The Magic Touch
It's pretty impressive that Bobby Fuller was arranging these great songs at such a young age. I guess I didn't realize how complicated his production was until we really started dissecting "The Magic Touch." There was so much going on in the song and we had a lot to re-create to put it all together. It's funny that right after we recorded this one, I ran into an old friend, Dawn Eden, who is a walking Rock & Roll Encyclopedia. The first thing she said to me was, "Did you get that line?" and I knew exactly what she meant. None of us could decipher the line "fall prey to a petite size" so during recording, we decided to mumble "be prey for another sigh." Well, it's too late to go back and change now--I hope you enjoy our version anyway.
Love's Made A Fool Of You
I can safely say that we are all big fans of Buddy Holly. The Bobby Fuller Four easily made this song their own. I know this one very well since it plays on my jukebox regularly (that's how I spoil my kids-I let them hear good music). I'm honored to have been able to record it for this album amongst these other fine musicians.
© 2000 Jim Babjak
& Tex Remy Music
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Four tracks on the Bobby Fuller Tribute Album
feature members of the Smithereens!
Jim Babjak's Buzzed Meg, which includes bud Dennis Diken, contributed two songs to the album, "The Magic Touch" and "Love's Made A Fool Of You" (written by Buddy Holly). In addition to joining Jim on those two tracks, Dennis appears on the Tribute album as part of Sleeping Giant covering "Take My Word." Listeners will also catch Dennis drumming & Mike Mesaros playing bass on contributor Michael Shelley's track "Julie."
Recorded at the GripWeeds' House of Vibes studio, Jim and Dennis completed their Buzzed Meg tracks with Meg-mates Kurt Reil and Vince Grogan. Jim was thrilled about the invitation to contribute to the project: "I'm a huge Bobby Fuller fan. That guy was so much more than the "one-hit wonder" label he got stuck with." (Fuller is probably best known for his 1966 hit "I Fought The Law.") "Never To Be Forgotten" was Jim's first choice to contribute, but it had already been recorded by another artist; Jim's second choice was "The Magic Touch" (which was tragically the Bobby Fuller Four's last release).
(Reprinted from 'Reen Thoughts #8, Fall 1997)
Contributor Charlie Chesterman comments on the BF4 Project:
"Bobby Fuller must have been a terror, him and his brother Randy. What other kid have you ever heard of that got his Mom and Dad to turn the family house into a recording studio? I'm thinking he used blackmail. Or a Mexican .38. One thing for sure, he was hip mad and driven by rock and fueled by the same spirit that possessed Buddy Holly (his idol!), Chuck Berry, John Lennon and countless others (including the rock and rollers on this collection!)"
Pop Critic & MusicMan John M. Borack reviewed the CD in Goldmine #513, March 24, 2000:
"Bobby Fuller has long been revered as another in a long line of potential rock icons that tragically left us too soon. His Buddy Holly-inspired pop/rock tunes -- most written by him, some not -- are not well-known by the masses, except the classic rocker "I Fought The Law." No matter, though, as Fuller still is considered a minor legend, and the songs on this classy tribute record prove over and over what a versatile performer he was.
Many of the artists contributing stand-out tunes to Our Favorite Texan are card-carrying members of the pop underground (Walter Clevenger, Richard Barone, Bill Lloyd, The Spongetones' Jamie Hoover), while others are of the "huh?" variety (Fortune & Maltese And The Fabulous Pallbearers, Jackie And The Cedrics). The "Big Name" here has to be Marshall Crenshaw, who tosses in a swell, one-man-band version of the moving "My True Love." Speaking of bands of the one-man variety, Jamie Hoover's understated "It's Love, Come What May" is another goodie, with Hoover overdubbing dulcimer and mandolin over his acoustic guitar, as well as piling on the harmonies to great effect.
Amazing as it may sound, there really isn't anything less than good on Our Favorite Texan, which is a real rarity on tribute records (it almost seems as if many of the artists respected Fuller and his music so much that they were a bit afraid to go too wild with it and possibly screw something up). In any event, all 21 tracks offer their own little gifts: Sample the pounding Merseybeat stylings of [Dennis Diken's] Sleeping Giant's "Take My Word," Richard Barone's slightly mournful take on "Nancy Jean," Young Fresh Fellows' raucous "Shakedown," Buzzed Meg's faithful "Love's Made A Fool Of You" (which includes a great lead vocal by The Grip Weeds' Kurt Reil as well as the superb guitar and drums of The Smithereens' Jim Babjak and Dennis Diken, respectively) and Kevin Johnson And The Linemen's ringing, harmony-laden "Another Sad And Lonely Night."
In addition to a slew of great tracks, the CD comes with a 15-page booklet that includes quotes from the artists involved, as well as contact information for each of them. Truly a labor of love, Our Favorite Texan: Bobby Fuller Four-Ever! should be an essential purchase for Fuller lovers, pop-o-philes or anyone who enjoys hearing classic tunes being interpreted with loving care. |
