Bo Diddley – The Chess Years 1955 - 1974 [1993] (12 x CDs)

BO DIDDLEY

Bo Diddley – The Chess Years 1955 - 1974 [1993] (12 x CDs)

Charly Records' The Chess Years has assembled most, though not quite all, of the music that the Originator recorded for Chess Records, which, unfortunately, means a lot of his lesser work as well, 282 recordings, made between 1955 and 1974, on 12 CDs; looking at it is like staring across the Grand Canyon, except you want to jump into this if you have any sense. If the collection seems like overkill, that's because it is, and there's some poor material here from the late '60s and early '70s, when Bo was searching for a new commercial sound, although some of the latter isn't really bad -- his covers of Al Kooper's "I Love You More Than You'll Ever Know" or the Band's "The Shape I'm In" from Another Dimension are soulful and moving, but just aren't what one buys a Bo Diddley album to hear (along with the girlie chorus on "Bad Moon Rising"). There are more than enough jewels -- and jewels that are likely never to appear otherwise on compact disc -- to attract serious rock & roll listeners, if you can swing the price, which is around $120. The highlights (which would be far more costly to find on vinyl today) include "Bo Meets the Monster," his catchy (and very funny) answer to "Purple People Eater"; "Here 'Tis," which became famous when covered by the Yardbirds, but only really comes to life in the hands of the originator; the comical "Bucket," "Lazy Woman," and "Run Diddley Daddy"; the rousing, slashing "Puttentang"; the side-splittingly funny biographical song "All Together," a sort of sequel to "The Story of Bo Diddley"; the complete Bo Diddley's Beach Party album, and a handful of demos from the late 1960 sessions that yielded tracks for the Bo Diddley Is a Twister album. Additionally, the collection gives the listener a chance to see how Bo explored different variations on his sound, adapting it to doo wop, folk, and even calypso, all of which worked better than one would have expected, plus soul and funk, which didn't. The sessionography is very detailed and pretty cool, and the notes are among the better biographical accounts of Bo's life and career -- oh, and there are lots of pictures of Bo and the Duchess re-created throughout the set. There are problems with the mastering, however -- momentary gaps exist in one or two songs, and the sound quality in certain places, such as the live Beach Party material, leaves something to be desired. But at its best, and that is often (at least through the mid-'60s), this set presents one of the primal forces in rock & roll. (AMG review by Bruce Eder)

Very Rare 1993 UK 12 CD Box Set - "The contents of this box represents the largest collection of Bo Diddley recordings ever compiled. The set has been deleted and has never been reissued.

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Pt.1     Pt.2     Pt.3     Pt.4 

