Bo Diddley (Bo Diddley song)

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"Bo Diddley"
Reissue picture sleeve
Single by Bo Diddley
B-side"I'm a Man"
ReleasedApril 1955 (1955-04)
RecordedChicago, March 2, 1955
Genre
Length2:27
LabelChecker
Songwriter(s)Ellas McDaniels a.k.a. Bo Diddley
Producer(s)Leonard Chess, Phil Chess, Bo Diddley
Bo Diddley singles chronology
"Bo Diddley"
(1955) 		"Diddley Daddy"
(1955)
Audio sample

"Bo Diddley" is a song by American

Billboard R&B chart for two weeks in 1955. The song is included on many of Diddley's compilation albums including Bo Diddley (1958) and His Best (1997). Buddy Holly
recorded a version that became his highest-charting single in the UK.

Composition and recording

The song is rhythmically similar to

Hush Little Baby
".

"Bo Diddley" was recorded in Chicago at his first formal session for

maracas, and Billy Boy Arnold on harmonica.[2][3]

Charts and recognition

Billboard R&B chart, eventually becoming the tenth best-selling single of 1955 on the chart.[4]

Music critic Richie Unterberger described the song as:

soaked with futuristic waves of tremolo guitar, set to an ageless nursery rhyme ... The result was not exactly blues, or even straight R&B, but a new kind of guitar-based rock 'n' roll, soaked in the blues and R&B, but owing allegiance to neither.[5]

In 1998, "Bo Diddley" received a

Rolling Stone ranked the song at No. 277 on its 2021 list of the "500 Greatest Songs of All Time",[10] down from No. 62 on its 2004 list.[11]

Buddy Holly version

"Bo Diddley"
Single by Buddy Holly
from the album Reminiscing
B-side"It's Not My Fault"
Released1963
Recorded1956 and 1962 (overdubs)
StudioNorman Petty Recording, Clovis, New Mexico
Genre
Length2:23
LabelCoral
Songwriter(s)Ellas McDaniel a.k.a. Bo Diddley
Producer(s)Norman Petty
Buddy Holly singles chronology
"Brown Eyed Handsome Man"
(1963) 		"Bo Diddley"
(1963) 		"Wishing"
(1963)

Buddy Holly recorded the song in 1956, but it was not released until 1963, when it was included on the Reminiscing album and later became a single.

Holly, on vocals and guitar, accompanied by

engineer Norman Petty at his recording studio in Clovis, New Mexico, sometime in 1956. In 1962, Norman Petty overdubbed the demo of "Bo Diddley", as well as other tracks, with the Fireballs.[12]

The single release was one of Holly's highest-charting singles on the

Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart.[14]

References

  1. ^ Gilliland, John (1969). "Show 3 - The Tribal Drum: The rise of rhythm and blues. [Part 1]" (audio). Pop Chronicles. University of North Texas Libraries.
  2. ^ a b c Schnieders, Bob (1986). Bo Diddley / Go Bo Diddley (Album notes). Bo Diddley. Chess/MCA. p. 1. CHD-5904.
  3. ISBN 0-87930-424-3
    .
  4. ^
    ISBN 0-89820-068-7
    .
  5. ^
    ISBN 0-87930-424-3
    .
  6. ^ "Grammy Hall of Fame: 'Bo Diddley' – Bo Diddley (Checker 1955)".
    Grammy.com
    . 1998. Retrieved August 8, 2022.
  7. ^ "500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll: 'Bo Diddley' – Bo Diddley". Rockhall.com. 1995. Archived from the original on May 2, 2007. Retrieved March 17, 2010.
  8. ^ "Complete National Recording Registry Listing". National Recording Preservation Board. Retrieved May 24, 2012.
  9. ^ "2017 Hall of Fame Inductees: 'Bo Diddley' – Bo Diddley (Checker, 1955)". Blues.org. April 21, 2017. Retrieved January 21, 2018.
  10. ^ "The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time (2021)".
    Rollingstone.com
    . September 15, 2021.
  11. ^ "The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time". Rolling Stone. No. 963. December 9, 2004. Archived from the original on June 19, 2008.
  12. ^ "Album Reviews". Billboard. February 16, 1963. p. 25. Retrieved January 26, 2011.
  13. ^ "Buddy Holly - Bo Diddley". Official Charts Company. August 24, 1963. Retrieved August 20, 2011.
  14. ^ "Bubbling Under the Hot 100". Billboard. May 11, 1963. p. 24. Retrieved January 26, 2011.
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