| "Hey! Bo Diddley" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single byBo Diddley | ||||
| from the albumBo Diddley | ||||
| B-side | "Mona" | |||
| Released | April 1957 (1957-04)[1] | |||
| Recorded | February 8, 1957, inChicago[2] | |||
| Genre | Rhythm and blues | |||
| Length | 2:17 | |||
| Label | Checker 860 | |||
| Songwriter | Ellas McDaniel | |||
| Producers | Leonard Chess,Phil Chess,Bo Diddley[2] | |||
| Bo Diddley singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
"Hey! Bo Diddley" isBo Diddley's eighth single released byChecker Records (not to be confused with the song "Bo Diddley") and was released as asingle in April 1957 byChecker Records.[1] The single's B side was "Mona" (later known as "I Need You Baby").
"Hey! Bo Diddley" was recorded inChicago on February 8, 1957 – the same day as "Mona". The song wasproduced by Diddley withLeonard andPhil Chess, and backing Diddley (vocals,guitar) were Jerome Green (maracas), and either Frank Kirkland or Clifton James (drums). Thebacking vocals on the song werePeggy Jones andthe Flamingos.[2]
Like many of Bo Diddley's songs (e.g. "Bo Diddley",Gunslinger, and "Pretty Thing") "Hey! Bo Diddley" features aBo Diddley beat.[3]
The song was recorded either July 5 or 6 atMyrtle Beach, South Carolina and released on the 1964live album,Bo Diddley's Beach Party withthe Dutchess. The song was performed live withRonnie Wood onLive at the Ritz in 1988.
"Hey! Bo Diddley" was covered byThe Moody Blues,Bill Black,John P. Hammond,Kenny Rogers,Ronnie Hawkins,Maureen Tucker onPlayin' Possum andLife in Exile After Abdication, theGrateful Dead onSteppin' Out with the Grateful Dead: England '72,The Temptations and the Mary Stokes Band. There is also a spanish version of this song performed by the Mexican Rock'n'Roll bandLos Seven Days which was titled "A Bailar Con Los Seven Days." (Dance with the Seven Days)
"Pay Bo Diddley" is a cover of the song with new lyrics, referring to the many years where Diddley received no royalties for his work.[4]
In 1962Chess Records released a 12" L.P. titledHey! Bo Diddley.[5] In November 1963Pye International Records released a 7"EP titledHey! Bo Diddley.[6] In 1996 Beat Goes On released acompilation CD calledHey! Bo Diddley/Bo Diddley with "Hey! Bo Diddley" as the first track.[7] The song was also released on severalgreatest hits albums including16 All-Time Greatest Hits andHis Best.