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Track lists

CD01

01 Bo Diddley - I'm A Man 2:58

02 Bo Diddley - Little Girl 2:33

03 Bo Diddley - Bo Diddley 2:46

04 Bo Diddley - You Don't Love Me (You Don't Care) 2:54

05 Bo Diddley - Diddley Daddy 2:27

06 Bo Diddley - She's Fine She's Mine 2:43

07 Bo Diddley - Pretty Thing 2:50

08 Bo Diddley - Heart-O-Matic Love 2:47

09 Bo Diddley - Bring It To Jerome 2:29

10 Bo Diddley - Spanish Guitar 4:04

11 Bo Diddley - Dancing Girl 2:22

12 Bo Diddley - Diddy Wah Diddy 2:32

13 Bo Diddley - I'm Looking For A Woman 2:33

14 Bo Diddley - I'm Bad 3:16

15 Bo Diddley - Who Do You Love 2:29

16 Bo Diddley - Cops And Robbers 3:25

17 Bo Diddley - Down Home Special 3:12

18 Bo Diddley - Hey Bo Diddley 2:12

19 Bo Diddley - Mona 2:21

20 Bo Diddley - Say Boss Man 2:32

21 Bo Diddley - Before You Accuse Me 3:05

22 Bo Diddley - Say Man 3:12

23 Bo Diddley - Hush Your Mouth 2:50

24 Bo Diddley - Bo's Guitar 2:32

25 Bo Diddley - Clock Strikes Twelve 3:00

26 Bo Diddley - Dearest Darling 2:50

27 Bo Diddley - Willie And Lillie 2:15

CD02

01 Bo Diddley - Bo Meets The Monster 3:06

02 Bo Diddley - Crackin' Up 2:06

03 Bo Diddley - Don't Let It Go 2:45

04 Bo Diddley - I'm Sorry 2:26

05 Bo Diddley - Oh Yeah 3:06

06 Bo Diddley - Blues Blues 2:55

07 Bo Diddley - Great Grandfather 2:27

08 Bo Diddley - Mama Mia 3:01

09 Bo Diddley - Bucket 2:51

10 Bo Diddley - What Do You Know About Love 3:22

11 Bo Diddley - Lazy Woman 2:54

12 Bo Diddley - Come On Baby 1:55

13 Bo Diddley - Nuresy Rhyme (Puttentang) 2:47

14 Bo Diddley - Mumblin' Guitar 2:49

15 Bo Diddley - I Love You So 2:23

16 Bo Diddley - Story Of Bo Diddley 2:52

17 Bo Diddley - She's Alright 2:38

18 Bo Diddley - Limber 2:28

19 Bo Diddley - Say Man Back Again 2:57

20 Bo Diddley - Run Diddley Daddy 2:39

21 Bo Diddley - Unknown Title Issued As Diddley Daddy 1:54

22 Bo Diddley - Road Runner 2:49

23 Bo Diddley - Spend My Life With You 2:37

24 Bo Diddley - Love You Baby 2:23

25 Bo Diddley - Diddling 2:12

26 Bo Diddley - Cadillac 2:46

27 Bo Diddley - Limbo 2:37

28 Bo Diddley - Look At My Baby 2:30

29 Bo Diddley - You Know I Love You 2:54

CD03

01 Bo Diddley - Let Me In 1:54

02 Bo Diddley - Signifying Blues 2:37

03 Bo Diddley - Live My Life 2:38

04 Bo Diddley - Scuttle Bug 2:23

05 Bo Diddley - Love Me 2:22

06 Bo Diddley - Deed And Deed I Do 2:22

07 Bo Diddley - Walkin' And Talkin' 2:41

08 Bo Diddley - Travelin' West 1:47

09 Bo Diddley - Crawdad 2:29

10 Bo Diddley - Ride On Josephine 3:03

11 Bo Diddley - No More Lovin' 2:24

12 Bo Diddley - Do What I Say 2:48

13 Bo Diddley - Doing The Crawdad 3:03

14 Bo Diddley - Whoa Mule (Shine) 2:29

15 Bo Diddley - Cheyenne 2:01

16 Bo Diddley - Sixteen Tons 2:28

17 Bo Diddley - Working Man 2:32

18 Bo Diddley - Bo Diddley's A Gunsliger 1:53

