Digitally remastered two-fer containing a pair of albums from the Rock 'n' Roll legend (plus two bonus tracks): Bo Diddley (1957) and Go Bo Diddley (1959). The two bonus tracks are taken from the same recording sessions, b... more »ut were not included on either album. It also contains a 16-page booklet including rare photos, vintage memorabilia, detailed liner notes and more. Rattle & Roll Records. 2010.« less
Digitally remastered two-fer containing a pair of albums from the Rock 'n' Roll legend (plus two bonus tracks): Bo Diddley (1957) and Go Bo Diddley (1959). The two bonus tracks are taken from the same recording sessions, but were not included on either album. It also contains a 16-page booklet including rare photos, vintage memorabilia, detailed liner notes and more. Rattle & Roll Records. 2010.
"This CD is Bo's first two Chess LPs (originally released in 1958 & 1959 respectively, from tracks recorded 1955-58) combined into one album. It's great! Contains many many Diddley classics that have been redone countless times over the years: "Who Do You Love?", "Diddy Wah Diddy", "I'm A Man", "Bo Diddley", "Dearest Darling" plus a lot of terrific "lesser" tunes as well. Essential listening for all Blues & Rock fans. This is where it all began... forget George Thorogood etc and listen to THE Originator! I wish Chess/MCA would release more of Bo's pre-1970 LPs on CD (he recorded a good 20 LPs between 1958-1968!!) Long-forgotten LPs like "Have Guitar Will Travel", "The Originator", "Hey Good Lookin'", "Bo Diddley's Beach Party (Live)" deserve to be heard by a new generation of potential Diddleyphiles. But for the moment, revel in this wonderful CD, a masterpiece of understatement, and one rockin' disc!!"
If You Don't Know Bo, You Don't Know Diddley
01/29/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Bo Diddley is responsible for popularizing (if not inventing) the most recognized beat in rock and roll. His "shave-and-a-haircut" signature sound-- Chink-a-Chink-a-Chink...Chink-Chink --propelled such songs as "Bo Diddley" and "Hush Your Mouth."While Diddley frequently hit the R&B charts with songs like "I'm a Man," "Diddley Daddy," "Say Man," and "Crackin' Up," only "Say Man" would crack the Top 40 on the pop charts. The "Bo Diddley Beat," however, would become a mainstay of pop music. [Listen to the Strangeloves' "I Want Candy" or the Who's "Magic Bus" to hear how widespread his influence was.]This pairing of Diddley's first two albums gives us such classic songs as "Who Do You Love" and "Pretty Thing" which should leave little doubt as to his influence and innovative style (including Jerome Green's maracas on almost every track).If this set leaves you wanting more, consider springing for the 2-disc, 45-track Chess Box. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED"
Elias (Bates) McDaniel, superstar
Annie Van Auken | Planet Earth | 03/16/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"A two-for-one deal of absolutely timeless music-- and some of the most influential of all time. Listen to "Bring It To Jerome" or "Pretty Thing" and you can hear early Rolling Stones, for example. So, not only did Bo Diddley alter the course of R & B and help establish rock & roll, he was a great influence on what would one day become British Blues.
His first two CHESS albums, BO DIDDLEY and GO BO DIDDLEY are thus Elias McDaniel's most important historically. Both are presented here in their entirety, with original playing order intact. Source material transfers are top shelf-- clean and full fidelity. Includes an eight-page foldout booklet.
TOTAL RUNNING TIME -- 63:44"
One of the Original Best
W. T. White | Nashville, Tennessee United States | 06/08/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Bo Diddley was one of only several who influenced what became known as R & R. I first heard and learned to play his music from 1954 as a youngster in Nashville, Tennessee. I still have some of the original 45 rpm recordings, slightly worn but still playable. Impossible to correctly emulate (his guitar and amps were the keys), in 1959, I attended a "street dance" held by 3 Vanderbilt frats who hired Bo Diddley and his 7 members...Jerome, the girl singer and numerous other stand me ups. At the break, I had the good fortune to meet him and he ushered me around his stage showing me the various features of his several guitars, the most famous being the "box" that he had had built for himself....Bo used a number of tape loops in his music: he would play the chorus, record it on loop then return to accompany himself as lead...the sounds were blood moving and greatly influenced many of us from the 1950's and 60's and into the 21st century. In Memphis, in 1961, I had an opportunity to sit in with him, what an eye opener!!!!! Despite the rumor of his short temper, he always took the time and effort to help young and old musicians further their guitar playing. In the 1990's, I heard Bo at The Exit Inn accompanied by one of my friends, Mac Gayden and even years later, he still had "zing" in his music. Now, Bo is gone but his music will live on for many years. He never really gained the stardom of an Eric Clapton or SRV but he had dramatic effects on both of them and more....For those of us reared in the 50's and 60's, a legend has passed...RIP BD June, 2008"
Go Bo Diddley
Robert Trichter | 08/05/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"If you are a fan of Bo Diddley , you will love this CD. The music sounds great, with no skips or scratches that you hear on the original record.
I enjoyed hearing songs that I never heard before, and it's great to
hear Bo Diddley playing the guitar on his classic songs."