Go Bo Diddley is the second LP record 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. The album was ranked #214 on The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time by Rolling Stone magazine.[7]
Contents[]
[hide] *1 Background
Background[edit][]
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[4] and reached #17 on Billboard magazine's Hot R&B Sideschart.[8] The next single "Crackin' Up" b/w "The Great Grandfather" was released in May.[5] 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 making #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,[9] and is featured on the Bo Diddley compilation album His Best even though it is an album track not a single.
Recording[edit][]
The original recordings in mono format where recorded with an Ampex-350 tape recorder.[10] The songs "You Don't Love Me (You Don't Care"[2] and "Little Girl" were from Bo's first session for Chess Records on March 2, 1955.[3]
Track listing[edit][]
All songs written by Ellas McDaniel.[10]
- 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[edit][]
- 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
Cover versions[edit][]
The song "Little Girl" was covered by British R&B group The Yardbirds on their album Five Live Yardbirds and was the first of three Bo Diddley songs released on the album. The Gants released "Crackin' Up" as a single in 1966. Corey Harris recorded a version of the song "Crackin' Up" on A Tribute to Bo Diddley. The song was also covered by Paul McCartney on Снова в СССР, and was also covered by The Rolling Stones.
Charts[edit][]
- Singles
| Year | Single | Position | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Billboard R&B Singles[11] | Billboard Hot 100[11] | ||
| 1959 | "Crackin' Up" | #14 | #62 |
| 1959 | "I'm Sorry" | #17 | - |
| 1959 | "Say Man" | #3 | #20 |
Release history[edit][]
| 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 |