Bo Diddley album cover
Bo Diddley

Bo Diddley

1955 - 1958
Chess

Bo Diddley’s debut album was more of a singles compilation, recorded between March 1955 and January 1958, so the backing bands vary from track to track: Otis Spann or Lafayette Leake on piano, Willie Dixon on bass, Frank Kirkland or Clifton James on drums, and multiple harmonica players, including Little Walter, Lester Davenport, and Billy Boy Arnold. These were all Chicago bluesmen, and this is amped-up, primal blues mostly set to Diddley’s trademark rhythm, a 3-2 Afro-Latin beat like a caveman clave. His yawping vocals and massively reverbed guitar made him sound larger than life, and tracks like “Bo Diddley,” “I’m a Man,” “Who Do You Love?” and “Before You Accuse Me” carried more threat than the work of Chuck Berry. Even his love songs like “Pretty Thing” and “Dearest Darling” are weirdly intimidating.

Phil Freeman

Who also suggested

If you select your preferred streamer here, we will save your preference and link to that platform if possible. This can always be changed in the Settings menu.

Apple Music

If you’d like to prioritize Bandcamp if available, tap the Bandcamp logo.

Since some albums are only available on one service, you’ll still see logos for other services if the album is only available on that service.

Next