Revolution Bo Diddley & Show # 473

 

Often called “The Originator”, Bo Diddley has influenced everyone from Buddy Holly, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, to The Velvet Underground, Jimi Hendrix, Elvis Presley and The Yardbirds. It is suffice to say that his influence is everywhere. Bo Diddley had a signature beat which was based on African Clave rhythm, which is now viewed as a cornerstone of Rock and Roll music everywhere. Bo Diddley had a classically trained background in music, but became interested in the guitar at an early age. He would mix styles such as R&B, Blues, and African and church music blending the styles into his own unique sound. He once said that he played the guitar like he was playing the drums. He had this to say of his first single in 1955:

“I made 'Bo Diddley' in '55, they started playing it, and everybody freaked out. Caucasian kids threw Beethoven into the garbage can.”

And that couldn’t be anymore true, once he put out his first release in 1955, it made people rethink music, which as a result went on to influence some of the most influential artists of the 20th century in music. Bo Diddley was also known for his own specific type of guitar that was once called a “cigar box shaped” guitar by Dick Clark. This square shaped guitar was nick named “The Twang Machine” by Bo Diddley and was originally made by “The Originator” himself in 1958 so that he could jump around on stage more when playing live. In addition to these things, Bo Diddley was also recognized for his unique abilities as lyricist. Bo Diddley went on to release 24 full length studio albums, not counting singles and compilation albums. His influence is everywhere and his music is still relevant and influential today.

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For the next few week’s I will be filling in for the time slot prior to mine from 9 AM – 10:30 AM on CJAM 99.1 FM. Each of these shows will focus on Roots Rock oriented genres. This week the first hour and a half of music was devoted to Bo Diddley’s music and influence. He has a wealth of material and the show focused on his own material, covers done by other artists and some obscure Bo Diddley songs. The second half of the show was my usual mix of music you would find on Revolution Rock, playing several artists including two rare recordings from the MC5's Purity Accuracy boxed set.

Part One:
Revolution Diddley Play List:

1. Bo Diddley - Bo Diddley (single - 1955)
2. Bo Diddley - Bring It To Jerome (Bo Diddley - 1958)
3. Bo Diddley - The Great Grandfather (Go Bo Diddley - 1959)
4. The Juvenilles - Bo Diddley (History of Northwest Rock Vol. 4 Battle of the Bands - 2009)
5. The Ugly Ducklings - Hey Mamma Keep Your Big Mouth Shut (Somewhere Outside - 1967)
6. The Gruesomes - I Can Tell (Gruesomania - 1987)
7. Captain Beefheart - Diddy Wah Diddy (single - 1965)
8. The Clash - You Can't Judge A Book By Looking At The Cover (Golden Bullets Bootleg - 2001)
9. Bo Diddley - Surf, Sink or Swim (Surfin' With Bo Diddley - 1963)
10. Bo Diddley - Aztec (Bo Diddley Is A Lover - 1961)
11. Super Blues (Bo Diddley, Little Walter, Muddy Waters) - You Don't Love Me (You Don't Care) (Super Blues - 1967)
12. Bo Diddley - Rock & Roll (Rare and Well Done - 1991)
13. Bo Diddley - Bo Meets The Monster (single - 1958)
14. Light Bulb Alley - Who Do You Love? (The Sound of Things - 2011)
15. King Khan & The Shrines - Crackin' Up (The Supreme Genius of - 2008)
16. Ronnie Hawkins - Who Do You Love (The Roulette Years - 1995)
17. The Pack A.D. - Blackout (Funeral Mixtape - 2008)
18. Jesus & Mary Chain - Bo Diddley is Jesus (Barbed Wire Kisses - 1988)
19. Bo Diddley - Pills (single - 1961)
20. New York Dolls - Pills (New York Dolls - 1973)
21. The Rolling Stones – Please Go Home (Between The Buttons - 1967)
22. Bo Diddley - Gunslinger (Bo Diddley Is A Gunslinger - 1960)

Download part one (Revolution Diddley) here.

Part Two:
Revolution Rock Play List:

1. The Seeds – Try To Understand
2. The Epics – Humpty Dumpty
3. Actual Water – Ivory & Oak
4. Gold Country – Carried Away And The Wind
5. Chad Vangaalen – Molten Light
6. J Mascis – Not Enough
7. Robin Tyner & The Hotrods – Till the Night Is Gone
8. Ultravox! – ROckWrok
9. The Terminal Sunglasses – Antenna Dilemma
10. The Catch – Competition
11. Chang-A-Lang – Vigilante Man
12. The Forgotten Rebels – Me Generation
13. X – Sugarlight
14. Joy Division – Disorder
15. Vic Goddard & The Subway Sect – Johnny Thunders
16. Fergus & Geronimo – Spies
17. The Howlies – Walk On Home
18. Raised By Weeds – Trip To The Ocean
19. Deja Voodoo – Bo Diddley's Cat
19. Deja Voodoo - My Girlfriend
20. The Fall – Mr. Pharmacist
21. The Hives – Find Yourself Another Girl
22. MC5 – One Of The Guys
23. MC5 – Sister Ann (W Sonic On Guide Vocals)

Download part two (Revolution Rock) here.

Subscribe to Revolution Rock as a Podcast.

