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 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 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
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.
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.
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.
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 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 |
|
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 |
|
Total length:
|
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 |
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
Charts
The album spent only one week on the UK Album Charts on November 9, 1963 at #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
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