I know I'm not the only fan on this board, but here's my spiel anyway: As the greatest innovator from rock 'n' roll's first generation, Mr Diddley emphasized his own endlessly flexible and visionary concept of rhythm over melody - rooted in a variety of influences but striving for, resulting in what he proudly called "Jungle Music" - the sizzle of Jerome's maracas high in the mix, reverb, tom-toms and snares minus much in the way of cymbals, chugging, crunchy, piercing, anarchic guitars - a decade before James Brown. He and his great bands - including, almost unheard of in the '50s and early 60s, women guitar players plus the cream of Chess regulars - achieved a raw power and exitement the Stones fell in love with, and that is to this day part of their aesthetic. Rock 'n' roll is unimagineable without his influence, from the Yardbirds and Pretties and all the great '60s Brit bands, not to mention everyone else from Creedence to the Dolls to the White Stripes. Yet his 75th birthday went by without notice, never mind a reissue campaign, as did the 50th anniversary of his debut. Hell even Chuck took time off from watching home videos of women defecating to be feted on the boig screen when he turned 60. Bo? Only 1 - ONE!! - of the 12 or 14 Checker studio albums released during his fat years (1955 - 66) has been remastered for release in his home country since the thin, harsh early days of digital 20 years ago (the Chess Box of '90 is sonically lacking but worth it anyway for the revelatory essay by Robert Palmer)...The more recent 20-track comp sounds great but is hardly generous at under an hour. So I heartily recommend Hip-O's "I'm A Man" set, the complete studio recordings covering 1955 - 58, including amazing alternates (2 never-released versions of 'Bo Diddley' itself, each a sonic firecracker, and each very different from the hit AND each other) and rarities. Grunge godfather, crawdad of funk, and never tamed, Bo's work on this limited edition will give me years of pleasure. BUT, when I wrote Andy McKaie, who produced this set, about plans for subsequent volumes, he told me he's already outlined the second one for '08, but its release depends on how well this one sells...I'm telling everyone I can to get this, and play it loud. I like to share my enthusiasms but I'm also selfish enough to want "I'm A Man" to be the first in a series that treats - packaging, sound, annotation, aura of Major Event - Bo's body of work with the care it deserves, and that I can listen to. And thanks ROCKMAN as always for scanning the cover in a thread the other day.

<<And thanks ROCKMAN as always for scanning the cover in a thread the other day>>
[www.iorr.org]

great post... I was just listening to Bo on The Chess Story today.

I've never been able to get my guitar to sound like him--any of his various sounds. (Besides the leads on "Who Do You Love," I guess.)

He came thru Melbourne, 15-20 years ago & he used a local pick-up band as back up. The bass player was female & they did the bass/guitar talking thing, worked real good. Talking to the guitarist after the gig & he said the rehearsal entailed smoking lotsa joints. It's the groove, & he's got it.

Though I've become a convert obviously, I had already managed to see Bo 3 different times - my 1st concert as a 10 year old in '71 opening for Creedence, then in '79 second billed on The Clash's debut american tour, and on the 1987 Gunslingers tour with Ron Wood. Bo wrote a song for the occasion, "Money For Ronnie."

where can this set be purchased?

thanks in advance

"I'm A Man" is available on Amazon (US), where I bought mine, as well as Hip-O's website. And check out the blistering instumental "Spanish Guitar" when you can...

Thank you John R from the marketing department of Hip-O.....always welcome an opinion/review from a really passionate fan whatever the topic is on this message board...I would assume this box set can be purchased on line somewhere...remember the good old days when we could just stop by Tower Records & pick up the latest recording ?...just finished reading Ronnie's book and I can see where so many of these latest threads are coming from...if you're not writing liner notes or articles for your favorite artists, you should be...peter

...and let's not forget the performance of "Bo Diddley" on "Sweet Toronto" - DVD (John Lennnon and the Plastic Ono Band)

It plays over the opening credits while John Lennon makes his way with full motorcycle escort until finally you get to see the big man in concert. Weltklasse!

It's the best thing on the whole DVD! Is the rest of his performance from that day available in any form?

This is a good set, but I recommend the two disc "Story of Bo Diddley" import. This has everything you need from the mid 50s to the 70s. You'll find "Craw-Dad", "Here 'tis" and cadillac among the rarities as well as the well known stuff.