Hey, Bo Diddley!... The Bo Diddley Story and Show # 201

Bo Diddley was born as Ellas Otha Bates in McComb, Mississippi in 1928. He grew up with his mother's cousin and was adopted. He would adapt his name changing it to Ellas McDaniel. As a kid he took violin lessons and when moving to Chicago and hearing John Lee Hooker, he decided to take up the guitar. He would begin his guitar career playing on street corners and in 1951, he got a residency in Chicago at the 708 Club. His music was influenced by the likes of Muddy Waters, John Lee Hooker, and Louis Jordan. Besides being a musician Diddley also worked as a carpenter and mechanic. He Changed his name to Bo Diddley. There are three places where the name is said to have originated from. One being a southern slang "He ain't bo diddley" which means nothing at all, the other is to have been from the nick name of a boxer, and the third is from a one stringed instrument known as a diddly bow.

In 1954, Bo Diddley and a set of musicians Clifton James (drums), Roosevelt Jack (bass), Billy Boy Arnold (Harmonica) recorded demos of the songs "Bo Diddley" and "I'm A Man". They would re-record the songs with a backing section at Chess Studios and in 1955 the single "Bo Diddley/I'm A Man" was released. It went to number one on the R&B charts. Bo was known for his rhythm style which was known as the Bo Diddley Beat. The style is said to have originated from street musicians and Rhumba/Clave beat. Regardless of it's origins it has been influential on rock music since Diddley started playing it. Along with fellow Chess artist Chuck Berry, Bo and Chuck could be seen as not only the founding fathers of rock and roll, but also innovators.

The Bo Diddley beat can be heard in the songs "Hey Bo Diddley" and "Who Do You Love?". The style somewhat resembling an oncoming train sound, rarely changes notes. Bo would use a variety of styles through out his career along with his Bo Diddley beat. Bo was also known for his homemade square Gretsch guitar which he called, "The Twang Machine". In November of 1955, Bo Diddley appeared on the Ed Sullivan Show. He was asked to perform a cover song, but instead did his song "Bo Diddley". This made Ed Sullivan extremely mad who banned him from further appearances; He also said that Bo Diddley wouldn't last six months, he was wrong about that one.

He did have some minor hits with songs such as "Say Man" in 1959, and "You Can't Judge a Book By Looking at the cover" in 1962. Despite having a number one with "Bo Diddley" he did not do well commercially. He recorded at total of eleven full length albums for Checker (a sub-label of Chess). Bo also had interesting album titles such as Have Guitar, Will Travel (1959), Bo Diddley's a Gunslinger (1961), and Bo Diddley's Twister (1962). As the 60's came Bo's influence came through in the new form of rock. Bands such as The Rolling Stones, The Pretty Things, The Yardbirds, and The Animals. "Bo Diddley" was actually covered by Buddy Holly and when the Rolling Stones covered Buddy Holly's "Not Fade Away", they gave it a Bo Diddley rhythm.

In 1963, he toured in the UK with The Everly Brothers, Little Richard and Rolling Stones. In 1979, he opened for The Clash on their tour. He would continue playing live and recording off and on through out his career. In 1987, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, in 1983 he appeared in the film Trading Places, and starred in a series of Nike commercials with Bo Jackson. In the 70's he also spent some time in New Mexico where he worked as a Deputy Sheriff, he then moved to Archer, Florida.

On June 2nd, 2008 Bo Diddley passed away due to heart failure, he was 79. He left a large lasting effect on the world of rock music. His music has been covered by and influenced by many musicians. He was influential on the early punk scene by bands such as New York Dolls and The Clash, who covered a few Diddley songs during the London Calling Sessions. He was also influential to the likes of Elvis Presley, Rolling Stones, David Bowie, The Clash, The Pretenders, The Supremes, to The White Stripes.

The Play LIst:

1. Bo Diddley - Hey, Bo Diddley!
2. Bo Diddley - I Can Tell
3. Bo Diddley - You Can't Judge a Book By Looking at the Cover
4. Buffalo Springfield - Mr. Soul
5. Gruesomes - Get Outta My Hair
6. Faud and the Feztones - Cool Bird
7. The Diodes - Terminal Rock
8. Extroverts - Living in Poverty
9. Hot Nasites - Get Away From Me
10. Futureheads - Radio Heart
11. The Smiths - London
12. The Police - Truth Hits Everybody
13. Wire - Outdoor Miner
14. Black Lips - O Katrina!
15. Raconteurs - Top Yourself
16. Awesome Color - Already Down
17. Luger Boa - 1000 Hooks
18. Valedictions - Hey Lady
19. Mudhoney - I'm Now
20. Supergrass - Caught By the Fuzz
21. Sloan - Emergency 911
22. Sloan - I'm Not a Kid Anymore
23. Dirty Pretty Things - Tired of England
24. Ramones - Gimme Gimme Shock Treatment
25. Richard Hell & The Voidoids - Lowest Common Denominator
26. Elvis Costello & The Attractions - Senior Service
27. The Clash - Koka Kola

Bo Videos:

Hey, Bo Diddley & Bo Diddley
You Can't Judge A Book By It's Cover
Road Runner/Mona (Live 1972)
I"m A Man (Live)
Road Runner/Bring It To Jerome/Mona (Live Whembly Stadium 1972)