Bo Diddley - Bo Diddley is a Gunslinger (1960)

01 - Gun Slinger    02 - Ride On Jesephine 03 - Doing the Crawdaddy 04 - Cadillac 05 - Somewhere 06 - Cheyenne 07 - Sixteen Tons 08 - Whoa Mule (Shine) 09 - No More Lovin 10 - Diddlin' bonus tracks 11 - Working Man 12 - Do What I Say 13 - Prisoner of Love 14 - Googlia Moo 15 - Better Watch Yourself Cecily's Review

Personal Background: I remember one of the Music Appreciation Lessons of my childhood featuring the song 'Sixteen Tons' from this album. My father explained a little about the coal mining background of the story and I was impressed with a sense of gravity and historic importance to what was, in fact, merely a cover of a novelty song by Tennessee Ernie Ford. Bo Diddley took his place in the canon of great American folk heroes like John Henry, Paul Bunyan and Johnny Appleseed. Weird thought now, of course, but since this whole album exists because of that tradition I guess it kind of fits. Anyway, years later with a context revolving around Chuck Berry I heard this CD again and it became a favorite for different reasons.

Resonance: With rampant maracas and a musical style halfway between blues and doo-wop, this is a quirky and congenial little record. It's got a great sense of humour and yet Bo Diddley also had a really powerful delivery. You've got to sit up and take notice when he sings, and that's what impressed me as "larger than life" when I was small. He sounds properly working-class on 'Working Man,' but just a big kid on 'Doing the Crawdaddy.' Even 'No More Lovin' is brought down more by his back-up singers than by his own doleful tone. Nothing is terribly deep, but this isn't opera. 4/5

Design: Most rock albums from the 50s and early 60s are kind of terrible, with a bunch of throwaway tunes hammered out to take up space around the much more exciting lead singles. Bo Diddley is a Gunslinger is a different kettle of fish. Where the songs are half-baked it feels right - Bo Diddley isn't about spit and polish. Most of the songs also tell a story of some sort - a boy and his mule, a girl and her car, a coal miner, a glorious gunfighter by the name of Bo Diddley... It all hangs together in a ramshackle way that I quite enjoy, with some hit and miss love ballads as glue. Not bad at all. 4/5

Utility: This is a great all-purpose album - hardly 30 minutes long, entertaining all the way and perfectly adaptable to any task at hand. 5/5

Best: Sixteen Tons; Ride On, Josephine.

Worst: No More Lovin.'

Conclusion: This is my most played record from the early days of rock and roll. I'm sort of sorry Gene Vincent didn't win that award but it's true. 13/15

Ticharu's Review

Personal Background: Oh my... my first exposure to this album was back when Mr. Smith gave me that box of records to check out. It was in there. I had no idea what to make of it. I think, because Mr. Smith had it, I thought it had some sort of historical importance and I should try to like it. I liked it better than Little Richard (also in the box) but it wasn't until the Cheapo raids that I tried it again and instantly understood what I had missed.

Resonance: Bo Diddley speaks to me on many levels. I think that was his gift. I mean, it's a 5/5. His music crosses that generation barrier, as long as you're not a complete naunce, you're gonna relate to it. It will stir you. 5/5

Design: The design of this particular album is the only thing. The songs are brilliant and everything and OK Bo is pictured with the potential of reaching for his guitar instead of his guns and I'm just assuming the guns are toys with pop caps. I don't like guns. Bo can win the fight with his music, knock you down with his powerful beat, yeah that's OK. I really don't like guns. Stupid things that only cause death. 3/5

Utility: Cover art aside, this album can be played, a great social album. Does it hold up to the quiet alone time? It's fun but not all that reflective in the contemplative sense. I'm going with 3/5 here. The last time I played it was in the car on the way to Wales for a mini-break. It was perfect.

Best: Ride On Josephine, Doing the Crawdaddy, Cadillac, Googlia Moo

Worst: Prisoner of Love

Conclusion: Unique and infectious. 11/15

L'art Vocal, Volume 8 - Les Chanteurs De Jazz

A French import showing a serious love for the old big bands of the 20s and 30s. This, volume 8 of an undoubtedly amazing series, showcases male singers in the African-American jazz bands of 1925 to 1939, full list below, vocal artist listed first.

