Well, I've been at a loss about what to post this week. Unfortunately the news today is of a far greater loss: Bo Diddley is dead. So responsibility calls and all flags in Fluville are flying at half-mast.
Rest In Peace.
Download:
"Pretty Thing" mp3
by Bo Diddley, 1955.
available on The Chess 50th Anniversary Collection
"Mona" mp3
by Bo Diddley, 1957.
available on The Chess 50th Anniversary Collection
"Hey! Bo Diddley"
by Bo Diddley, 1957.
available on The Chess 50th Anniversary Collection
also:
"Bo's Bounce" mp3
by Bo Diddley, 1962.
ripped from vinyl
available on Bo's Bounce
"Crackin' Up" mp3
by Bo Diddley, 1959.
available on The Chess 50th Anniversary Collection
"Road Runner" mp3
by Bo Diddley, 1959.
available on The Chess 50th Anniversary Collection
"You Know I Love You" mp3
by Bo Diddley, 1960.
with The Flamingos
available on The Chess Box
"Pills" mp3
by Bo Diddley, 1961.
available on The Chess 50th Anniversary Collection
"Ride On Josephine" mp3
by Bo Diddley, 1960.
available on The Chess Box
"You Can't Judge A Book By It's Cover" mp3
by Bo Diddley, 1962.
available on The Chess 50th Anniversary Collection
"Aztec" mp3
by Bo Diddley, 1961.
available on The Chess Box
"Untitled Instrumental" mp3
by Bo Diddley, 1961.
available on The Chess Box
**************************************************
also, via email a few personal reminiscences of Bo Diddley
courtesy of The Hound
1) I was bike messengering in the early 80's and had some time to kill so I stopped into Show World @ 8th & 42nd to take in the quarter movies and get out of the cold. Who should be checking out at the counter but Bo Diddley in a long leather overcoat and cowboy hat. He's got a big bag of video's and I say: "Bo Diddley!, whatcha buyin' Bo"? He pulls the top video out of the bag and shows me Maximum Perversion Vol. 23. Pix of midgets, women w/snakes, etc. all over it. He's got a huge grin on his face.
2) Backstage at Madison Square Garden for some oldies show and there's Bo at the catering table. He gets a huge piece of apple pie and sits down, but before he eats it he butters both top and bottom w/about a quarter inch of butter, then picks it up and swallows it in two bites.
3) In 1985 we went down to Camden, N.J. to see Bo w/the Ben Vaughn Combo backing him up (they were perfect, Bo hated them) so I brought my copy of Go Bo Diddley to get signed. While I was getting it signed Ben asked Bo about the verse in "Who Do You Love" about the ice wagon and what it meant. Bo replied that Leonard Chess made him change the lyric from the original verse he brought in, which was:
"the night was black
the sky was blue
around the corner
a shit wagon flew
a bump was hit
a scream was heard
someone got hit with a flying turd"
Most won't even understand his passing as being a loss.
ReplyDeleteAs a drummer, I know the "Bo Diddly" groove well. The band I play in has a song we do about a fictitious meeting with Bo Diddly on the way to the gig. The beat is "that" beat for the entire 10 minute song/story.
It's a good post.
Thanks,
dave
Turns out Bo's not on Aztec, it's the Duchess overdubbing both parts,recorded in Bo's basement when he lived outside of D.C. Still a great one though.-- the Hound
ReplyDeleteAlways loved the early Chess Bo Diddley sides, though in recent years his funky early seventies sides are the ones that have turned me on. hope he meets up with The Duchess and Jerome in the afterlife to continue making beautiful music.
ReplyDeletethanks. love the blog and love some bo diddley!
ReplyDeleteyou don't happen to have an mp3 of the song "here 'tis" from the "bo's a twister" album do you? one of my favorites but i don't have a copy at the moment.
thanks again, and keep on blogging in the free world!
Favourite Bo for me is: Mumlin' Guitar. Unmistakable as to who it is
ReplyDeleteI've bought countless cd compilations of Bo stuff in the search for the seemingly elusive but utterly ace song. ended up w/ a shoddy recording of it that i enforce on everyone every time i DJ but the one on youtube probably sounds better: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IEfz9VfFOKQ
years ago someone put "pills" on a long since lost mixtape. when i heard of his passing i really wanted to hear that tune again. thanks for posting.
ReplyDeleteIf you dig Bo, I strongly reccomend his collaboration albums he did with Muddy Waters, both released on Chess Records in the early 70's. "Super, Super Blues Band" and "Super Blues" Both are beyond excellent. They're funny, jamming & give a lot of insight into some surreal Masters of Black Music.
ReplyDeleteOk, the revelation about the ice wagon is absolutely prime information. I am so grateful for that!
ReplyDeleteRIP Bo "Gunslinger" Diddley
Here 'Tis:
ReplyDeletehttp://rapidshare.com/files/120248179/03_-_Here__Tis.mp3.html
thanks!!!
ReplyDeleteGreat stories, great music, great man! Love this blog (been a longtime visitor, first time comment-leaver). Keep up the great work!
ReplyDeleteDefinitely a sad day in Boogie Woogie history. Keep rockin man! - http://BoogieWoogie.com
ReplyDeleteI have most of these songs on vinyl, thanks for ripping them!
ReplyDeleteyea what can you say bo diddley was entertaining and original and hilarious and had some cool guitars ... too bad people have to grow old ...
long live bo diddley
-b
Wow, Its beautiful...
ReplyDelete