Bo Diddley

INCLUDES FREE MP3 ALBUM DOWNLOAD Plus 2 BONUS TRACKS

this quintessential LP edition includes one of Diddley’s finest albums: Bo Diddley Is a Lover, originally released in 1961 by Chess’ subsidiary Checker Records (an alternative Chess label for radio play, as radio stations would only play a limited number of songs per week from each label), and long unavailable on vinyl. Although Bo Diddley Is a Lover did not contain any smash hits, it is nevertheless an excellent LP full of vintage material from the man with the funny-shaped guitars. It shows Bo expanding his trademark sound beyond blues and R&B and further towards dance-oriented rock & roll.

In addition to the original masterpiece, this WaxTime collector’s edition includes 2 bonus tracks, consisting of hard-to-find numbers from the same period: the instrumental “Shank” and the jaunty “Say You Will” (a good party song with a driving rhythm, benefiting from the underlying piano-drone of blues legend Otis Spann).

PERSONNEL:

BO DIDDLEY, vocals and lead guitar, plus:

Peggy Jones (g), Jesse James Johnson (b),
Billy “Dino” Downing or Edell “Red” Robertson (d), Jerome Green (voc),
Probably The Moonglows (backing vocals on “You’re Looking Good”),
The Impalas: Sandra Bears, Margie Clark, Carrie Mingo, Grace Ruffin (backing vocals on “Bo Diddley Is a Lover” & “Love Is a Secret”).

Recorded at Bo Diddley’s home studio, Washington, D.C., February 1961.

(*) BONUS TRACKS:

Bo Diddley (lead guitar, only vocals on “Say You Will”),
Peggy Jones (guitar, background vocals on “Say You Will”),
Bobby Baskerville (bass), Otis Spann (piano), Clifton James (drums),
Jerome Green (maracas on “Shank”). Unidentified tambourine on “Say You Will”.

Recorded at Bo Diddley’s home studio, Washington, D.C., January 1960.

SIDE 1

01 NOT GUILTY
02 HONG KONG, MISSISSIPPI
03 YOU’RE LOOKING GOOD
04 BO’S VACATION
05 CONGO
06 (CALL ME) BO’S BLUES
07 SHANK (*)

SIDE 2

01 BO DIDDLEY IS A LOVER
02 AZTEC
03 BACK HOME
04 BO DIDDLEY IS LOOSE
05 LOVE IS A SECRET
06 QUICK DRAW
07 SAY YOU WILL (*)

(*) BONUS TRACKS