''Go Bo Diddley'' is the second album by American

rock and roll Rock and roll (often written as rock & roll, rock 'n' roll, or rock 'n roll) is a genre of popular music that evolved in the United States during the late 1940s and early 1950s. It originated from African-American music such as jazz, rhythm a ...

musician

Bo Diddley Ellas McDaniel (born Ellas Otha Bates; December 30, 1928 – June 2, 2008), known professionally as Bo Diddley, was an American guitarist who played a key role in the transition from the blues to rock and roll. He influenced many artists, inc ...

, released in July 1959. The album was Bo's first studio album that included some material that hadn't been prereleased on singles, and his first LP for Checker Records. In 2003, ''

Rolling Stone ''Rolling Stone'' is an American monthly magazine that focuses on music, politics, and popular culture. It was founded in San Francisco, California, in 1967 by Jann Wenner, and the music critic Ralph J. Gleason. It was first known for its ...

'' ranked it number 214 on its

The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time "The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time" is a recurring opinion survey and music ranking of the finest albums in history, compiled by the American magazine ''Rolling Stone''. It is based on weighted votes from selected musicians, critics, and indust ...

, and 216 in a 2012 revised list.

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 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. ''Go Bo Diddley'' was released two months later in July. 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. Four songs on the album were album-only tracks, including "You Don't Love Me (You Don't Care)", "Don't Let It Go," "Little Girl," and "Bo's Guitar."

Recording

The original recordings in mono format were recorded with an

Ampex Ampex is an American electronics company founded in 1944 by Alexander M. Poniatoff as a spin-off of Dalmo-Victor. The name AMPEX is a portmanteau, created by its founder, which stands for Alexander M. Poniatoff Excellence.AbramsoThe History ...

-350

tape recorder An audio tape recorder, also known as a tape deck, tape player or tape machine or simply a tape recorder, is a sound recording and reproduction device that records and plays back sounds usually using magnetic tape for storage. In its present ...

.''Go Bo Diddley'' LP 1436 Sleeve Notes The songs "You Don't Love Me (You Don't Care)" and "Little Girl" were from Bo's first session for Chess Records on March 2, 1955.

Track listing

All songs were written by

Ellas McDaniel Ellas McDaniel (born Ellas Otha Bates; December 30, 1928 – June 2, 2008), known professionally as Bo Diddley, was an American guitarist who played a key role in the transition from the blues to rock and roll. He influenced many artists, inclu ...

, with "I'm Sorry" made in collaboration with

Alan Freed Albert James "Alan" Freed (December 15, 1921 – January 20, 1965) was an American disc jockey. He also produced and promoted large traveling concerts with various acts, helping to spread the importance of rock and roll music throughout Nor ...

and

Harvey Fuqua Harvey Fuqua (July 27, 1929 – July 6, 2010) was an American rhythm and blues singer, songwriter, record producer, and record label executive. Fuqua founded the seminal R&B/doo-wop group the Moonglows in the 1950s. He is notable as one of th ...

. ;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" – 3:09 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

''Per liner notes'' *Bo Diddley – vocals, guitar; violin on "The Clock Strikes Twelve" * Peggy Jones – guitar, backing vocals *

Jerome Green Jerome Green (c.1934 – c.1973) was an American percussionist and occasional lyricist and vocalist, known for playing maracas and acting as Bo Diddley's foil in his performances and on his recordings in the 1950s and early 1960s. Biography G ...

– co-lead vocals on "Say Man",

maraca A maraca (), sometimes called shaker or chac-chac, is a rattle which appears in many genres of Caribbean and Latin music. It is shaken by a handle and usually played as part of a pair. Maracas (from Guaraní ), also known as tamaracas, were ...

s * Willie Dixon – bass *

Clifton James George Clifton James (May 29, 1920 – April 15, 2017) was an American actor known for roles as a prison floorwalker in ''Cool Hand Luke'' (1967), Sheriff J.W. Pepper alongside Roger Moore in the James Bond films '' Live and Let Die'' (19 ...

– drums *Frank Kirkland – drums *

Billy Boy Arnold William "Billy Boy" Arnold (born September 16, 1935, Chicago, Illinois) AllMusic biography">AllMusic.html" ;"title="AllMusic">AllMusic biography/ref> is an American blues harmonica player, singer and songwriter. Arnold is a self-taught harmonica p ...

– harmonica on "You Don't Love Me (You Don't Care)" and "Little Girl" *

Lafayette Leake Lafayette Leake (June 1, 1919 – August 14, 1990) was an American blues and jazz pianist, organist, vocalist and composer who played for Chess Records as a session musician, and as a member of the Big Three Trio, during the formative years of Chic ...

– piano * Otis Spann – piano

Release history

References

{{Authority control 1959 albums Bo Diddley albums Checker Records albums Albums produced by Leonard Chess Albums produced by Phil Chess Albums produced by Bo Diddley