•
Rating:
When it comes to fathers of rock, Bo Diddley's name is always somewhat in the background. Elvis was The Pelvis, Chuck Berry the first of the guitar heroes, Buddy Holly the sensitive and romantic nerd, while Little Richard was the first to play with ambiguity and transgression. It's no coincidence that Diddley himself once said: "I'm the one who opened a lot of doors, but I was left holding the knob in my hand."
Diddley perhaps pays for never having had epoch-making chart successes, apart from the memorable single "Bo Diddley/I’m the man" from 1955 (after all, he was label mates with the overwhelming and hugely popular Berry). But, despite perhaps not having anything immediately recognizable to the masses like the names I've mentioned, his classics have had an extraordinary and perhaps much deeper influence on the history of rock. Just think of the reinterpretation of "Who Do You Love" and "Mona" by Quicksilver in the psychedelic masterpiece "Happy Trails," or his influence on the likes of Pretty Things, Kinks, Animals, Yardbirds, and Sonics. Not to mention the fact that the Stones and Hendrix were among his greatest admirers: it cannot be a coincidence, given that the Mississippi native had codified the electric Chicago blues alongside Waters, Dixon, and Wolf.
What were the distinctive features of Diddley's work? First of all, the fabulous syncopated beat, the authentic heart of rock and roll with tribal inserts that referenced African roots and were enhanced by Jerome Green's maracas. "Who Do You Love" is in this sense an unsurpassed piece, a summary of his style between blues and emerging rock and roll. And then all the guitar effects: Bo used a rectangular guitar built by Gretsch, called the "Twang Machine," and from it, he unleashed a series of distortions, tremolos, and effects that enriched his blues riffs (immortal the one in "I’m a man") making him an inspiration to the great Jimi (the self-proclaimed sole priests of the Seattle guitarist will agree...). His guitar style was stunning, boastful, fuzzy, and expanded the power of the instrument towards unknown destinations. And finally, his voice, direct and wild, which lights up pieces like "Bo Diddley”, “Pretty Thing”, “Road Runner”, “Before You Accuse Me", and the bitter prophetic "You can’t judge a book by its cover".
Gentlemen, these are the immortal classics in the repertoire of the one and only authentic "Originator."
Tracklist and Lyrics
01 Bo Diddley (02:46)
Bo Diddley bought his baby a diamond ring
If that diamond ring don't shine
He gonna take it to a private eye
If that private eye can't see
He better not take the ring from me
Bo Diddley bought a nanny goat
To make his pretty baby a Sunday coat
Bo Diddley bought a bear-a-cat
To make his pretty baby a Sunday hat
Mojo come to my house, a black cat bone
And take my baby away from home
Ugly ole Mojo where's he been
Up to your house and gone again
Bo Diddley, Bo Diddley have you heard?
My pretty baby said she was a bird
02 I'm a Man (02:59)
(Ellas McDaniel) 1955
Now when I was a little boy,
At the age of five,
I had somethin' in my pocket,
Keep a lot of folks alive.
Now I'm a man,
Made twenty-one,
You know baby,
We can have a lot of fun.
I'm a man,
I spell M-A-N...man.
All you pretty women,
Stand in line,
I can make love to you baby,
In an hour's time.
I'm a man,
I spell M-A-N...man.
I goin' back down,
To Kansas to
Bring back the second cousin,
Little John the conqueroo.
I'm a man,
I spell M-A-N...man.
The line I shoot,
Will never miss,
The way I make love to 'em,
They can't resist.
I'm a man,
I spell M-A-N...man.
05 Pretty Thing (02:50)
(Ellas McDaniel) 1956
You pretty thing,
Let me buy you a wedding ring,
Let me hear the choir sing,
Oh you pretty thing.
You pretty thing,
Let me walk you down the aisle,
Darling, it's where our love is found,
Oh you pretty thing.
Let me kiss you gentle,
Squeeze and hold you tight,
Let me give all my love,
The rest of my life.
You pretty thing,
Let me hold you by my side,
And become my blushing bride,
You pretty thing,
Pretty thing,
Let me dedicate my life,
You will always be my wife,
Oh you pretty thing.
07 Bring It to Jerome (02:29)
(jerome green) 1956
(bo diddley): well, every day I work,
Bringing home my pay,
Come to find out baby,
You've bin giving my money away.
Tell me baby,
What you tryin' to do?
You ain't seen me hummin',
Like you used to do.
Tell me mama,
What's wrong with you?
You know pretty baby,
I'm so crazy 'bout you.
(jerome green): all you pretty women,
Bring it to my home,
You don't have to worry,
I won't do you no wrong.
Bring it on home,
Bring it to jerome,
Bring it on home,
Bring it to jerome.
Look here pretty baby,
This mess I won't stand,
All the other women,
Say you got another man.
Bring it on home,
Bring it to jerome,
Bring it on home,
Bring it to jerome.
