bobby fuller four i fought the law

anyone know what the difference(s) are between the 45 version and lp version besides the obvious mono/stereo designations in the db.....

Paraphrasing a story that Bob Keane once told me, basically the album version was an earlier take in which Bobby uttered a 4 letter word that shouldn't have been uttered (it was obvious that it was what it was because Bobby was grinning as he sang the line), so Keane had him re-do the entire song, and when the line came up again, Bobby sang it in such a way that there was no mistaking what the word was ("fuuunnnnnn"). He wasn't sure why the earlier take got released because it wasn't supposed to. My guess is they couldn't find the master for the 45 take when it came time to do the stereo mix.

The earlier label is Exeter but there's absolutely no mistaking that for the Mustang version, it is completely different, with some different lyrics still (a zip gun instead of a six gun).

Edited by TomDiehl1

Update.

Well, bob's notes elude me, as i am NOT correct about the Mustang 45 / LP versions.
I was provided a raw 45 dub.
It synchs with the LP version, but only because the backing tracks are the same.
The drum track and bass track are identical, but he re-cut the vocal and lead guitar tracks.

On my 2-disc set "Never To Be Forgotten", disc 2 contains the "single version" - this synchs perfectly with the Mustang single, so it is the correct hit version.

I had thought that was the old Del-Fi version, but that version does not appear on this set at all. (Confusingly, it has appeared on other comps for him, and he also had a different best-of released on Del-Fi confusing matters further.)

So....
to answer the original Q asked! The difference between the stereo LP version, and the mono 45 hit are that the are different vocal and guitar takes.
I believe Tom is correct in his theory that when they went to mix the stereo LP, they either grabbed the wrong take, or Bob had him re-cut it again, cant be sure which...they are close takes but not the same.

Since i've been hearing the stereo LP version my entire life, this is of little concern to me.
But sorry about the mis-info above...   we're all about the details here!

MM

at what point is the bad word uttered?

Hmm, i was told by an "industry pro" that that the original was refered to as the "Del-Fi" version, but one look at his discography confirms Tom's info above, it surely was Exeter, Bobby's own label.

I didn't put much creedence in the "FU" story, but then again i gave a good listen to that part on the stereo LP version, and ya know what? It IS open for interpretation. Not nearly enough to get any attention from radio people, it's perfectly fine for airplay (good, sinvce that's the only one i've EVER heard on the radio in 30 years) ...but he just may have slipped in the naughty world really quick there....hard to tell.
MM