Bo Diddley Is a Gunslinger
Bo Diddley is a Gunslinger | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | ||||
Studio album by Bo Diddley | ||||
Released | December 1960 (1960-12)[1] | |||
Recorded | October 1959 – February 1960[2] | |||
Genre | Rock and Roll, Doo-Wop, Country and Western | |||
Length | 30:15 | |||
Label | Checker LP-2977 | |||
Producer | Leonard Chess, Phil Chess, Bo Diddley | |||
Bo Diddley chronology | ||||
|
Bo Diddley Is a Gunslinger is the fifth studio 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 [citation needed] are "Sixteen Tons" which Bo was supposed to perform on The Ed Sullivan Show, [citation needed] the title track, and "Diddling" (an instrumental between guitar and saxophone).
Songs
"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. Warren Zevon performed the song as "Bo Diddley's a Gunslinger" on his 1981 live album Stand in the Fire.
"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, Eric Sardinas, and Van Morrison.
"Sixteen Tons"
Bo Diddley was asked to perform "Sixteen Tons" on The Ed Sullivan Show but performed "Bo Diddley" instead [citation needed].
"Cadillac"
The song "Cadillac" features Gene Barge on tenor saxophone,[4] and has been covered by The Kinks, The Downliners Sect, 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]
Other songs/styles
The song "Googlia Moo", as well as "No More Lovin'" and others, gives the album a doo-wop feel.[6]
Track listing
All tracks are written by Ellas McDaniel, except where noted
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 |
Total length: | 12:52[7] |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
6. | "Cheyenne" | 2:05 | |
7. | "Sixteen Tons" | Merle Travis, arranged by McDaniel | 2:30 |
8. | "Whoa Mule (Shine)" | 2:28 | |
9. | "No More Lovin'" | 2:25 | |
10. | "Diddling" | 2:20 | |
Total length: | 11:48[7] |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
11. | "Working Man" | 3:00 |
12. | "Do What I Say" | 2:46 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
13. | "Prisoner of Love" | Russ Columbo, Leo Robin, Clarence Gaskill | 2:31 |
14. | "Googlia Moo" | 3:02 | |
15. | "Better Watch Yourself" | 2:54 |
Personnel
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
Charts
The album spent one week on the UK Album Charts on November 9, 1963 at No. 20.[8]
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 |
References
- ^ a b "Reviews and Ratings of New Albums". Billboard. December 19, 1960. p. 24. Retrieved December 19, 2010.
- ^ a b Dahl, Bill. "Overview: Bo Diddley is a Gunslinger by Bo Diddley". Allmusic. United States: Rovi Corporation. Retrieved November 29, 2010.
- ^ Strong, Charles (2002) [Originally published in 1994]. The Great Rock Discography (Sixth ed.). United Kingdom: Canongate Books. p. 371. ISBN 1-84195-312-1.
- ^ a b c "Bo Diddley is a Gunslinger". Allmusic. Retrieved January 4, 2012.
- ^ Roman, Ed (December 30, 1928). "Bo Diddley". Celebrityrockstarguitars.com. Archived from the original on May 4, 2012. Retrieved January 4, 2012.
- ^ Eder, Bruce. "Bo Diddley Is a Gunslinger [Bonus Tracks] > Review". Allmusic. Retrieved August 23, 2010.
- ^ a b Bo Diddley Is a Gunslinger (Vinyl sleeve). Bo Diddley. United States: Checker Records. back cover. LP 2977.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ "Bo Diddley – Bo Diddley Is A Gun Slinger". Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 4, 2012.
- v
- t
- e
- "Bo Diddley"/"I'm a Man" (1955)
- "Diddley Daddy"/"She's Fine, She's Mine" (1955)
- "Pretty Thing" (1955)
- "Diddy Wah Diddy" (1956)
- "Who Do You Love?" (1956)
- "Hey! Bo Diddley" (1957)
- "Before You Accuse Me" (1958)
- "Say Man" (1959)
- "Road Runner" (1960)
- "You Can't Judge a Book by the Cover" (1962)
- Go Bo Diddley (1959)
- Have Guitar, Will Travel (1960)
- Bo Diddley in the Spotlight (1960)
- Bo Diddley Is a Gunslinger (1960)
- Bo Diddley Is a Lover (1961)
- Bo Diddley's a Twister (1962)
- Bo Diddley (1962)
- Bo Diddley & Company (1962)
- Surfin' with Bo Diddley (1963)
- Two Great Guitars (1964)
- Hey! Good Lookin' (1965)
- Super Blues (1967)
- The Super Super Blues Band (1968)
- Another Dimension (1971)
- Where It All Began (1972)
- The London Bo Diddley Sessions (1973)
- Big Bad Bo (1974)
- Breaking Through the B.S. (1989)
- This Should Not Be (1992)
- A Man Amongst Men (1996)
- Bo Diddley's Beach Party (1963)
- Hey... Bo Diddley: In Concert (1986)
- Live at the Ritz (1988)
albums
- Bo Diddley (1958)
- His Best (1997)
- Billy Boy Arnold
- Lester Davenport
- Willie Dixon
- Harvey Fuqua
- Jerome Green
- Clifton James
- Johnnie Johnson
- Peggy Jones
- Jody Williams
- Norma-Jean Wofford
Category