Breakin Rocks

Bobby Fuller Drive | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (December 30, 2003)
• Original Release Date: December 30, 2003
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Indie
• ASIN: B0002R250E
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #641,991 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Randy Fuller, Larry Thompson and Billy Webb are three of the hardest working rock n’ rollers on the planet. They originally came together in 1963 in a teenage band called the Fanatics in El Paso, Texas, playing alongside Randy’s brother Bobby. It was this very lineup of the Fanatics that honed their skills night after night, devastating throngs of rockers at big brother Bobby’s teen club, the Rendezvous (named after the California club famous for surf legend Dick Dale). The signature sound created by this early version of the Bobby Fuller Four came out of a combination of their own origins—Billy had arrived in Texas from Iowa, where’d he’d been playing with the legendary Black Cats, and Larry was of course the Tacoma, Washington import steeped in R&B, blues and sheer coolness. Bobby and Randy, though both hatched in the Southwest, had started playing music as young noisemakers in Salt Lake City, Utah. Their diverse formative influences combined with the sounds of true Texas heroes from Buddy Holly to Long John Hunter to create a truly unique, insanely infectious and down right driving sound.

Then, in June of 1964, at the height of their local popularity and with their home studio recording of I Fought The Law (pulled off of Randy’s copy of the Crickets record) under their collective belt, Larry and Billy left the band for any of the long forgotten reasons that teenagers part ways, with Billy and Larry moving on to form the Rooks with another El Paso music legend, Joe Ritchie.

Bobby and Randy soon recruited two members from early El Paso rock n' roll combo the Counts, their first guitar player Jim Reese (who’d been on loan to the Fanatics in the preliminary lineup) and drummer Dalton Powell, who had replaced Bobby on skins when he left to form his own band on guitar. By the end of ’64 the new edition of the Fanatics had landed in Hollywood as the Bobby Fuller Four, and the rest is history, sad and true. A year and a half later, in the summer of '66, the group’s meteoric rise came to a crashing halt when Bobby was found dead under bizarre circumstances.

So here we are now, four decades after the Fanatics pounded the boards at El Paso teen clubs, holding in our hands a new rock n’ roll collection by the very same bunch of guys that mixed that sockin’ concoction of West Texas stomp with each of their far flung inspirations. Randy Fuller’s fine voice is the lead vocal this time, and he’s still pounding away on bass- without a doubt one of the best and most creative bass players in rock n’ roll, and he’s joined again by two unstoppables from the Rendezvous— Larry Thompson and Billy Webb. What are the chances? And what’re the chances that they would be quite fantastic all over again? But here they all are, three of the Four, recorded at their home studio, calling all the shots on defiant rockers, heart stopping ballads-- some old, some new, some stormin’, some undeniably blue. It Happened In El Paso, and it’ll happen again and again, wherever these three cats decide to be at any given time, and whenever you make the right turn onto Bobby Fuller Drive. Buckle up. It’s gonna be a wild ride.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Exuberant and Irresistible Rock 'n' Roll, July 29, 2004

By 

Fred Burwell (Beloit, WI USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Breakin Rocks (Audio CD)

The album cover depicts a battered and bullet-riddled street sign and three weary men on a chain gang. Crack open the cd case and discover within a generous offering of glorious, vibrant rock 'n' roll.

Breakin' Rocks serves up a West Texas stew of faithful but sonically updated versions of Bobby Fuller's 60's classics, a couple of Buddy Holly covers and a sprinkle of well-written new originals.

Bassist Randy Fuller takes the lead on most songs. Back in the 60s, his voice always lent a unique quality to Bobby Fuller Four backing vocals. Today, as lead singer, his voice is distinctive and powerful. I was particularly taken by his heartfelt singing on Another Sad and Lonely Night, which should have gone top ten in 1965 and should today in this new version. On the ballad, New Shade of Blue, Randy's weathered, soulful vocal brings added depth to the lyrics. Elsewhere, Let Her Dance features propulsive drumming, a nifty La Bamba-like guitar solo and has the radio friendly feel of a power pop anthem. Nervous Breakdown is the fiercest rocker here. Randy's roaring vocal and throbbing bass are spot on, as is the dazzling guitar solo. A cover of Bobby Fuller covering Eddie Cochran, Nervous Breakdown is one delicious slice of rock 'n' roll.

There are two especially noteworthy autobiographical originals. It Happened In El Paso recalls the early days of the Bobby Fuller Four as they began to chart with their classic version of I Fought the Law and even echoes its refrain. It's a driving rocker showcasing pumping piano by Larry Knechtel. The colorful lyrics of The Lobby tell us about the most popular music joint across the Rio Grande in Juarez, Mexico.

Breakin' Rocks is a treat for fans of authentic rock 'n' roll, especially of the Bobby Fuller-Buddy Holly-West Texas brand. Three of the members of Bobby Fuller Drive played together as early as 1963, bassist Randy Fuller, guitarist Billy Webb, and drummer Larry Thompson. Their joy and satisfaction in making this compelling music comes through clearly in every note they sing and play.

2.0 out of 5 stars Be Aware, Bobby Fuller Does Feature On This Recording., August 18, 2010

By 

J. Thompson (Essex UK) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Breakin Rocks (Audio CD)

Sadly Bobby Fuller died in strange circumstances in 1966.
This album is put out by Bobby Fuller Drive, which includes, among others, his brother Randy Fuller.
The collected 14 songs feature several written by the Fuller brothers and members of The Crickets.
There is little wrong with the playing, except these were recorded between 1999 -2003, basically 30 + years since Bobby died.
So, while the tracks are well chosen, it may be for very commited fans due to it not coming from the 1960s.

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Breakin' Rocks really rocks!!!, May 3, 2007

By 

PATRICK J. MCKENNA (St.Marys, GA United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Breakin Rocks (Audio CD)

Normally, I wouldn't give this sort of record a 5 star rating, but since the rating scale is limited to a scale of 1 to 5 stars, the best rating I could give Breakin' Rocks is a measly 5 stars!

Back when I was a teenager, I loved listening to my Bobby Fuller Four albums ("KRLA King of the Wheels" and "I fought the Law") so much that I have extra copies so that one copy could be used for taping.

My record collection even included obscure copies of 45RPM singles of "Magic Touch," and "Love's Made a Fool of You."

As a young bass player, I sharpened my playing chops by learning such songs as "Let Her Dance."

Moving from the past to the present, The Bobby Fuller Drive blasts off where the Bobby Fuller Four left off in 1966 (with the tragic and mysterious death of Bobby Fuller).

Normally, I don't care for the new re-recodings of the old songs, but the old BB4 songs on Breakin' Rocks are all exceptional exceptions!

Breakin' Rocks (along with any future recordings by the Bobby Fuller Drive) belongs in evry BB4 fan's record collection.

The Bobby Fuller Drive blasts off where the Bobby Fuller Four left off...

Oops...I already said that!