Monday, February 12, 2018

Bo Diddley - Promises


  1. Promises
  2. Kids Don't Do It
  3. Hear What I'm Sayin'
  4. I'm Gonna Get Your Girlfriend
  5. She Wasn't Raped

KansasJoe post: http://www81.zippyshare.com/v/rdHUn0AF/file.html

3 comments:

Bob Mac said...

Thanks for this. Never seen it before and don't have it on my lists, though I could have the tracks on something else. Always been a big fan of Bo, he was a remarkable guitar player.

Bob Mac said...

I was curious about this as I'd never seen it before, so did some searching for details. Here's what I found, hope it's useful for others.

Bo Diddley - Promises (1994)
Triple X Records
September 1994


In what appears to be the last of his "experimental" studio efforts, the ardent Bo Diddley collector is treated to two compelling cuts (Tracks 1 & 2: "Promises" and "Kids Don't Do It") and three more better left on the shelf after one audition. It can be said, though, that Bo finally got his "sound" after several years of electronics dabbling: the above-mentioned titles have Singles Chart potential, in fact "Kids" was later redone [overdubbed?] with All-Star backing for the critically acclaimed Atlantic album.

In between stints with a pair of regular backing bands who carried him through the years 1983-1989 and 1995-1997, respectively, Bo Diddley found a temporary home at L.A.'s Triple X Records during the first half of the '90s. Hot on the heels of 1993's This Should Not Be, Promises gathered five of the singer's originals for the EP format. Diddley is joined by session guitarist Mike Boulware, lap steel player Tuck Tucker, and a series of nagging, programmed synth beats. The material finds Diddley dawning a surprising variety of musical hats to varying degrees of success. The opening title tack is a rigid country stomp, an elementary drum-program job begging listeners to kick up their heels while Tucker takes care of the twang. "Kids Don't Do It" rides a funky bassline, and washes of synth strings are prominent on "Here What I'm Saying." Lyrically speaking, Diddley is most forgivable when he adheres to the tried and true. "Promises" finds the singer at the end of his rope,
unable to cope with his partner's neglect. By the time listeners reach the fade, Diddley is walking out the door. Attempts to warn the youth on "Kids Don't Do It" and "Here What I'm Saying," however, resort to the sort of lessons one might expect from an after-school special. "I'm Gonna Get Your Girlfriend" and "She Wasn't Raped" (songs whose titles speak for themselves) regrettably allow Diddley's blues braggadocio free reign. Promises, then, is a rather unflattering portrait of a musical legend.

1. Promises
2. Kids Don't Do It
3. Hear What I'm Sayin'
4. I'm Gonna Get Your Girlfriend
5. She Wasn't Raped

Total length: 29:47

Personnel: Bo Diddley (vocals, guitar); Mike Boulware (guitar); Tuck Tucker (lap steel guitar)

Xyros said...

@ Bob Mac, haven't had a chance to listen to it yet but reading the review you posted I think I'll give it a miss :-).