Go Bo Diddley


Go Bo Diddley is the second album by rock and roll pioneer Bo Diddley, released in July 1959. The album was Bo's first studio album and his first LP for Checker Records. In 2003 Rolling Stone magazine ranked it number 214 on its The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time, and 216 in a 2012 revised list.

Background

The B-side to the single "Hush Your Mouth", "Dearest Darling" was released June 1958 and also released on Bo Diddley's self-titled debut album. Bo's next single "Willie and Lillie" was released in November 1958 and then released on this album. Bo's next single "I'm Sorry"/"Oh Yea" was released in February 1959 and reached number 17 on Billboard magazine's Hot R&B Sides chart. The next single "Crackin' Up" b/w "The Great Grandfather" was released in May. Go Bo Diddley was released two months later in July. In November 1959, Bo released his most popular single "Say Man"/"The Clock Strikes Twelve" which became a crossover hit reaching number 20 on the Billboard Hot 100. The rest of the songs on the album were album-only tracks, including "You Don't Love Me " which Little Walter retitled as "Roller Coaster" and released as a single, and is featured on the Bo Diddley compilation album His Best even though it is an album track not a single.

Recording

The original recordings in mono format were recorded with an Ampex-350 tape recorder. The songs "You Don't Love Me " and "Little Girl" were from Bo's first session for Chess Records on March 2, 1955.

Track listing

All songs were written by Ellas McDaniel, with "I'm Sorry" made in collaboration with Alan Freed and Harvey Fuqua.
;Side one
  1. "Crackin' Up" – 2:41
  2. "I'm Sorry" – 2:30
  3. "Bo's Guitar" – 2:38
  4. "Willie and Lillie" – 2:34
  5. "You Don't Love Me " – 2:36
  6. "Say Man" – 2:30
Side two
  1. "The Great Grandfather" – 2:40
  2. "Oh Yea" – 2:30
  3. "Don't Let It Go" – 2:36
  4. "Little Girl" – 2:35
  5. "Dearest Darling" – 2:32
  6. "The Clock Strikes Twelve" – 2:35

    Personnel

Per liner notes