Bo Diddley in the Spotlight

Personnel: Bo Diddley (vocals, guitar), Otis Spann (piano); Willie Dixon (bass); Clifton James (drums), Jerome Green (maracas).
Recorded between September 1959 & April 1960. Originally released on the Checker label (2976). Includes liner notes by Marjorie Williams and Bob Schnieders.
All songs written by Ellis McDaniel.
As with Bo Diddley's first five albums (except Have Guitar, Will Travel), the most important cuts (but not all the good ones) off of this album have been included on The Chess Box from MCA, which doesn't mean that this record isn't a good separate issue, just somewhat redundant if you have the box. There are surprises from these 1960-vintage recordings, including the languid, Caribbean-sounding "Limber"; the soft, romantic "Love Me"; the doo wop-style "Deed and Deed I Do"; the loping "Walkin' and Talkin'"; upbeat, gospel-tinged rockers such as "Let Me In" interspersed with the hot and raunchy "Road Runner," "The Story of Bo Diddley," "Craw-Dad" (a genuine diamond in the rough), and "Signifying Blues"; and solid instrumentals like "Scuttle Bug" (really "Live My Life" with the vocals removed and Otis Spann overdubbed on piano) that make this record more than worthwhile. ~ Bruce Eder