1. Perry Bradford's Jazz Phools with Louis Armstrong - I Ain't Gonna Play No Second Fiddle
2. Jelly Roll Morton and His Red Hot Peppers - Doctor Jazz
3. Pinetop Smith - I'm Sober Now

4. Will Johnson with Henry "Red" Allen and His Orchestra - You Might Get Better, But You'll Never Get Well
5. Henry "Red" Allen and His Orchestra - Patrol Wagon Blues
6. Louis Armstrong and His Sebastian New Cotton Club Orchestra - Just a Gigolo
7. Don Redman and His Orchestra - I Heard
8. Harlan Lattimore with Fletcher Henderson and His Orchestra - I Wanna Count Sheep
9. Cab Calloway and his Orchestra - Reefer Man
10. Wilson Myers with Sidney Bechet and the New Orleans Feetwarmers - Shag
11. The Mills Brothers with Duke Ellington and His Orchestra - Diga Diga Doo
12. The Spirits of Rhythm - Rhythm
13. Louis Bacon with Duke Ellington and His Orchestra - Dear Old Southland
14. Taft Jordan with Chick Webb's Savoy Orchestra - On the Sunny Side of the Street
15. Stuff Smith and his Onyx Club Boys with Jonah Jones - Old Joe's Hittin' the Jug
16. Fats Waller and His Rhythm - Lost Love

17. Jimmy Rushing with Count Basie and His Orchestra - Sent For You Yesterday
18. Slim and Slam - The Flat Foot Floogee
19. Hot Lips Page and His Band - Old Man Ben
20. Trummy Young with Jimmie Lunceford and His Orchestra - Ain't She Sweet
21. Dan Grissom with Jimmie Lunceford and His Orchestra - I Love You
22. Joe Turner with Pete Johnson and His Boogie Woogie Boys - Baby, Look at You

Cecily's Review

Personal background: I probably heard this as a kid but my fondest memories come in my early 20s. I believe I first listened to this CD because I was curious about Jelly Roll Morton and this was the only CD that had anything by him on it. Since then it's become a standard big band feature in my life.

Resonance: That haunting mix of hedonism and hard luck that defines so much of the interwar popular culture imbues all of these tracks with melancholy while at the same time the music is incredibly playful and enthusiastic. These were men who could play incredibly well in bands where everyone had to pull their own weight - nothing like modern music. I might not be able to empathize with every song (the spoken-word comedy tracks like 'I Heard' and 'I'm Sober Now' are more confusing than funny) but that historical sense is incredible. 5/5

Design: I sometimes feel like popular music has (in general) been on a steady downward trajectory since its recording inception. The playing and singing here might be rough but its real and genuine. Some of the songs might be stupid but the attraction is the ensemble playing - the vocal portion is often only a third or even a quarter of the song! Sure, I don't much like 'Ain't She Sweet' but I can let it go here. I've never used the skip button on this compilation, a true feat for 22 songs. Added bonus: the number of off-beat choices on display adds some real variety. The bluesy 'Patrol Wagon Blues,' comedy numbers like 'Old Joe's Hitting the Jug' and 'Reefer Man,' a Bing Crosby wannabe singing 'I Love You,' Fats Waller warbling out 'Lost Love' while clearly not meaning a damn word of it, wild rave-ups like 'Doctor Jazz' and of course those sweet standards like 'On the Sunny Side of the Street' forming the glue of familiarity. Really nicely done. 5/5

Utility: This is a record I can play anywhere. The worst speakers in the world can't touch something this old and crackly. Great in the car, great in the home and you might be surprised how many people do enjoy the sound of the old big bands. I used to get very good responses when I played the old standards in the New England country store I worked in. There's a charm to it that puts you at ease and all ages can enjoy this stuff, yet the playing is such that it can be enjoyed solo too. 5/5

Best: Old Joe's Hittin' the Jug, I Ain't Gonna Play No Second Fiddle, Patrol Wagon Blues, Diga Diga Doo.

Worst: I'm Sober Now.

Conclusion: I really enjoy this little CD and only wish I could find more of these French imports someday. The first CD to gain my highest rating, 15/15. Keep em coming!

Ticharu's Review

Personal background; This CD came into the collection as part of the bi-weekly haul of used CDs from Cheapo's in Uptown. That was an amazing store, back when there was a market for discs, we were prime customers, dropping $200 plus every month and much of it in the spirit of experimentation. We sold a lot of titles back, that was the point really, at those prices we could experiment, try stuff you might not try if you had to be cautious. We were investing in self education. This CD had enough instantly likeable stuff to earn a spot on the shelf.

Resonance; The sound of the 20s and 30s appeals to me on a level which is just a bit eerie. They sounded world wearied and knowing, it translates. And of course the technology at the time was the future, yet as soon as it was laid down it was old. It sounded old before they even cut these tracks. What it actually sounded like live and in person? I think it would have been quite raw and full of attitude and zest for life which just makes these recordings that much more haunting. 5/5

Design; As a comp it doesn't get much better. I've been looking ever since for anything else in this series, never seen anything, or it would be in the collection too. I have over the years collected CDs by at least half the artists represented. Very useful taster. 5/5

Utility; Warrants repeated listening, what more could you want? If anything, you've got to be in the mood for the primitive sound quality. Part of the charm but sometimes a little harsh. 4/5

Best; Shag, Reefer Man, Diga Diga Doo, Old Joe's Hittin' the Jug, The Flat Foot Floogie, Lost Love

Worst; Ain't She Sweet (just never really liked this song, never heard a version I liked)

Conclusion; 14/15 Fabulous CD