<PAGE>
000 A000000 06/30/97
000 C000000 0000060365
000 D000000 N
000 E000000 NF
000 F000000 Y
000 G000000 N
000 H000000 N
000 I000000 3.0
000 J000000 U
001 A000000 LORD ABBETT BOND-DEBENTURE FUND, INC.
001 B000000 811-2145
001 C000000 2128481870
002 A000000 767 FIFTH AVENUE
002 B000000 NEW YORK
002 C000000 NY
002 D010000 10153
002 D020000 0101
003 000000 N
004 000000 N
005 000000 N
006 000000 N
007 A000000 N
007 B000000 0
007 C010100 1
007 C010200 2
007 C010300 3
007 C010400 4
007 C010500 5
007 C010600 6
007 C010700 7
007 C010800 8
007 C010900 9
007 C011000 10
008 A000001 LORD, ABBETT & CO.
008 B000001 A
008 C000001 801-6997
008 D010001 NEW YORK
008 D020001 NY
008 D030001 10153
008 D040001 0101
011 A000001 LORD, ABBETT & CO.
011 B000001 8-216
011 C010001 NEW YORK
011 C020001 NY
011 C030001 10153
011 C040001 0101
012 A000001 DST SYSTEMS, INC.
012 B000001 84-448
012 C010001 KANSAS CITY
012 C020001 MO
012 C030001 64141
<PAGE>
013 A000001 DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP
013 B010001 NEW YORK
013 B020001 NY
013 B030001 10048
015 A000001 THE BANK OF NEW YORK
015 B000001 C
015 C010001 NEW YORK
015 C020001 NY
015 C030001 10015
015 E010001 X
018 000000 Y
019 A000000 Y
019 B000000 32
019 C000000 LORDABBETT
020 A000001 SALOMON BROTHERS, INC.
020 B000001 13-3082694
020 C000001 22
020 A000002 MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNNER & SMITH, INC.
020 B000002 13-5674085
020 C000002 12
020 A000003 DONALDSON, LUFKIN & JENERETTE SECURITIES
020 B000003 13-2741729
020 C000003 6
020 A000004 UBS SECURITIES LLC
020 B000004 13-3873456
020 C000004 2
020 A000005 CS FIRST BOSTON CORP.
020 B000005 13-5659485
020 C000005 1
020 C000006 0
020 C000007 0
020 C000008 0
020 C000009 0
020 C000010 0
021 000000 43
022 A000001 FORD MOTOR CREDIT CO.
022 B000001 38-1612444
022 C000001 291800
022 D000001 290200
022 A000002 GENERAL ELECTRIC CAPITAL CORP.
022 B000002 13-5100700
022 C000002 295500
022 D000002 285700
022 A000003 PRUDENTIAL FUNDING CORP.
022 B000003 22-2231168
022 C000003 141700
022 D000003 150700
022 A000004 AMERICAN EXPRESS CREDIT CORP.
022 B000004 11-1988350
022 C000004 30000
022 D000004 30000
<PAGE>
022 C000005 0
022 D000005 0
022 C000006 0
022 D000006 0
022 C000007 0
022 D000007 0
022 C000008 0
022 D000008 0
022 C000009 0
022 D000009 0
022 C000010 0
022 D000010 0
023 C000000 759000
023 D000000 756600
024 000000 N
025 D000001 0
025 D000002 0
025 D000003 0
025 D000004 0
025 D000005 0
025 D000006 0
025 D000007 0
025 D000008 0
026 A000000 Y
026 B000000 Y
026 C000000 N
026 D000000 Y
026 E000000 N
026 F000000 N
026 G010000 N
026 G020000 N
027 000000 Y
028 A010000 96793
028 A020000 7830
028 A030000 0
028 A040000 22614
028 B010000 92640
028 B020000 8166
028 B030000 0
028 B040000 21618
028 C010000 80359
028 C020000 8468
028 C030000 0
028 C040000 26114
028 D010000 60817
028 D020000 8046
028 D030000 0
028 D040000 36598
028 E010000 63318
028 E020000 8226
028 E030000 0
<PAGE>
028 E040000 31293
028 F010000 53913
028 F020000 8370
028 F030000 0
028 F040000 27051
028 G010000 447840
028 G020000 49106
028 G030000 0
028 G040000 165288
028 H000000 229367
029 000000 Y
030 A000000 6071
030 B000000 4.75
030 C000000 0.00
031 A000000 833
031 B000000 0
032 000000 5238
033 000000 0
034 000000 Y
035 000000 57
036 A000000 Y
036 B000000 0
037 000000 N
038 000000 0
039 000000 N
040 000000 Y
041 000000 Y
042 A000000 0
042 B000000 0
042 C000000 0
042 D000000 100
042 E000000 0
042 F000000 0
042 G000000 0
042 H000000 0
043 000000 4853
044 000000 0
045 000000 Y
046 000000 N
047 000000 Y
048 000000 0.000
048 A010000 500000
048 A020000 0.500
048 B010000 0
048 B020000 0.000
048 C010000 0
048 C020000 0.000
048 D010000 0
048 D020000 0.000
048 E010000 0
048 E020000 0.000
<PAGE>
048 F010000 0
048 F020000 0.000
048 G010000 0
048 G020000 0.000
048 H010000 0
048 H020000 0.000
048 I010000 0
048 I020000 0.000
048 J010000 0
048 J020000 0.000
048 K010000 500000
048 K020000 0.450
049 000000 N
050 000000 N
051 000000 N
052 000000 N
053 A000000 N
054 A000000 Y
054 B000000 Y
054 C000000 Y
054 D000000 N
054 E000000 N
054 F000000 N
054 G000000 Y
054 H000000 Y
054 I000000 N
054 J000000 Y
054 K000000 N
054 L000000 Y
054 M000000 N
054 N000000 N
054 O000000 N
055 A000000 N
055 B000000 N
056 000000 Y
057 000000 N
058 A000000 N
059 000000 Y
060 A000000 Y
060 B000000 Y
061 000000 250
062 A000000 Y
062 B000000 0.0
062 C000000 13.3
062 D000000 0.0
062 E000000 0.0
062 F000000 0.0
062 G000000 0.0
062 H000000 0.0
062 I000000 0.6
062 J000000 0.0
<PAGE>
062 K000000 0.0
062 L000000 0.0
062 M000000 1.8
062 N000000 8.1
062 O000000 0.0
062 P000000 70.7
062 Q000000 0.0
062 R000000 8.3
063 A000000 0
063 B000000 9.3
064 A000000 N
064 B000000 N
066 A000000 N
067 000000 N
068 A000000 N
068 B000000 N
069 000000 N
070 A010000 Y
070 A020000 Y
070 B010000 N
070 B020000 N
070 C010000 N
070 C020000 N
070 D010000 N
070 D020000 N
070 E010000 N
070 E020000 N
070 F010000 N
070 F020000 N
070 G010000 N
070 G020000 N
070 H010000 N
070 H020000 N
070 I010000 N
070 I020000 N
070 J010000 N
070 J020000 N
070 K010000 N
070 K020000 N
070 L010000 N
070 L020000 N
070 M010000 N
070 M020000 N
070 N010000 Y
070 N020000 Y
070 O010000 Y
070 O020000 N
070 P010000 N
070 P020000 N
070 Q010000 N
070 Q020000 N
<PAGE>
070 R010000 N
070 R020000 N
071 A000000 1024964
071 B000000 798108
071 C000000 2356791
071 D000000 34
072 A000000 12
072 B000000 99365
072 C000000 5203
072 D000000 0
072 E000000 0
072 F000000 5403
072 G000000 0
072 H000000 0
074 N000000 2622644
074 T000000 2512943
075 A000000 0
075 B000000 2332141
077 A000000 N
SIGNATURE JOSEPH VAN DYKE
TITLE ASSISTANT TREASURER
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000060365
<NAME> LORD ABBETT BOND-DEBENTURE FUND, INC.
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 001
<NAME> CLASS A
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END> JUN-30-1997
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 2451166836
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 2521424359
<RECEIVABLES> 84947589
<ASSETS-OTHER> 472088
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 15800000
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 2622644036
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 104427711
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 5272980
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 109700691
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 2511018522
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 199331274
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 185334145
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 17257588
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> (92085667)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 70257523
