{{Infobox song | name = Hey! Bo Diddley | cover = | alt = | type = single | artist = Bo Diddley | album = Bo Diddley | B-side = Mona | released = {{Start date|1957|04}}<ref name="Billboard">{{cite magazine | date = April 6, 1957 | title = Review Spotlight on R&B Records | magazine = Billboard | page = 58 | access-date = December 18, 2010 | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=IyAEAAAAMBAJ&dq=%22Bo+Diddley%22+860&pg=PA58 | publisher = Nielsen Business Media, Inc. }}</ref> | recorded = February 8, 1957, in Chicago<ref name="best">{{cite AV media notes |title=His Best |author=Bo Diddley |author-link=Bo Diddley |year=1997 |url=http://aln3.albumlinernotes.com/Bo_Diddley_His_Best.html |type=CD liner |publisher=Chess Records/MCA Records |id=CHD-9373 |location=United States |access-date=2010-12-17 |archive-date=2011-09-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110916055954/http://aln3.albumlinernotes.com/Bo_Diddley_His_Best.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> | studio = | venue = | genre = Rhythm and blues | length = {{Duration|m=2|s=17}} | label = Checker 860 | writer = Ellas McDaniel | producer = Leonard Chess, Phil Chess, Bo Diddley<ref name="best" /> | prev_title = Cops & Robbers | prev_year = 1957 | next_title = Say, Boss Man | next_year = 1958 }}
"'''Hey! Bo Diddley'''" is Bo Diddley's eighth single released by Checker Records (not to be confused with the song "Bo Diddley") and was released as a single in April 1957 by Checker Records.<ref name="Billboard" /> The single's B side was "Mona" (later known as "I Need You Baby").
==Recording== "Hey! Bo Diddley" was recorded in Chicago on February 8, 1957 – the same day as "Mona". The song was produced by Diddley with Leonard and Phil Chess, and backing Diddley (vocals, guitar) were Jerome Green (maracas), and either Frank Kirkland or Clifton James (drums). The backing vocals on the song were Peggy Jones and the Flamingos.<ref name="best" />
==Rhythm== Like many of Bo Diddley's songs (e.g. "Bo Diddley", Gunslinger, and "Pretty Thing") "Hey! Bo Diddley" features a Bo Diddley beat.<ref>{{AllMusic|class=album|id=r5730}}</ref>
==Live versions== The song was recorded either July 5 or 6 at Myrtle Beach, South Carolina and released on the 1964 live album, ''Bo Diddley's Beach Party'' with the Dutchess. The song was performed live with Ronnie Wood on ''Live at the Ritz'' in 1988.
==Cover versions== "Hey! Bo Diddley" was covered by The Moody Blues, Bill Black, John P. Hammond, Kenny Rogers, Ronnie Hawkins, Maureen Tucker on ''Playin' Possum'' and ''Life in Exile After Abdication'', the Grateful Dead on ''Steppin' Out with the Grateful Dead: England '72'', The Temptations and the Mary Stokes Band. There is also a spanish version of this song performed by the Mexican Rock'n'Roll band Los Seven Days which was titled "A Bailar Con Los Seven Days." (Dance with the Seven Days)
"Pay Bo Diddley" is a cover of the song with new lyrics, referring to the many years where Diddley received no royalties for his work.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Dean |first1=Bill |title=Paying Bo Diddley - in one form or another |url=https://www.gainesville.com/story/news/2006/12/14/paying-bo-diddley-in-one-form-or-another/31505648007/ |work=The Gainesville Sun |date=2006-12-14}}</ref>
==Album releases== In 1962 Chess Records released a 12" L.P. titled ''Hey! Bo Diddley''.<ref>{{AllMusic|class=album|id=r35356}}</ref> In November 1963 Pye International Records released a 7" EP titled ''Hey! Bo Diddley''.<ref name="strong">{{cite book |last=Strong |first=Charles |title=The Great Rock Discography |edition=Sixth |orig-year=Originally published in 1994 |year=2002 |publisher=Canongate Books |location=United Kingdom |isbn=978-1-84195-312-0 |page=371}}</ref> In 1996 Beat Goes On released a compilation CD called ''Hey! Bo Diddley/Bo Diddley'' with "Hey! Bo Diddley" as the first track.<ref>{{AllMusic|class=album|id=r260424}}</ref> The song was also released on several greatest hits albums including ''16 All-Time Greatest Hits'' and ''His Best''.
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{Bo Diddley}} {{Authority control}}
Category:Bo Diddley songs Category:1957 singles Category:Songs written by Bo Diddley Category:Checker Records singles