Yeah, the old Bo Diddley Chess Vinyl LP box isn't bad, either.

All of them are great. Chuck, Muddy, Bo and the Wolf. GREAT stuff.

JR

i got the charley records box set,,9 cd ,,

john r Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Though I've become a convert obviously, I had
> already managed to see Bo 3 different times - my
> 1st concert as a 10 year old in '71 opening for
> Creedence, then in '79 second billed on The
> Clash's debut american tour, and on the 1987
> Gunslingers tour with Ron Wood. Bo wrote a song
> for the occasion, "Money For Ronnie."

Got any pics from that tour?

Big T

No pix by me. Ron seemed coked up (how you spell 'skied'?), but it was a lot of fun. RW did a Johnny Thunders circa 1983 sort of set, sloppy but endearing, his voice very raspy, running out during Bo's 3rd or 4th song, all sweaty, jaw clenched in one of those impossible grins, and started playing guitar in the middle of the song (and these two were TOURING)...His own set included 'Outlaws', an always enjoyable 'Plynth' slide feature with 'Prodigal Son' & 'Memo From Turner' in the middle, and 'Ooh La La' his vocal husk of his boyish lead on the original. Bo was very good but his band lacked the intuitive brilliance you get on the Chess classics, tho some were with him several years.
My original Japanese vinyl copy of 1988's "Live At The Ritz" (JVC) tho not a great record, was a beautiful piece, thick heavily laminated cardboard and heavy virgin vinyl. It came with an insert with lots of nice color pictures from the tour. It's in storage tho. Ron was way better on the '92-93 tour in terms of having a really good band and varied set, and making sure it was just tight enough to be an evening of terrific Faces/Stones/Ron solo rock n roll.
By the way I have the UK "Story Of Bo D" too, and tho it's randomly programmed and lacking annotation it's quite good. My point was about Bo's catalog being in such a sad state in the US. This new "I'm A Man" set has very good remastering, every song/complete version he recorded from '55 to '58, and careful annotation that corrects mistakes from the '89 box and '97 comp.

Nice words johnr....So good ta see ya keepin'
the Bo-flame ablazin'...Bo the true daddy of R&B Beat music...

Hey Hey johnr...Free shave anna haircut for you you....





ROCKMAN

the 1963 live album including I'M ALRIGHT

vancouver Wrote:
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> the 1963 live album including I'M ALRIGHT

yes thats a great one, Bo Diddleys Beach Party live album, thats the name of the one with Im Alright, and what an unbelievable version that is! Chuck Berry is often mentioned as one of the main Stones influences, but this Bo live album makes perfectly clear that Bo is another MAIN influence!!! Beach Party in fact is kind of a blueprint for Stones early live sound!!!



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2007-11-03 10:46 by alimente.

Just a thought - considering Bo Diddley's recents illnesses, does he in any way benefit from these reissues?

We all know that he has a long history of being ripped off and he would probably rather see some money than the "honor" of being reissued for the umptenth time for somebody else's benefit ;-)

Like I said - just a thought (and I have no way of knowing if this reissue does line his pockets)

It took me sometime find "i'm Alight", especially considering it seems its actual title is I Know (I'm Alright).

I think Bo is underrated as a singer... I love his voice on cuts like "Diddley Daddy" and "Hey Bo Diddley," not to mention "Mona."



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2007-11-03 16:58 by cc.

Bo would benefit from any official reissues, but how many copies did the expanded "Gunslinger" sell, a couple thousand max? When I worked at Tower they ordered 2 or 3, then when they sold out after maybe two months, they were not re-ordered, and Boston isn't a small town exactly. Probably the single disc "Definitive" does better, and Bo writes 90% of gis own material. I have read a little about Charly's 'grey area' statue a few years back, and it sounded like any royaltues

great to see this thread and the love for the great Elias McDaniel!

I had the privilege of meeting Bo twice, the first when he opened for the Clash in 1978 (I hung backstage w Bo, Strummer and Mick Jones--one of the highlights of me life), and the second, when he sat down beside me at a pub off Hollywood Boulevard (was filming a vampire movie!) and regaled me with tales from the old days.

I've got a load of British imports of his discs but am looking forward to picking up the new Hip-O set.

Get well, Bo! We're rootin for you!