Bo Diddley - The Originator (Checker, 1966)
Despite its mid-1960s release date, The Originator features tracks that, for the most part, seem to have been recorded earlier in the decade as well as during the 1950s. Unfortunately, the liner notes don't offer any information on the recording sessions other than stating that this LP is a collection of "rusty dusty's (sic), moldy oldies, golden gassers and blasts from the bast which have been collecting dust in the musical museum and golden archives of Checker Records for the past decade and more." Despite the lack of data, this album, as does anything that compiles Bo Diddley's material from the Chess vaults, proves itself to be a fantastic listening experience.
Although this is unmistakably a Bo Diddley record, on some tracks you can hear him incorporating elements of early Motown and even exotica into his mix. "Pills" and "Puttentang (Nursery Rhyme)," from 1961 and 1959 respectively, are probably the best known cuts from this LP, having made appearances on other compilations. "Jo Ann" is a solid rocker featuring call-and-response vocals that list the names of all the different dances this girl can do. "Two Flies" and "Background to a Music" are two humorous spoken-word pieces cut from the same cloth as "Say Man" and "Cops and Robbers" which also feature some exquisite guitar work like only Bo could do. "Yakky Doodle" is yet another rhythmic variation on the shave-and-a-haircut-two-bits theme that still somehow manages to sound fresh in the hands of "the Originator." "What Do You Know About Love" is a ballad that could have used the vocal accompaniment of The Moonglows or a similar group. "Do the Frog," based on its title and the presence of a garagey-sounding keyboard, sounds like an early 1960s piece exhorting the listener to engage in a gimmicky, amphibian-inspired dance. "Back to School," a positive-message rocker, urges its listeners to stay in the classroom and to make their parents proud. "You Ain't Bad" is a distinctly Diddleyian put-down song, while "Love You Baby" comes off lyrically as a number Chuck Berry could have written. "Limbo," with its wicked rhythm guitar and honking sax, sounds like a musical cousin of "Cadillac" from the Gunslinger LP. For lack of a better description, "Africa Speaks" is Bo Diddley meets Martin Denny, an ahead-of-its-time piece complete with tribal chanting and jungle rhythms. Long before Sly Stone thanked Africa for talking to him, Bo was already giving the continent a voice. And finally, "We're Gonna Get Married" is an absolute killer with that one-of-a-kind guitar playing and funky background singing of the Bo-ettes. In short, if you like Bo Diddley, this is essential.
Get Bo Diddley Is a Lover here and Bo Diddley here.
1. Pills
2. Jo Ann
3. Two Flies
4. Yakky Doodle
5. What Do You Know About Love
6. Do the Frog
7. Back to School
8. You Ain't Bad
9. Love You Baby
10. Limbo
11. Background to a Music
12. Puttentang (Nursery Rhyme)
13. Africa Speaks
14. We're Gonna Get Married
http://record-fiend.blogspot.com/2009/02/bo-diddley-originator-checker-1966.html
