Customer Reviews

Tales From the Funk Dimension 1970-73: Drive By Bo

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

In the late 60's and early 70's there was a number of black artists that had been hugely successful in times past who tried to appeal to the new hippy audience. The best way to do this of course was to buy a fuzzbox and wah pedal, and then cover your album with "psychedelic" art. Many of the recordings produced by these artists attempting to grab a share of the peace and love crowd are highly unlistenable. But not so with our man Bo. This CD is unbelievable, and i mean good.

At first I was skeptical because i figured this album would be on par with the likes of Muddy Waters' "Electric Mud", but i decided to check it out anyways and am glad that i did. The cover tunes of Creedence Clearwater Revival and The Band are really quite good, certainly different from the originals, but i like them more and more each time i hear Bo do them. This CD is filled with killer funk grooves, the dozens, fuzz guitar (done well), reverb drenched vocals, and all coated with that awkward Bo Diddley presence that is so infectious.

I highly recommend this CD to fans of Diddley, to fans of funk, and to fans of quirky infectious humor in music (a la Frank Zappa, Beastie Boys, Lee Dorsey)

If you like early 70's funk, this music is for you! Excellent re-mastering too! Also, buy "The London Bo Diddley Sessions" if you can find it. These are the only studio releases from the 70's that are currently available on cd.

And then play it AGAIN. LOUD. Bo makes it all sound so easy, but he knows how to grind it out. Get "The London Sessions" on Chess, too, if you can find it. This is one guy who never got his due, but every time I ever saw him, he kicked you know what. This CD is a must have.

This is going to be short and sweet: this album stomps a lot of ass. Bo is rippin and roarin all the way through, and the funk is deep and seriously groovy. Also, the album is nearly 80 minutes long. The Black Gladiator is alive and well!