Diddley Daddy
| "Diddley Daddy" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| File:Diddley daddy.jpg | ||||
| Single by Bo Diddley | ||||
| B-side | "She's Fine, She's Mine" | |||
| Released | June 1955[1] | |||
| Recorded | May 15, 1955[2] | |||
| Studio | Universal Recording Corp. (Chicago) | |||
| Genre | Rhythm and blues | |||
| Length | 2:28 | |||
| Label | Checker 819[1] | |||
| Songwriters | Ellas McDaniel, Harvey Fuqua | |||
| Producers | Leonard Chess, Phil Chess, Bo Diddley[2] | |||
| Bo Diddley singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
"Diddley Daddy" is a song by Bo Diddley. The song was issued as a single on Checker Records in June 1955.[1] His second single, it followed on the heels of the success of the eponymous "Bo Diddley". The song spent four weeks on the Billboard R&B chart in the summer of 1955,[3] peaking at No. 11.[4]
Writing and recording
[edit | edit source]The song was recorded on May 15, 1955, in Chicago. Originally called "Diddy Diddy Dum Dum",[5] it started out as a Billy Boy Arnold composition, which Leonard Chess, owner of Chess Records (Checkers was a subsidiary label of Chess), had heard Arnold play and wanted Diddley to record. However, Arnold had just signed a contract with Vee-Jay Records, and had recorded the song the day before at Universal Recording Corporation. When Chess wanted Arnold to sing the song, the latter realized he had a contract, responding, "I can't do it...I just recorded it for Vee-Jay." Chess responded, "Goddam! Ain't this a bitch!" A solution, however, was found on the spot: Diddley and Harvey Fuqua, who happened to be around, rewrote the lyrics.[6]
As it happened, the harmonica player Little Walter was in the studio, and he asked Billy Boy Arnold for his harp; Walter plays the long solo after the first verse (Arnold plays harmonica on the B-side, "She's Fine, She's Mine"). Also decided at "the spur of the moment" was to have Chicago doo-wop group The Moonglows sing background vocals.[6]
Critical praise
[edit | edit source]One of Bo Diddley's signature songs, "Diddley Daddy" evidenced Diddley's maturation process as an artist.[7] It was described as a "terrific nugget"[8] and an "infectious" "upbeat rocker".[9] The Chicago Sun-Times said it combined "outrageous braggadocio with a beat that resounds like an endless sexual shudder."[10]
Marking Diddley's popularity in England, the Rolling Stones, who early in their career often played Diddley songs live,[11] covered the song (along with Diddley's "Road Runner") on their first demo, recorded on March 11, 1963.[12][13] Brian Jones would later borrow Diddley's guitar figure from the song for the band's 1965 single "19th Nervous Breakdown".
Bo Diddley, Diddley Daddy
[edit | edit source]The title of the song has come to stand for Bo Diddley himself, as evidenced from articles about Diddley by Val Wilmer[14] and Stuart Colman.[15] After Diddley's death, in 2008, the phrase directly referred to Diddley in various obituaries;[16] the usage reflected Diddley's habit of self-reference[17] as well as the way others talked about him, such as Tom Petty: "Elvis is King. But Diddley is Daddy."[18]
Reissues
[edit | edit source]A Bo Diddley compilation CD issued in 1988 is also called Diddley Daddy.[19] The song is featured on many greatest hits albums by Bo Diddley including 16 All-Time Greatest Hits and His Best.
Personnel
[edit | edit source]- Bo Diddley – lead vocals, lead guitar
- Little Walter – harmonica[6]
- Jerome Green – maracas
- Clifton James – drums
- The Moonglows – backing vocals[6]
Notable covers
[edit | edit source]- Rolling Stones, first demo[12][13]
- The Liverbirds, a British all-female beat group, recorded the song for a 1965 single. Their version reached No. 5 on the German Singles Chart.
- Dutch Mason, Canadian blues musician. The song was a staple of his band's live set.
- The Super Super Blues Band (1968), Howlin Wolf, Muddy Waters and Bo Diddley trio recorded it together as part of album "The Super Super Blues Band" for Chess Records.
- Chris Isaak, on Heart Shaped World (1989)[9][20]
- The Pretty Things & Yardbirds Blues Band, on Chicago Blues Jam 1991 and Wine, Women & Whiskey (1994)[21]
References
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- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Stuart Colman, "Bo Diddley: The Diddley Daddy," in Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
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