Bo Diddley Is a Gunslinger

Bo Diddley Is a Gunslinger is the fifth studio album by American rock and roll pioneer Bo Diddley released in December 1960 by Checker Records.^[1] The album title comes from the album's first track called "Gunslinger" and the cover art has Bo Diddley dressed in Western-style clothing. The songs for Bo Diddley is a Gunslinger were recorded from October 1959 to February 1960.^[2] Several tracks of interest ^{[citation needed]} are "Sixteen Tons" which Bo was supposed to perform on The Ed Sullivan Show, ^{[citation needed]} the title track, and "Diddling" (an instrumental between guitar and saxophone).

Bo Diddley is a Gunslinger
Studio album by Bo Diddley
Released	December 1960 (1960-12)[1]
Recorded	October 1959 – February 1960[2]
Length	30:15
Label	Checker LP-2977
Producer	Leonard Chess, Phil Chess, Bo Diddley
Bo Diddley chronology
Bo Diddley in the Spotlight (1960) Bo Diddley is a Gunslinger (1960) Bo Diddley Is a Lover (1961)

Songs

"Gunslinger"

This song was originally released as the A-side of Checker single 965 in November 1960.^[3] The single's B-side "Signifying Blues" was never released on the album. The song features a Bo Diddley beat. Warren Zevon performed the song as "Bo Diddley's a Gunslinger" on his 1981 live album Stand in the Fire.

"Ride on Josephine"

"Ride on Josephine" was a rock and roll song with backing vocals and piano work by either Otis Spann, Lafayette Leake, or Billy Stewart.^[4] The song has been covered by George Thorogood & The Destroyers^{[broken anchor]}, Sleepy LaBeef, Eric Sardinas, and Van Morrison.

"Sixteen Tons"

Bo Diddley was asked to perform "Sixteen Tons" on The Ed Sullivan Show but performed "Bo Diddley" instead ^{[citation needed]}.

"Cadillac"

The song "Cadillac" features Gene Barge on tenor saxophone,^[4] and has been covered by The Kinks, The Downliners Sect, New Colony Six, and sung as a duet by Van Morrison and Linda Gail Lewis. Cadillac was also the name of the guitar that is featured on the album's front cover.^[5]

Other songs/styles

The song "Googlia Moo", as well as "No More Lovin'" and others, gives the album a doo-wop feel.^[6]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Ellas McDaniel, except where noted.

Side one

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Gunslinger"	1:50
2.	"Ride on Josephine"	3:00
3.	"Doing the Craw-Daddy"	2:58
4.	"Cadillac"	2:39
5.	"Somewhere"	2:25
Total length:		12:52[7]

Side two

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
6.	"Cheyenne"		2:05
7.	"Sixteen Tons"	Merle Travis, arranged by McDaniel	2:30
8.	"Whoa Mule (Shine)"		2:28
9.	"No More Lovin'"		2:25
10.	"Diddling"		2:20
Total length:			11:48[7]

1988 bonus tracks

No.	Title	Length
11.	"Working Man"	3:00
12.	"Do What I Say"	2:46

2004 reissue bonus tracks

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
13.	"Prisoner of Love"	Russ Columbo, Leo Robin, Clarence Gaskill	2:31
14.	"Googlia Moo"		3:02
15.	"Better Watch Yourself"		2:54

Personnel

Per allmusic^[4]

• Bo Diddley – lead vocals, lead guitar
• Jerome Green – maracas, backing vocals
• Willie Dixon – bass
• Bobby Baskerville – bass
• Jesse James Johnson – electric bass
• Billy Downing – drums
• Clifton James – drums
• Lafayette Leake – piano
• Otis Spann – piano
• Billy Stewart – piano
• Peggy Jones – rhythm guitar, backing vocals
• Gene Barge – tenor saxophone
• Johnny Carter – backing vocals
• Harvey Fuqua – backing vocals
• Lily "Bee Bee" Jamieson – backing vocals
• Gloria Morgan – backing vocals
• Nate Nelson – backing vocals
• Leonard Chess – producer
• Andy McKaie – Reissue producer
• Vartan – Art direction

Charts

The album spent one week on the UK Album Charts on November 9, 1963 at No. 20.^[8]

Release history

Region	Date	Label	Format	Catalog
United States	December 1960	Checker Records	mono LP	LP 2297
United Kingdom	November 1963	Pye Jazz Records	mono LP	NJL 33
United States	August 13, 1966	Checker Records	4-track cartridge	21-369A
United States	1988	Chess Records	CD	CHD-9285
United States	April 13, 2004	Geffen Records	CD	000176102
Worldwide reissue	2008	Universal International	LP	1529771