<NET-ASSETS> 2512943345
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 3992438
<INTEREST-INCOME> 78249430
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 8108148
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 74133720
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 7153720
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 49495421
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 149189688
<EQUALIZATION> 523812
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> 78329699
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 24347877
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> 14460123
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 4109375
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 383521948
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 21057418
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> (99239387)
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 4164555
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 8108148
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 1833025169
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 9.41
<PER-SHARE-NII> 0.38
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> 0.23
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> 0.41
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 9.61
<EXPENSE-RATIO> .44
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING> 0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE> 0
</TABLE>
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000060365
<NAME> LORD ABBETT BOND-DEBENTURE FUND, INC.
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 002
<NAME> CLASS B
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END> JUN-30-1997
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 2451166836
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 2521424359
<RECEIVABLES> 84947589
<ASSETS-OTHER> 472088
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 15800000
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 2622644036
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 104427711
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 5272980
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 109700691
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 2511018522
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 25428776
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 11570383
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 221334
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> (92085667)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 70257523
<NET-ASSETS> 2512943345
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 446234
<INTEREST-INCOME> 7693489
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 1470258
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 6669465
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 7153720
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 49495421
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 149189688
<EQUALIZATION> 523812
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> 6791860
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 14062964
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> 599258
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 394687
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 383521948
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 215387
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> (99239387)
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 452314
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 1470258
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 182424873
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 9.41
<PER-SHARE-NII> 0.36
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> 0.21
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> 0.37
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 9.61
<EXPENSE-RATIO> .81
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING> 0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE> 0
</TABLE>
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000060365
<NAME> LORD ABBETT BOND-DEBENTURE FUND, INC.
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 003
<NAME> CLASS C
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END> JUN-30-1997
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 2451166836
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 2521424359
<RECEIVABLES> 84947589
<ASSETS-OTHER> 472088
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 15800000
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 2622644036
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 104427711
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 5272980
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 109700691
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 2511018522
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 36693150
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 29346452
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 471837
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> (92085667)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 70257523
<NET-ASSETS> 2512943345
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 764357
<INTEREST-INCOME> 13422026
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 2449019
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 11737364
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 7153720
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 49495421
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 149189688
<EQUALIZATION> 523812
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> 12204323
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 9120389
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> 2500200
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 726509
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 383521948
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> (99239387)
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 471837
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 785818
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 2449019
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 316932239
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 9.41
<PER-SHARE-NII> 0.35
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> 0.23
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> 0.37
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 9.62
<EXPENSE-RATIO> .77
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING> 0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE> 0
</TABLE>