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I Fought the Law

"I Fought the Law"
Song by The Crickets from the album In Style With the Crickets
Released December 4, 1960
A-side "A Sweet Love"
Recorded 1958–59
Genre Rock and roll
Length 2:12
Label Coral
Writer(s) Sonny Curtis
Producer(s) Norman Petty
"I Fought the Law"
IFoughtTheLawBF4single.jpg
Single label of the Bobby Fuller version of "I Fought the Law"
Single by The Bobby Fuller Four
from the album I Fought the Law
B-side "Little Annie Lou"
Released December 1965 (1965-12)
Format Vinyl
Genre Garage rock
Length 2:14
Label Mustang
Writer(s) Sonny Curtis
Producer(s) Bob Keane
The Bobby Fuller Four singles chronology
"Let Her Dance"
(1965)
"I Fought the Law"
(1965)
"Love's Made a Fool of You"
(1966)
Audio sample
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"I Fought the Law"
I fought the law.jpg
Single by The Clash
from the album The Cost of Living
B-side "(White Man) In Hammersmith Palais"
Released July 26, 1979 (US)
Format Vinyl
Genre Punk rock
Length 2:38
Label CBS 50738
Writer(s) Sonny Curtis
The Clash singles chronology
"English Civil War"
(1979)
"I Fought the Law"
(US, 1979)
"Groovy Times"
(1979)
The Clash reissued singles chronology
"London Calling" re-release
(1988)
"I Fought the Law" re-release
(1988)
"Return to Brixton"
(1990)
"I Fought the Law"
Song by Dead Kennedys from the album Give Me Convenience or Give Me Death
Released June 1987
Format Vinyl
Genre Punk rock
Length 2:18
Label Alternative Tentacles
Writer(s) Sonny Curtis / Jello Biafra / East Bay Ray
"I Fought the Law"
Single by Green Day
Released February 1, 2004
Format Digital download
Genre Punk rock
Length 2:49
Label Reprise
Writer(s) Sonny Curtis
Green Day singles chronology
"Waiting"
(2001)
"I Fought the Law"
(2004)
"American Idiot"
(2004)

"I Fought the Law" is a song written by Sonny Curtis of the Crickets and popularized by a remake 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.

The song was written in 1958 by Sonny Curtis, and recorded in 1959 when he joined the Crickets, taking the place of the late Buddy Holly on guitar. Joe B. Mauldin and Jerry Allison continued their positions on the standup bass and drums, respectively, while Earl Sinks filled the role for vocals. The song was on their 1960 LP, In Style with the Crickets, and the following year appeared as the b-side of their single, "A Sweet Love". The song never received any airplay. Milwaukee's Paul Stefen and the Royal Lancers covered the song in 1962; it provided them with a local hit, but it never made the national charts. In 1964, Sammy Masters recorded his cover of the song. That same year, the song was recorded by Bobby Fuller and his band on his own Exeter label in El Paso, which solidified the band's popularity in the West Texas area with one of his biggest local hits.

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).


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