El Paso Rock: Early Recordings, Vol. 1

Bobby Fuller rocked. Much like his hero, fellow Texan Buddy Holly, Fuller showed the world what could be done with simple, three-chord rock 'n' roll. He played it with a ferocity that brought out the best in the genre, and the various El Paso Rock collections show just how much great music Fuller produced. The nearly five-minute take of Long John Hunter's "El Paso Rock," recorded live, is a bit of an anomaly, considering Fuller rarely broke the three-minute mark. His talent was in bringing forth a powerful Fender Stratocaster electric guitar sound and matching it with strong melodies and harmonies, in line with what the British Invasion groups took from early rock 'n' roll. These "Early Recordings" are those of a fully developed artist. Tunes like "Guess We'll Fall in Love," "To Make Love Last," and "Pamela"—plus covers of big hits like "Summertime Blues," "Do You Wanna Dance," and "Louie Louie"—show off Fuller's obvious talents. There's even an early version of his future hit, Sonny Curtis' "I Fought the Law," where Fuller has all the pieces in place but not yet the magical production. Essential!