| "Before You Accuse Me" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single byBo Diddley | ||||
| A-side | "Say! Boss Man" | |||
| Released | February 1958 (1958-02) | |||
| Recorded | August 15, 1957 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 2:40 | |||
| Label | Checker | |||
| Songwriter | Ellas McDaniela.k.a. Bo Diddley | |||
| Producer | Leonard Chess | |||
| Bo Diddley singles chronology | ||||
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"Before You Accuse Me" (also known as "Before You Accuse Me (Take a Look at Yourself)") is a song written and recorded by American musicianBo Diddley in 1957. The song was originally released as the B-side to Diddley's "Say Bossman" and included on hiseponymous debut album in 1958.[2] Backing Diddley on vocal and guitar on the original recording wereJody Williams on guitar,Willie Dixon on bass, and Frank Kirkland on drums.[3] The song has also been recorded by several other artists, such asCreedence Clearwater Revival andEric Clapton.
Creedence Clearwater Revival recorded "Before You Accuse Me" for their fifth studio album,Cosmo's Factory (1970).[4] Lead singerJohn Fogerty contributed both guitar and piano parts for the song. Biographer Thomas M. Kitts commented on the song's lyrics:
The singer tries to deflect criticism off himself and back to his lover ... It is quite possible that Fogerty may have selected "Before You Accuse Me" to send a message to the band. Clearly. tension was mounting and expressions of dissatisfaction with Fogerty's leadership were escalating. "Before you accuse me," he might be suggesting, "look at yourself" and consider your prowess and your contributions to the band, musical and managerial.[4]
Eric Clapton recorded "Before You Accuse Me" several times during his career. An electric version is included on his 1989 albumJourneyman.[5] It was used as the B-side for his best-selling single "Pretending" and reached number nine on theBillboardHot Mainstream Rock Tracks chart in 1990.[5]
In 1992, an acoustic version was included on hisUnplugged album.[5] Another acoustic version outtake, recorded during the sessions forBackless (1978), is included as the opening track on the Clapton compilationBlues (1999).[5] He also performed "Before You Accuse Me" in concert, such as on June 30, 1990, at theKnebworth Festival.[5]
