Go Bo Diddley
Go Bo Diddley is the second album by rock and roll pioneer Bo Diddley, released in July 1959.[1] The album was Bo's first studio album and his first LP for Checker Records. In 2003 Rolling Stone magazine ranked it number 214 on its The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time,[5] and 216 in a 2012 revised list.[6]
Go Bo Diddley | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | July 1959[1] | |||
Recorded | Chicago, March 2, 1955 & September 1958 | |||
Genre | Rock and roll, rhythm and blues | |||
Length | 30:57 | |||
Label | Checker | |||
Producer | ||||
Bo Diddley chronology | ||||
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Singles from Go Bo Diddley | ||||
Background
The B-side to the single "Hush Your Mouth", "Dearest Darling" was released June 1958 and also released on Bo Diddley's self-titled debut album. Bo's next single "Willie and Lillie" was released in November 1958 and then released on this album. Bo's next single "I'm Sorry"/"Oh Yea" was released in February 1959[2] and reached number 17 on Billboard magazine's Hot R&B Sides chart. The next single "Crackin' Up" b/w "The Great Grandfather" was released in May.[3] Go Bo Diddley was released two months later in July.[1] In November 1959, Bo released his most popular single "Say Man"/"The Clock Strikes Twelve" which became a crossover hit reaching number 20 on the Billboard Hot 100. The rest of the songs on the album were album-only tracks, including "You Don't Love Me (You Don't Care)" which Little Walter retitled as "Roller Coaster" and released as a single,[7] and is featured on the Bo Diddley compilation album His Best even though it is an album track not a single.
Recording
The original recordings in mono format were recorded with an Ampex-350 tape recorder.[8] The songs "You Don't Love Me (You Don't Care)"[9] and "Little Girl" were from Bo's first session for Chess Records on March 2, 1955.[10]
Track listing
All songs were written by Ellas McDaniel, with "I'm Sorry" made in collaboration with Alan Freed and Harvey Fuqua.[8]
- Side one
- "Crackin' Up" – 2:41
- "I'm Sorry" – 2:30
- "Bo's Guitar" – 2:38
- "Willie and Lillie" – 2:34
- "You Don't Love Me (You Don't Care)" – 2:36
- "Say Man" – 2:30
Side two
- "The Great Grandfather" – 2:40
- "Oh Yea" – 2:30
- "Don't Let It Go" – 2:36
- "Little Girl" – 2:35
- "Dearest Darling" – 2:32
- "The Clock Strikes Twelve" – 2:35
Personnel
- Bo Diddley – vocals, guitar; violin on "The Clock Strikes Twelve"
- Peggy Jones – guitar, backing vocals
- Jerome Green – co-lead vocals on "Say Man", maracas
- Willie Dixon – bass
- Clifton James – drums
- Frank Kirkland – drums
- Billy Boy Arnold – harmonica on "You Don't Love Me (You Don't Care)" and "Little Girl"
- Lafayette Leake – piano
- Otis Spann – piano
Release history
Region | Date | Label | Format | Catalog |
---|---|---|---|---|
United States | July 1959 | Checker Records | LP | LP-1436 |
United Kingdom | 1959 | London Records | LP | HA-M 2230 |
United States | August 27, 1966 | Checker Records | Stereo-Pak | 21-382A |
United States | 1967 | Checker Records | LP | LP-3006 |
United States | 1984 | Chess Records | LP | CH-9196 |
References
- "Overview: Go Bo Diddley by Bo Diddley". Allmusic. Retrieved December 17, 2010.
- Strong, Charles (2002) [Originally published in 1994]. The Great Rock Discography (Sixth ed.). United Kingdom: Canongate Books. p. 371. ISBN 1-84195-312-1.
- "Reviews of New Pop Records". Billboard: 63. August 24, 1959. Retrieved December 17, 2010.
- "Reviews of This Week's Singles". Billboard: 45. August 24, 1959. Retrieved December 17, 2010.
- "500 Greatest Albums: Bo Diddley/Go Bo Diddley – Bo Diddley". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2012-01-06.
- "500 Greatest Albums of All Time Rolling Stone's definitive list of the 500 greatest albums of all time". Rolling Stone. 2012. Retrieved September 16, 2019.
- Glover, Tony; Dirks, Scott; Gaines, Ward (2002). Blues with a Feeling: The Little Walter Story. Routledge. pp. 147–48. ISBN 978-0-415-93711-5.
- Go Bo Diddley LP 1436 Sleeve Notes
- His Best (CD liner). Bo Diddley. United States: Chess/MCA Records. 1997. CHD-9373.CS1 maint: others (link)
- I'm a Man: The Chess Masters, 1955–1958 (CD liner). Bo Diddley. United States: Hip-O Select. 2007.CS1 maint: others (link)