Bo Diddley Bo Diddley Is a Gunslinger
Label : Geffen
Original Release: 1961
Re Issued: 1998
CD Released :2004
Format : Mp3 @320



Though Bo Diddley never achieved the commercial success of his Chess label mate Chuck Berry, his contributions to the early evolution of rock & roll are no less significant, and, if nothing else, Diddley should be enshrined for being so freaky, funky, and downright rocking--a perfect distillation of the genre's attitude. Fortunately, the music is irrepressible as well: The primal "Bo Diddley beat," the gospel-tinged backing vocals, the snaky shake of Jerome Green's maracas, and Diddley's tremolo-heavy guitar riffs and boasting shout-croon all come together in an exquisite rave-up package. It's worth picking up 1960's BO DIDDLEY IS A GUNSLINGER for the cover art alone (Diddley in full cowboy regalia about to "draw" his mean-looking git fiddle). The music--cleaned up here on this 2004 reissue--is great too: Cowpoke clippity-clop rhythms join the melange of ballads, session patter, R&B, blues, and unbridled rock & roll energy. "Gun Slinger" and "Cadillac" rip things up in classic Bo style, whereas "Somewhere" goes tender and melodic, while "Working Man" borders on a field holler. This is one gem of a record. Recorded in Chicago, Illinois in 1960. Originally released on Checker .

Tracklist:
01 Gun Slinger (01:54)
02 Ride on Josephine (03:04)
03 Doing the Crawdaddy (03:04)
04 Cadillac (02:46)
05 Somewhere (02:40)
06 Cheyenne (02:01)
07 Sixteen Tons (02:26)
08 Whoa Mule (Shine) (02:30)
09 No More Lovin' (02:24)
10 Diddling (02:14)
11 Working Man (02:33) (1988 Bonus Track)
12 Do What I Say (02:49) (1988 Bonus Track)
13 Prisoner Of Love (02:32) ** (2004 Reissue Bonus Track)
14 Googlia Moo (03:02) ** (2004 Reissue Bonus Track)
15 Better Watch Yourself (02:55) **(2004 Reissue Bonus Track)

** Prev Unreleased.

Personnel
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