Bo Diddley Is a Gunslinger
| Bo Diddley Is a Gunslinger | ||||
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| Studio album by Bo Diddley | ||||
| Released | December 1960[1] | |||
| Recorded | October 1959 – February 1960[2] | |||
| Genre | Rock and roll, rhythm and blues, doo-wop, country and western | |||
| Length | 30:15 | |||
| Label | Checker LP-2977 | |||
| Producer | Leonard Chess, Phil Chess, Bo Diddley | |||
| Bo Diddley chronology | ||||
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Bo Diddley Is a Gunslinger is the fifth album by American rock and roll pioneer Bo Diddley released in December 1960 by Checker Records.[1] The album title comes from the album's first track called "Gunslinger" and the cover art has Bo Diddley dressed in Western-style clothing. The songs for Bo Diddley Is a Gunslinger were recorded from October 1959 to February 1960.[2] Several tracks of interest are "Sixteen Tons" which Bo was supposed to perform on The Ed Sullivan Show, the title track, and "Diddling" (an instrumental between guitar and saxophone).
Contents |
[edit] Songs
[edit] Gunslinger
This song was originally released as the a-side of Checker single 965 in November 1960.[3] The singles b-side "Signifying Blues" was never released on the album. The song features a Bo Diddley beat.
[edit] Ride on Josephine
"Ride on Josephine" was a rock and roll song with backing vocals and piano work by either Otis Spann, Lafayette Leake, or Billy Stewart.[4] The song has been covered by George Thorogood & The Destroyers, Sleepy LaBeef, and Eric Sardinas.
[edit] Sixteen Tons
Bo Diddley was asked to perform "Sixteen Tons" on The Ed Sullivan Show but performed "Bo Diddley" instead. Being as "Sixteen Tons" is a country and western song it gives the album a different feel.
[edit] Cadillac
The song "Cadillac" features Gene Barge on tenor saxophone,[4] and has been covered by The Kinks, The Downliners Sect, the New Colony Six, and sung as a duet by Van Morrison and Linda Gail Lewis. Cadillac was also the name of the guitar that is featured on the album's front cover.[5]
[edit] Other Songs/Styles
The song "Googlia Moo", as well as "No More Lovin'" and others, gives the album a doo-wop feel.[6]
[edit] Track listing
All songs written and composed by Ellas McDaniel, except where noted.
| Side one | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | Title | Length | |||||||
| 1. | "Gunslinger" | 1:50 | |||||||
| 2. | "Ride on Josephine" | 3:00 | |||||||
| 3. | "Doing the Craw-Daddy" | 2:58 | |||||||
| 4. | "Cadillac" | 2:39 | |||||||
| 5. | "Somewhere" | 2:25 | |||||||
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Total length:
|
12:52[7] | ||||||||
| Side two | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | Title | Length | |||||||
| 6. | "Cheyenne" | 2:05 | |||||||
| 7. | "Sixteen Tons" (Merle Travis, arr. McDaniel) | 2:30 | |||||||
| 8. | "Whoa Mule (Shine)" | 2:28 | |||||||
| 9. | "No More Lovin'" | 2:25 | |||||||
| 10. | "Diddling" | 2:20 | |||||||
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Total length:
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11:48[7] | ||||||||
| 1988 Bonus Tracks | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | Title | Length | |||||||
| 11. | "Working Man" | 3:00 | |||||||
| 12. | "Do What I Say" | 2:46 | |||||||
| 2004 Reissue Bonus Tracks | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | Title | Length | |||||||
| 13. | "Prisoner of Love" (Russ Columbo, Leo Robin, Clarence Gaskill) | 2:31 | |||||||
| 14. | "Googlia Moo" | 3:02 | |||||||
| 15. | "Better Watch Yourself" | 2:54 | |||||||
[edit] Personnel[4]
Per allmusic[4]
- 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
- Leonard Chess – producer
- Andy McKaie – Reissue producer
- Vartan – Art direction
[edit] Charts
The album spent only one week on the UK Album Charts on November 9, 1963 at #20.[8]
[edit] Release History
| Region | Date | Label | Format | Catalog |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | December 1960 | Checker Records | mono LP | LP 2297 |
| United Kingdom | November 1963 | Pye Jazz Records | mono LP | NJL 33 |
| United States | August 13, 1966 | Checker Records | 4-track cartridge | 21-369A |
| United States | 1988 | Chess Records | CD | CHD-9285 |
| United States | April 13, 2004 | Geffen Records | CD | 000176102 |
| Worldwide reissue | 2008 | Universal International | LP | 1529771 |
[edit] References
- ^ a b "Reviews and Ratings of New Albums". Billboard: 24. December 19, 1960. http://books.google.com/books?id=lx0EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA24&dq=%22Bo+Diddley%22+2977&hl=en&ei=UFsOTer0EIntnQfMiez6DQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CCQQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=%22Bo%20Diddley%22%202977&f=false. Retrieved December 19, 2010.
- ^ a b Dahl, Bill. "Overview: Bo Diddley Is a Gunslinger by Bo Diddley". Allmusic. United States: Rovi Corporation. http://www.allmusic.com/album/bo-diddley-is-a-gunslinger-r5733. Retrieved November 29, 2010.
- ^ Strong, Charles (2002) [Originally published in 1994]. The Great Rock Discography (Sixth ed.). United Kingdom: Canongate Books. p. 371. ISBN 1841953121.
- ^ a b c d "Bo Diddley is a Gunslinger". Allmusic. http://www.allmusic.com/album/r690136. Retrieved January 4, 2012.
- ^ Ed Roman (1928-12-30). "Bo Diddley". Celebrityrockstarguitars.com. http://www.celebrityrockstarguitars.com/rock/diddley_bo.htm. Retrieved 2012-01-04.
- ^ Eder, Bruce. "Bo Diddley Is a Gunslinger [Bonus Tracks > Review"]. Allmusic. http://www.allmusic.com/album/r690136. Retrieved 23 August 2010.
- ^ a b Album notes for Bo Diddley Is a Gunslinger by Bo Diddley, back cover [Vinyl sleeve]. United States: Checker Records (LP 2977).
- ^ "Bo Diddley - Bo Diddley Is A Gun Slinger". Chart Stats. http://www.chartstats.com/albuminfo.php?id=1843. Retrieved 2012-01-04.
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