19 Bo Diddley - Somewhere 2:29

20 Bo Diddley - Sick And Tired 2:53

21 Bo Diddley - Huckleberry Bush 2:33

22 Bo Diddley - All Together 2:26

23 Bo Diddley - Mess Around 2:28

24 Bo Diddley - Shank 1:53

25 Bo Diddley - The Twister 2:04

26 Bo Diddley - Bo Diddley Is A Lover 2:31

27 Bo Diddley - Love Is A Secret 3:02

28 Bo Diddley - Bo Diddley Is Loose 3:00

CD04

01 Bo Diddley - Congo 2:36

02 Bo Diddley - Aztec 2:27

03 Bo Diddley - Call Me (Bo's Blues) 2:34

04 Bo Diddley - Bo's Vacation 2:47

05 Bo Diddley - Hong Kong Mississippi 2:58

06 Bo Diddley - Quick Draw 1:53

07 Bo Diddley - You're Looking Good 2:22

08 Bo Diddley - Back Home 2:28

09 Bo Diddley - Not Guilty 2:10

10 Bo Diddley - Moon Baby 2:24

11 Bo Diddley - Unititled Instrumental 2:21

12 Bo Diddley - My Babe 1:45

13 Bo Diddley - Detour 1:54

14 Bo Diddley - Stay Sharp 3:44

15 Bo Diddley - Piils (Love's Labours Lost) 2:50

16 Bo Diddley - Bo's Bounce 1:37

17 Bo Diddley - I Want My Baby 2:24

18 Bo Diddley - Two Flies 2:39

19 Bo Diddley - Background To A Music 3:42

20 Bo Diddley - Please Mr. Engineer 5:03

21 Bo Diddley - Doin' The Jaguar 2:15

22 Bo Diddley - I'm Know I'm Alright 2:21

23 Bo Diddley - For The Love Of Mike 2:01

24 Bo Diddley - Mr. Khruschev 2:56

25 Bo Diddley - You All Green 3:04

26 Bo Diddley - Bo's Twist 2:30

27 Bo Diddley - I Can Tell 4:25

CD05

01 Bo Diddley - You Can't Judge A Book By The Cover 3:15

02 Bo Diddley - Sad Sack 2:37

03 Bo Diddley - Rock 'n' Roll 2:44

04 Bo Diddley - Mama Don't Allow No Twistin' 2:11

05 Bo Diddley - Give Me A Break (Man) 2:05

06 Bo Diddley - Babes In The Woods 2:11

07 Bo Diddley - Who May Your Lover Be 2:54

08 Bo Diddley - Here 'tis 2:25

09 Bo Diddley - Diddling 2:12

10 Bo Diddley - Bo's A Lumberjack 2:40

11 Bo Diddley - Extra Read All About Ben 2:14

12 Bo Diddley - Help Out 2:43

13 Bo Diddley - Little Girl 2:24

14 Bo Diddley - Gimme Gimme 1:59

15 Bo Diddley - Same Old Thing 2:42

16 Bo Diddley - Diana 2:35

17 Bo Diddley - Met You On A Saturday 2:35

18 Bo Diddley - Put The Shoes On Willie 2:32

19 Bo Diddley - Pretty Girl 3:04

20 Bo Diddley - Old Man River 2:24

21 Bo Diddley - Surfer's Love Call 2:53

22 Bo Diddley - Cookie-Headed Diddley 2:38

23 Bo Diddley - Greatest Lover In The World 2:43

24 Bo Diddley - Surf Sink Or Swim 3:24

25 Bo Diddley - Low Tide 2:06

26 Bo Diddley - Africa Speaks 2:32

27 Bo Diddley - Memphis 2:29

28 Bo Diddley - Gunslinger 2:46

CD06

01 Bo Diddley - Hey Bo Diddley (Live) 3:08

02 Bo Diddley - Old Smokey (Live) 3:23

03 Bo Diddley - Bo Diddley's Dog 4:01

04 Bo Diddley - I'm Alright (Live) 4:18

05 Bo Diddley - Mr. Custer (Live) 3:17

06 Bo Diddley - Bo's Waltz (Live) 3:24

07 Bo Diddley - What's Buggin' You (Crackin' Up) (Live) 3:27

08 Bo Diddley - Road Runner (Live) 3:51

09 Bo Diddley - Monkey Diddle (Live) 2:29

10 Bo Diddley - Hey Good Lookin' 2:52