08 Diddy Wah Diddy (02:33)
(Diddy Wah)
(A-diddy Wah)
(Diddy Wah)
I gotta gal down in Diddy Wah Diddy
(Diddy Wah)
Ain't no town an it ain't no city
(Diddy Wah)
She loves her man, just is a pity
Crazy 'bout my gal in Diddy Wah Diddy
(Diddy Wah)
This little girl is sweet as she could be
(Diddy Wah)
I know she's in love with me
(Diddy Wah)
A lovely face, she's so pretty
(Diddy Wah)
But she's still way down in Diddy Wah Diddy
(Diddy Wah, Diddy Wah, Diddy)
(Diddy Wah, Diddy Wah, Diddy)
(Diddy Wah, Diddy Wah, Diddy)
Ain't no town, an it ain't no city
But oh, how they love in Diddy Wah Diddy)
(Diddy Wah)
(Diddy Wah)
(Diddy Wah)
(Diddy Wah)
She kissed me all the time
(Diddy Wah)
She gonna turn me outta my mind
(Diddy Wah)
Anything, she says she's ready
(Diddy Wah)
Run right back to Diddy Wah Diddy
(Diddy Wah)
(Diddy Wah)
(Diddy Wah)
(Diddy Wah)
Ain't no town, ain't no city
Lord, how they love in Diddy Wah Diddy)
(Diddy Wah)
(Diddy Wah)
FADES-
Diddy Wah
09 I'm Looking for a Woman (02:33)
(Ellas McDaniel) 1956
I'm looking for a woman,
That will work to set me down,
I'm looking for a woman,
That will work to set me down,
I've bin looking all night long,
She can't be found.
Well I met one last night,
And I told her what I liked,
Well I met one last night,
And I told her what I liked,
She said get away from here country boy,
Go back to your countryside.
Well tell me baby,
What you see wrong with me,
Well tell me baby,
What you see wrong with me,
Well if I had you baby,
You wouldn't be lookin' back at me.
Well so long mama,
Baby bye-bye you bye,
Well so long mama,
Baby bye-bye you bye,
Well now bye-bye baby,
With a tear in your eye.
11 Down Home Special (03:13)
<train whistle intro & between verses>
'All Aboard!'
Bo Spoken w/engineer responding)
Let me get in here and get me a ticket.
Say man, look here, is this the Down Home Special?
(Yes!)
Well, gimme a ticket then, man.
(What ticket, man?)
A ticket to McComb, Mississippi.
(McComb?)
Yeah, McComb.
(I thought you was goin' to Appaloosa)
Ha, ha, ha, Yeah, I'm goin' to Appaloosa, alright.
The train goin' through there but I ain't gettin' off!
(<beep-beep, toot-toot>
Sings:
I'm goin' home to see my babe, fair
I'm goin' home, see my baby
I'm goin' home, see my baby
And I don't, doggone, mean maybe
Been workin' like I never did before
Just made a lot of money
To get to my baby's door
Been through Appaloosa
Been to Tennessee
Been up in a airplane
Even out on the sea
I can't find a woman
To satis-satisfy me
Got a woman in the country
One in the city, too
I have got to find a woman
That thrill me through and through
I'm goin' home, see my baby
I'm goin' home to see my baby
I'm goin' home to see my baby
And I don't, don't, mean maybe
(McComb!)
Travel two days
And two nights long
Snow, storm, rainy weather
Get back in yo' arms
I'm goin' home to see my baby
I'm goin' home to see my baby
(All arrive for McComb!)
(McComb!)
FADES-
(All arrive for McComb).
15 Before You Accuse Me (03:06)
Before you accuse me, take a look at yourself
Before you accuse me, take a look at yourself
You say I've been spending my money on other women
You've been taking money from someone else
I called your mama 'bout three or four nights ago
I called your mama 'bout three or four nights ago
Well your mother said "Son"
"Don't call my daughter no more"
Chorus
Come back home baby, try my love one more time
Come back home baby, try my love one more time
If I don't go on and quit you
I'm gonna lose my mind
Chorus
20 Crackin' Up (02:06)
You're always hollering
Bout where I been
You're always screaming
Bout the money I spend
What's bugging you
(Yeah, yeah, you're cracking up)
I do your laundry
And your cooking too
What more, woman
Can a man like me do
What's bugging me
(Yeah, yeah, you're cracking up)
I spoiled you, woman
A long time ago
I used to cook your meals
And bring 'em to your door
I'm all fed up
(Yeah, yeah, you're bugging me)
22 I'm Sorry (02:26)
(Ellas McDaniel/Harvey Fuqua/Alan Freed) 1958
I'm sorry,
Oh, I'm sorry,
Oh baby, I'm sorry,
For the things I said to you.
You know I love you,
You know I care,
With you, my new heart I want to share,
Darling I need you,
With all your heart and soul,
To know that I want you, and I'll never let you go,
But forgive me,
Please forgive me,
Please forgive me,
For I knew not what I was sayin'.
Come on little baby,
Come on darling,
Give me another chance,
To make up on my wrong,
You know that I love you,
You know I'll put nobody else above you,
Come on, come on,
Say that you'll love me.
I'm sorry,
Oh yes I'm sorry,
Oh I'm sorry,
For the things I said t' you.
Loading comments slowly
