(August 2024) Episode 597 is BO DIDDLEY. Take just the first eponymous album (a collection of singles); the influence on rock music of those songs is as immeasurable as the number of times they have been covered. There’s the classic “chonk, chonk, chonk… chonk-chonk” rhythm that now bears his name. But also the tremolo, which anticipates the explosion of guitar effects the next decade. His scene was never confined to blues, rock or R&B. He never again had the success of those early records, but he retained fame and recognition. I did enjoy his turn to soul/funk in the early 1970s.
Favorite album: Bo Diddley
Favorite song: Bo Diddley*
Compared to expectations: same
Recommendation: That first album functions as a greatest hits record..
* the first trifecta (same artist/album/song) of the Opus Project
Opus Project 