Bo Diddley Is a Gunslinger
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).
| Bo Diddley is a Gunslinger | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| 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 | ||||
| ||||
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 .
"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]
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
- "Reviews and Ratings of New Albums". Billboard: 24. December 19, 1960. Retrieved December 19, 2010.
- 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.
- "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.
- 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.
