Bo Diddley Is a Gunslinger is the fifth album by American rock and roll pioneer Bo Diddley released in December 1960 by Checker Records.[1] The album title comes from the album's first track called "Gunslinger" and the cover art has Bo Diddley dressed in Western-style clothing. The songs for Bo Diddley Is a Gunslinger were recorded from October 1959 to February 1960.[2]Several tracks of interest are "Sixteen Tons" which Bo was supposed to perform on The Ed Sullivan Show, the title track, and "Diddling" (an instrumental between guitar and saxophone).
Contents[]
Songs[edit][]
Gunslinger[edit][]
This song was originally released as the a-side of Checker single 965 in November 1960.[3] The singles b-side "Signifying Blues" was never released on the album. The song features a Bo Diddley beat.
Ride on Josephine[edit][]
"Ride on Josephine" was a rock and roll song with backing vocals and piano work by either Otis Spann, Lafayette Leake, or Billy Stewart.[4] The song has been covered by George Thorogood & The Destroyers, Sleepy LaBeef, and Eric Sardinas.
Sixteen Tons[edit][]
Bo Diddley was asked to perform "Sixteen Tons" on The Ed Sullivan Show but performed "Bo Diddley" instead. Being as "Sixteen Tons" is a country and western song it gives the album a different feel.
Cadillac[edit][]
The song "Cadillac" features Gene Barge on tenor saxophone,[4] and has been covered by The Kinks, The Downliners Sect, the New Colony Six, and sung as a duet by Van Morrison and Linda Gail Lewis. Cadillac was also the name of the guitar that is featured on the album's front cover.[5]
Other Songs/Styles[edit][]
The song "Googlia Moo", as well as "No More Lovin'" and others, gives the album a doo-wop feel.[6]
Track listing[edit][]
All songs written and composed by Ellas McDaniel, except where noted.
| Side one | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | Title | Length | ||||||||
| 1. | "Gunslinger" | 1:50 | ||||||||
| 2. | "Ride on Josephine" | 3:00 | ||||||||
| 3. | "Doing the Craw-Daddy" | 2:58 | ||||||||
| 4. | "Cadillac" | 2:39 | ||||||||
| 5. | "Somewhere" | 2:25 | ||||||||
| Total length: | 12:52[7] | |||||||||
| Side two | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | Title | Length | ||||||||
| 6. | "Cheyenne" | 2:05 | ||||||||
| 7. | "Sixteen Tons" (Merle Travis, arr. McDaniel) | 2:30 | ||||||||
| 8. | "Whoa Mule (Shine)" | 2:28 | ||||||||
| 9. | "No More Lovin'" | 2:25 | ||||||||
| 10. | "Diddling" | 2:20 | ||||||||
| Total length: | 11:48[7] | |||||||||
| 1988 Bonus Tracks | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | Title | Length | ||||||||
| 11. | "Working Man" | 3:00 | ||||||||
| 12. | "Do What I Say" | 2:46 | ||||||||
| 2004 Reissue Bonus Tracks | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | Title | Length | ||||||||
| 13. | "Prisoner of Love" (Russ Columbo, Leo Robin, Clarence Gaskill) | 2:31 | ||||||||
| 14. | "Googlia Moo" | 3:02 | ||||||||
| 15. | "Better Watch Yourself" | 2:54 | ||||||||
Personnel[4][edit][]
Per allmusic[4]
- Bo Diddley – lead vocals, lead guitar
- Jerome Green – maracas, backing vocals
- Willie Dixon – bass
- Bobby Baskerville – bass
- Jesse James Johnson – electric bass
- Billy Downing – drums
- Clifton James – drums
- Lafayette Leake – piano
- Otis Spann – piano
- Billy Stewart – piano
- Peggy Jones – rhythm guitar, backing vocals
- Gene Barge – tenor saxophone
- Johnny Carter – backing vocals
- Harvey Fuqua – backing vocals
- Lily "Bee Bee" Jamieson – backing vocals
- Gloria Morgan – backing vocals
- Nate Nelson – backing vocals
- Leonard Chess – producer
- Andy McKaie – Reissue producer
- Vartan – Art direction
Charts[edit][]
The album spent only one week on the UK Album Charts on November 9, 1963 at #20.[8]
Release history[edit][]
| Region | Date | Label | Format | Catalog |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | December 1960 | Checker Records | mono | LP 2297 |
| United Kingdom | November 1963 | Pye Jazz Records | mono LP | NJL 33 |
| United States | August 13, 1966 | Checker Records | 4-track cartridge | 21-369A |
| United States | 1988 | Chess Records | CD | CHD-9285 |
| United States | April 13, 2004 | Geffen Records | CD | 000176102 |
| Worldwide reissue | 2008 | Universal International | LP | 1529771 |