One of Bo Diddley's least-known albums, mostly recorded in April of 1964 and released a year later, at the point when none of his records were selling in America. With an edgy, raunchy sound and modern record techniques (it's in stereo), Diddley and band come up with a solid '60s version of his original sound. The title track is a real jewel, featuring Jerome Green on the maracas and Lafayette Leake on the piano. "Mama Keep Your Big Mouth Shut" isn't a bad soul-styled number, with Diddley abandoning his standard beat in favor of a smoother, more Motown-like sound. He tries for a similar sound on "I Wonder Why (People Don't Like Me)" and "Brother Bear." In addition to the title track (which is not the Hank Williams tune), the Bo Diddley beat gets a workout on "La La La,""Rain Man," and "Bo Diddley's Hoot'nanny." Bo gets to have some real fun on "London Stomp," his commentary on the sudden fashionability of British rock & roll, parodying the accents and attitudes of most of the bands that he encountered on his visit to England in October of 1963. Other tracks sound like they'd have worked well as part of extended jams of the kind that Diddley did on-stage--"Yeah Yeah Yeah," in particular, could've come from the middle of one of his 15-minute shuffle-and-chant workouts, and would've been great in such a setting, although here, as a free-standing 2:25 track it's a little weak, but that can be forgiven in view of the strength of the rest of the material. [Bruce Eder]
Same ole "Diddling" but hey! It's a Bo Diddley Beat alright. Diddle Dig!!!
