Tuesday, June 3, 2008

Collection Development Suggestion: Bo Diddley

Link to a June 2 New York Times discography of the songs that Bo Diddley influenced, "Bo Diddley: The Beat That Will Go On".

Quote: He was a 45-r.p.m. singles artist, and “The Chess Box,” a two-disc, 45-track collection released in 1990, demonstrates his genius pretty well, from his canonical boasts and schoolyard chants (“Bo Diddley,” “I’m a Man,” “Hey Bo Diddley,” “Who Do You Love”) to his more mysterious masterpieces (“Mona,” “Dearest Darling” and the slow instrumental violin-blues shuffle “The Clock Strikes Twelve”). His early black-and-white television appearances, which you can see on YouTube, are essential too.

Unfortunately, "The Chess Box" appears to be out of print (although it is available as an MP3 download). According to WorldCat, only 5 Wisconsin libraries own the CD set.

Best in-print alternative is "His Best : The Chess 50th Anniversary Collection". (6 Wisconsin locations in WorldCat.)

Link to a June 2 New York Times appraisal, "Bo Diddley, Who Gave Rock His Beat, Dies at 79 ".

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