Have Guitar Will Travel (Bo Diddley album)

Have Guitar Will Travel is the third studio album by rock and roll pioneer and blues icon Bo Diddley. It was released on the Checker Records label in 1960.

Have Guitar Will Travel
Studio album by
Bo Diddley
ReleasedJanuary 1960 (1960-01)[1]
RecordedJuly 14, 1955 – September 1959 in Chicago, Illinois[2][3][4]
GenreRock and roll, rhythm and blues
Length32:03[5]
LabelChecker
ProducerLeonard Chess, Phil Chess, Bo Diddley
Bo Diddley chronology
Go Bo Diddley
(1959)		 Have Guitar Will Travel
(1960)		 Bo Diddley in the Spotlight
(1960)
Singles from Have Guitar Will Travel
  1. "Cops & Robbers"
    Released: November 1956[6]
  2. "Say Man, Back Again"
    Released: November 1959[7]

The front cover of Diddley's album displays a white calling card similar to that which Richard Boone's 'Have Gun-Will Travel' character Paladin carried and gave out on every episode of the series. The location was Livingston Street, Brooklyn, New York City[8]

History

The song "Cops and Robbers" was released as an A-side of Checker single #850 in November 1956;[6] the B-side "Down Home Special" did not appear on this album. The song "Mona (I Need You Baby)" was released as the B-side to "Hey! Bo Diddley" in October 1957, the A-side appearing on the album Bo Diddley in 1958. "Say Man, Back Again" was released as a single in November 1959.[7] The rest of the songs were album-only releases, although an edited version of "She's Alright", lacking vocal overdubs, had appeared as the B-side of "Say Man, Back Again."

Cover versions

Several songs on Have Guitar Will Travel were covered by many British Invasion bands.[9] Originally recorded and released in 1956 by Boogaloo and his Gallant Crew led by singer Kent Harris (reissued on the Road Songs collection by Frémeaux et Associés), "Cops and Robbers" was recorded by The Rolling Stones, The Masters Apprentices, Wayne Fontana & the Mindbenders, Downliners Sect, and George Thorogood.

Track listing

All tracks are written by Ellas McDaniel, except where noted.

Side one
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."She's Alright" 3:56
2."Cops and Robbers"Kent Harris3:21
3."Run Diddley Daddy" 2:36
4."Mumblin' Guitar" 2:49
5."I Need You Baby" 2:18
Total length:15:00[5]
Side two
No.TitleLength
1."Say Man, Back Again"2:53
2."Nursery Rhyme"2:43
3."I Love You So"2:20
4."Spanish Guitar"3:58
5."Dancing Girl"2:17
6."Come On Baby"2:52
Total length:17:03[5]

Personnel

Per liner notes[2][3][4]

Charts

"Say Man, Back Again" reached #23 on the R&B Singles chart.[10]

Release history
Region Date Label Format Catalog
United States January 1960 Checker Records LP LP-2974
United States 1984 Chess Records LP CH-9187
Cassette CHC-9187

References
  1. "Reviews of This Week's LP's". Billboard: 29. January 4, 1960.
  2. Bo Diddley (1997). His Best (CD liner). United States: Chess Records/MCA Records. CHD-9373.
  3. Bo Diddley (2007). I'm a Man: The Chess Masters, 1955-1958 (CD liner). United States: Hip-O Select. B0009231-02.
  4. Bo Diddley (2008). Road Runner: The Chess Masters, 1959-1960 (CD liner). United States: Hip-O Select. B0011076-02.
  5. Bo Diddley. Have Guitar Will Travel (Vinyl sleeve). United States: Checker Records. Back cover. LP 2974.
  6. "Reviews of R&B Records". Billboard: 134. November 10, 1956. Retrieved December 29, 2010.
  7. "Reviews of This Week's Singles: Spotlight Winners of the Week". Billboard: 47. November 9, 1959. Retrieved December 29, 2010.
  8. "Musical Maps".
  9. Eder, Bruce. "Overview: Have Guitar, Will Travel by Bo Diddley". Allmusic. United States: Rovi Corporation. Retrieved December 9, 2010.
  10. Have Guitar Will Travel at AllMusic
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