11 Bo Diddley - Mama Keep Your Big Mouth Shut 2:56

12 Bo Diddley - Jo-Ann 2:26

13 Bo Diddley - When The Saints Go Marching In 2:54

14 Bo Diddley - Mush Mouth Millie 2:13

15 Bo Diddley - London Stomp 2:26

16 Bo Diddley - Rooster Stew 2:22

17 Bo Diddley - Mummy Walk 2:18

18 Bo Diddley - La La La 2:46

19 Bo Diddley - Yeah Yeah Yeah 2:30

20 Bo Diddley - Rain Man 3:22

21 Bo Diddley - I Wonder Why (People Don't Like Me) 2:39

22 Bo Diddley - Brother Bear 2:25

23 Bo Diddley - Bo Diddley's Hoot' Nanny 2:25

24 Bo Diddley - Let's Walk A While 2:43

25 Bo Diddley - You Ain't Bad 2:51

26 Bo Diddley - Somebody Beat Me 2:56

27 Bo Diddley - Greasy Spoon 2:34

CD07

01 Bo Diddley - Let Me Pass 2:33

02 Bo Diddley - Tonight Is Ours 2:57

03 Bo Diddley - Soul Food 2:40

04 Bo Diddley - Let The Kids Dance 2:21

05 Bo Diddley - Hey Red Riding Hood 3:01

06 Bo Diddley - He's So Mad 2:53

07 Bo Diddley - Stop My Monkey 2:45

08 Bo Diddley - Root Hoot 3:16

09 Bo Diddley - Stinkey 2:35

10 Bo Diddley - Corn Bread 2:53

11 Bo Diddley - Fireball 2:49

12 Bo Diddley - 500% More Man 2:54

13 Bo Diddley - We're Gonna Get Married 2:31

14 Bo Diddley - Easy 2:53

15 Bo Diddley - Do The Frong 3:01

16 Bo Diddley - Yakky Doodle 2:49

17 Bo Diddley - Ooh Baby 2:50

18 Bo Diddley - Back To School 2:28

19 Bo Diddley - My Babe (With Super Blues) 3:54

20 Bo Diddley - I'm A Man (With Super Blues) 5:40

21 Bo Diddley - Who Do You Love (With Super Blues) 4:13

22 Bo Diddley - Juke (With Super Blues) 3:32

23 Bo Diddley - Bo Diidley (With Super Blues) 4:29

CD08

01 Bo Diddley - Long Distance Call (With Super Blues) 5:06

02 Bo Diddley - I Just Want To Make Love To You (With Super Blues) 6:08

03 Bo Diddley - You Don't Love Me (You Don't Care) (With Super Blues) 4:11

04 Bo Diddley - You Can't Judge A Book By The Cover (With Super Blues) 3:28

05 Bo Diddley - Sad Hours (With Super Blues) 5:08

06 Bo Diddley - Wrecking My Love Life (With Super Blues) 2:55

07 Bo Diddley - Boo-Ga-Loo Before You Go  (With Super Super Blues) 2:57

08 Bo Diddley - Little Red Rooster (With Super Super Blues) 7:27

09 Bo Diddley - Diddley Daddy (With Super Super Blues) 5:12

10 Bo Diddley - Ooh Baby/Wrecking My Love Life (With Super Super Blues) 6:34

11 Bo Diddley - Spoonful (With Super Super Blues) 4:13

12 Bo Diddley - Goin' Down Slow (With Super Super Blues) 4:50

13 Bo Diddley - Sweet Little Angel (With Super Super Blues) 6:39

14 Bo Diddley - Long Distance Call (With Super Super Blues) 9:15

CD09

01 Bo Diddley - I'm High Again 2:39

02 Bo Diddley - Another Sugar Daddy 2:50

03 Bo Diddley - Bo Diddley 1969 2:36

04 Bo Diddley - Soul Train 2:48

05 Bo Diddley - Elephant Man 4:26

06 Bo Diddley - I've Got A Feeling 2:41

07 Bo Diddley - If The Bible's Right 3:05

08 Bo Diddley - Power House 2:46

09 Bo Diddley - Funky Fly 3:08

