Bo Diddley passed away on Monday and a more influential musician they may never have been. While many people cannot name a Bo Diddley song outright, they have without a doubt heard the distinctive beat that Diddley created and that thousands "borrowed" afterward...some in tribute, some because the beat seeps into your brain never to escape...The Diddley Beat is possibly the archetypal rhythm that all of our ancestors at one time sang and drummed to around the fire in a primordial cave.The best example of the Diddley Beat can be found in the song "Bo Diddley":
Bo Diddley -- Bo Diddley
From the Chess Box collection.
While listening to The Tony Kornheiser Show podcast this week, he did a great tribute to Diddley and played his songs throughout the show. He commented that if you had a Mount Rushmore of Rock, three of the four faces would be Little Richard, Chuck Berry, and Bo Diddley. He added, you could throw Elvis up there if you wanted. I agree. Here are some of the people directly influenced by Bo and the Diddley Beat...as well as some of Diddley's greatest hits...
Greatest Hits [all these songs are from the Chess Box collection]:
Bo Diddley -- I'm a Man
Bo Diddley -- Who Do You Love?
Bo Diddley -- Mona (I Need You Baby)
Bo Diddley -- The Story of Bo Diddley
Bo Diddley -- Road Runner
Bo Diddley -- Bo Diddley 1969
Songs with the Diddley Beat:
Elvis Presley -- (Marie's the Name) His Latest Flame
From the Elv1s 30 #1 Hits collection.
Bruce Springsteen -- She's the One [Live]
From the Hammersmith Odeon, London '75 double live album.
U2 -- Desire [Live]
From the Rattle and Hum live album.
Morrissey -- How Soon Is Now? [Live]
From the Live at Earls Court album.
George Michael -- Faith
From the album of the same name.
KT Tunstall -- Black Horse and the Cherry Tree
From the Eye to the Telescope album.
Primal Scream -- Movin' On Up
From the Screamadelica album.
David Bowie -- Panic in Detroit
From the Aladdin Sane album.
Wayne Fontana -- The Game of Love
From The Very Best of Wayne Fontana and the Mindbenders collection.
The Strangeloves -- I Want Candy
From the Nuggets collection.
The White Stripes -- Screwdriver [Live]
From the Walking With a Ghost EP.
The Stooges -- 1969
From The Stooges album.
The Rolling Stones -- Not Fade Away
From the Big Hits (High Tide and Green Grass) collection.
Buddy Holly -- Not Fade Away
From The Buddy Holly Collection.
The Who -- Magic Bus
From The Who: The Ultimate Collection.
Bo Diddley Related Songs & Covers:
The Animals -- The Story of Bo Diddley
From The Complete Animals collection.
Warren Zevon -- Bo Diddley Is a Gunslinger / Bo Diddley [Live]
From the Stand in the Fire live album.
George Thorogood -- Who Do You Love?
From the Live album.
The Zombies -- Road Runner
From the Begin Here album.
And last but not least, we should not forget this:
