fought the Law" tells a story of a rebellious individual who finds himself on the wrong side of the law. The narrator confesses to a series of crimes, from robbery to assault, and accepts his fate of imprisonment. The Dead Kennedys' interpretation emphasizes the sense of alienation and frustration felt by many young people in the late 1970s, channeling the anger and discontent of the era into a powerful musical statement.
The band's cover of "I Fought the Law" became a staple of their live performances and was included in their early set lists. It helped establish their reputation as one of the pioneering bands of the American punk rock movement. The Dead Kennedys' version also introduced the song to a new generation of fans and showcased their ability to take a well-known song and make it their own, injecting it with a fresh sense of urgency and relevance.
Overall, The Dead Kennedys' 1978 version of "I Fought the Law" is a defining moment in the band's career and a testament to their talent for transforming existing material into something unique and powerful. Their interpretation captures the rebellious spirit of punk rock and continues to resonate with audiences long after its release.
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Frequently asked questions
The Crickets, featuring Sonny Curtis on guitar, first recorded and released the song in 1959 or 1960.
Sonny Curtis wrote the song in 1958.
No, but he is often associated with the song as it was written and recorded by The Crickets after Holly's death.
Notable covers include those by The Bobby Fuller Four, The Clash, Sam Neely, Dead Kennedys, and Hank Williams Jr.
The song was used in the film as it was performed live at the Lyceum Theatre in London in 1978, and the film was released in 1980.
