Bo Diddley – The Black Gladiator

by admin  16th Jun 2012 Comments [2252]
Bo Diddley Black Gladiator

(Future Days) CD

Recorded and released in 1970, The Black Gladiator was Bo Diddley’s first album of all new material since 1965’s 500% More Man. In the intervening half-decade the music scene had been through some pretty radical changes, and the astute and forward-thinking Diddley wasn’t about to be left behind. “I just decided to do somethin’ different,” he told biographer George R White. “Everybody was wearin’ funny lookin’ crap—Isaac Hayes had come out with chains an’ stuff on, an’ it was kinda flowin’ in that area at that particular time—so I got me some belts an’ stuff, an’ said I was The Black Gladiator.”

The resultant album is one of the overlooked gems in the Diddley catalog, showcasing a freakier, funkier sound that was in step with the times, while retaining the raunch and swagger that defined his earlier work. Bo goes balls-out on the very first track, “Elephant Man,” whipping up a torrid, wall-shaking guitar riff over which he hollers some of his craziest rhymes yet, about how he constructed this bizarre animal, called the elephant (maybe you’ve heard of it?), piece by piece, naming its various body parts, then letting out a blood-curdling scream every time he gets around to not quite mentioning its ass. Such profundity was in short supply at the time.

The album never quite scales the elephantine heights of its monster opening number, but there’s still much to enjoy. The backing band cooks throughout—plenty of wailing organ, rattling tambourines and crisp, funky drumming—and Bo is clearly having a ball with this new, different sound. “Black Soul,” “I’ve Got a Feeling” and “Funky Fly” all boast tough, memorable grooves as well as plenty of muscular guitar work. “You, Bo Diddley” is one of Bo’s archetypal self-tributes, as is “Power House,” a virile boast built around his trusty “I’m a Man” riff, while the strange but wonderful “I Don’t Like You” is one of Bo’s trademark signifying pieces in the tradition of “Say Man,” with Bo trading insults with backing singer Cornelia Redmond (a.k.a. Cookie Vee) and also showing off his abilities as an opera singer—was there no end to this man’s talents?

There’s been a vinyl boot doing the rounds, but this digipak CD with liners by Scott Schindler is a legit, from the masters, reissue on Light in the Attic’s new Future Days imprint. (MS)

(Originally published in Ugly Things #33, Spring/Summer 2012)


2,252 Responses to “Bo Diddley – The Black Gladiator”

  1. Por favor, deixe-me sabeг sе você eѕtá procurando рor um autor para sеu blog.
    Você tem alguns realmente b᧐m posts e Acho quе eu seria ᥙma
    boa aquisiçãо. Se você quiser tirar um pouco ԁa carga, gostaria
    amo absolutamente ρara escrever alguns conteúdo para
    ⲟ ѕеu blog em troca ɗе um link pɑra o meu. Por favor explosão
    me um email ѕe interessado. Obrigado ! https://demos3.softaculous.com/RicarGBooK/

  2. whoah this blog is excellent i love reading your posts. Keep up the good work! You know, a lot of people are looking around for this information, you could aid them greatly.

  3. Llkmvof says:

    bad credit instant payday loans installment loan loan affiliate programs [url=https://installmentloanvatv.org/]installment loans no credit check[/url] ’

  4. Você pode definitivamente ver seu especialização na artigo
    você escrever. O mundo para mais escritores apaixonados
    como você quem aren ‘ t medo dizer como eles acreditam.
    Sempre vá depois seu coração. https://freequotesideas.000webhostapp.com/this-is-top-100-best-happy-easter-2017-quotes/

  5. This really answered my problem, thank you!

  6. Leon Cudmore says:

    I am truly delighted to read this webpage posts which carries
    lots of valuable data, thanks for providing
    such information.

  7. VercIteno says:

    small loans bad credit pay day loan actual payday loan lenders [url=https://cashadvanceonlinevacu.org/]payday loans online direct lenders only[/url] ’

  8. KennethSteef says:

    wh0cd943872 [url=http://buy-anafranil.reisen/]anafranil[/url] [url=http://buy-advair.store/]buy advair[/url] [url=http://onlinecialis.pro/]cialis cheapest price[/url] [url=http://medrolpak.pro/]cheap medrol[/url] [url=http://toradol30mg.pro/]toradol 30 mg[/url] [url=http://betnovate.reisen/]betnovate[/url] [url=http://buyviagraonline.reisen/]viagra[/url] [url=http://buysuhagra.store/]suhagra[/url]

  9. Fixd Reviews says:

    Certainly. And I have faced it. Let’s discuss this question. Here or in PM.

  10. This article offers clear idea in favor of the new people of blogging, that actually how to do running a blog.