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"Road Runner" is a12-bar blues song performed by American rock and roll performerBo Diddley, originally released as a single byChecker Records in January 1960,^[1] and later released on the LP recordBo Diddley in the Spotlight. The song reached #20 onBillboard magazine'sHot R&B Sides chart,^[3] and #75 on theHot 100.^[4] The song has since been recorded by many artists.

Thebeep-beep chorus of the song clearly references theRoadrunner animated character with its triumphantbeep-beep.

The session(s) for "Road Runner" took place late September 1959 atChess Studios in Chicago and backing Diddley (vocals, guitar) wereJerome Green (maracas, backing vocals),Clifton James (drums), guest pianistOtis Spann,Peggy Jones (guitar, backing vocals), and Bobby Baskerville (backing vocals).^[2]

The American garage bandthe Gants released "Road Runner" as a single in 1965 and it made #46 on theBillboard Hot 100 and is their only Billboard charter.^[5]

The early Canadian rock band the Count Victors released a cover version in 1963,^[6] Coral 62356.

ManyBritish Invasion artists have recorded "Road Runner":

• "Road Runner" (as well as "Diddley Daddy") was recorded bythe Rolling Stones during one of their first recording sessions atIBC Studios in London, England on March 11, 1963.^[7]

• In June 1963,Wayne Fontana &the Mindbenders released their version of "Road Runner" as theB-side of "Hello Josephine"; an alternate version was released on their “Road Runner” EP in June 1964.
• In March 1965, thePretty Things released the song on theireponymous debut album. Their version was issued as a single and peaked at no. 11 on theDutch Singles Chart.
• Also in March 1965,the Zombies released a version on their first albumBegin Here.
• In May 1965,the Animals released the song on their secondUK release ofAnimal Tracks.
• In June 1979, a medley of "Road Runner", "Join Together", and "My Generation Blues" was released bythe Who on the soundtrack toThe Kids Are Alright. The track was actually recorded in December 1975 at thePontiac Silverdome.The Who covered the song sporadically during the 70's but haven't performed it since 1979.
• In March 2004,Aerosmith released a version on their covers albumHonkin' On Bobo.

The song was also recorded as a part of theBackbeat soundtrack by a supergroup consisting ofDave Grohl,Dave Pirner,Thurston Moore,Mike Mills,Greg Dulli and Don Fleming.

The Finnish bandHurriganes covered the song on their 1974 albumRoadrunner, considered one of the most iconic rock'n'roll albums in Finland.^[8]

Starting in February 2012, the song was being used as the background music in aMazda car commercial for theirSkyActiv technology. A short clip of Diddley singing it was included.^[9]

The song was featured in the 2013Martin Scorsese filmThe Wolf of Wall Street.^[10]

• Bo Diddle-Road Runner atDiscogs

• 1960 singles
• 1960 songs
• 1963 singles
• Aerosmith songs
• Bo Diddley songs
• The Animals songs
• Pretty Things songs
• The Zombies songs
• Songs written by Bo Diddley
• Checker Records singles

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