10 Bo Diddley - Shut Up Woman 3:46

11 Bo Diddley - Black Woman 2:47

12 Bo Diddley - You Bo Diddley 3:16

13 Bo Diddley - I Don't Like You 3:08

14 Bo Diddley - Hot Buttered Blues 3:54

15 Bo Diddley - Bo's Beat (With Chuck Berry) 14:08

16 Bo Diddley - Chuck's Beat (With Chuck Berry) 10:38

CD10

01 Bo Diddley - I Love You More Than You'll Ever Know 7:30

02 Bo Diddley - Shape I'm In 3:20

03 Bo Diddley - Pollution 4:41

04 Bo Diddley - Bad Moon Rising 2:39

05 Bo Diddley - Down On The Corner 3:15

06 Bo Diddley - I Said Shut Up Woman 3:26

07 Bo Diddley - Bad Side Of The Moon 2:52

08 Bo Diddley - Lodi 3:09

09 Bo Diddley - Go For Broke 3:04

10 Bo Diddley - Look At Grandma 3:29

11 Bo Diddley - Woman 3:06

12 Bo Diddley - Hey Jerome 3:05

13 Bo Diddley - Take It All Off 3:17

14 Bo Diddley - I've Had It Hard 3:19

15 Bo Diddley - Bad Trip 5:51

16 Bo Diddley - Good Thing 2:35

17 Bo Diddley - Infatuation 3:36

18 Bo Diddley - Bo Diddley-Itis 5:39

19 Bo Diddley - Diddley Daddy (1969 Version) 2:27

20 Bo Diddley - I Hear You Knockin' 3:53

21 Bo Diddley - You Can't Judge A Book By The Cover (1969 Version) 3:02

CD11

01 Bo Diddley - Make A Hit Record 4:58

02 Bo Diddley - Do The Robot 5:40

03 Bo Diddley - Get Out Of My Life 5:06

04 Bo Diddley - Don't Want No Lyin' Woman 3:57

05 Bo Diddley - Bo Diddley (1969 Version) 2:54

06 Bo Diddley - Bo-Jam 3:32

07 Bo Diddley - Husband-In-Law 3:31

08 Bo Diddley - Sneakers On A Rooster 2:39

09 Bo Diddley - Going Down 2:49

10 Bo Diddley - I've Been Working 3:48

11 Bo Diddley - Hit Or Miss 3:38

12 Bo Diddley - He's Got All The Whiskey 4:39

13 Bo Diddley - Bite You 4:15

14 Bo Diddley - Evelee 6:21

15 Bo Diddley - Stop The Pusher 5:06

16 Bo Diddley - You've Got A Lot Of Nerve 3:21

CD12

01 Bo Diddley - I'm A Man (Alt) 3:07

02 Bo Diddley - Little Girl (Alt) 2:36

03 Bo Diddley - I'm Sweet On You Baby 2:34

04 Bo Diddley - You Got To Love Me Baby 2:26

05 Bo Diddley - Roller Coaster 2:53

06 Bo Diddley - I Got To Go 2:42

07 Bo Diddley - Billy's Blues (Part 1) 2:23

08 Bo Diddley - Billy's Blues (Part 2) 2:19

09 Bo Diddley - Bring It To Jerome (Alt) 2:42

10 Bo Diddley - Hush Your Mouth (Alt) 3:07

11 Bo Diddley - Dearest Darling (Alt) 3:17

12 Bo Diddley - Bucket 3:25

13 Bo Diddley - She's Alright (Unedited) 4:22

14 Bo Diddley - She's Alright (Alt) 4:04

15 Bo Diddley - Say Man Back Again (Alt) 3:03

16 Bo Diddley - Signifying Blues (Extended Version) 4:28

17 Bo Diddley - Pretty Baby (Alt) 1:38

18 Bo Diddley - Can You Shimmy? 2:43

19 Bo Diddley - I'm Hungry 2:55

20 Bo Diddley - Oh Yes 3:21

21 Bo Diddley - Watusi Bounce 2:56

22 Bo Diddley - Soup Maker 2:41

23 Bo Diddley - No More Lovin' 3:03

24 Bo Diddley - Bo's A Lumberjack (Alt) 3:31

25 Bo Diddley - I'm High Again 2:38

26 Bo Diddley - Hey Go Go 4:22

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