Who do you love?
October 26, 2008 3:02 PM Subscribe
It started in 1956 and led in 1969 to Quicksilver Messenger Service recording the song as an entire side on the Happy Trails album. This song was later to be covered by The Doors (1970); The Band + Ronnie Hawkins (1976); George Thorogood (1978) among many. The second side also featured a composition by the same writer; performing here with Tom Petty. Hey Bo Diddley
All of those artists, many of them well-educated and from 'proper' families . . . but none of them corrected the song to "Whom Do You Love?"
posted by Dee Xtrovert at 3:34 PM on October 26, 2008
posted by Dee Xtrovert at 3:34 PM on October 26, 2008
Oh man, the Quicksilver Messenger (with an e in the middle) Service recording makes me feel high. Great song. I love the hard intensity of it, the funky edge and joie de vivre. YAY psychedelic rock. Killing Floor, with its political snark at the beginning, appropriate for these days, and a blues edge, gives me a similar visceral rush.
On preview, "Whom Do You Love?". ha! That's funny. Grammar and rock/blues/funk make for a strange combination. And It Stoned Me turned into It Also Stoned Me or Ain't Too Proud to Beg turned into I Am Not Too Proud To Beg. No fun.
posted by nickyskye at 3:54 PM on October 26, 2008
On preview, "Whom Do You Love?". ha! That's funny. Grammar and rock/blues/funk make for a strange combination. And It Stoned Me turned into It Also Stoned Me or Ain't Too Proud to Beg turned into I Am Not Too Proud To Beg. No fun.
posted by nickyskye at 3:54 PM on October 26, 2008
I can't find a video of it anywhere, but I have to say that The Jesus and Mary Chain's version might be my favorite.
posted by googly at 3:55 PM on October 26, 2008
posted by googly at 3:55 PM on October 26, 2008
but none of them corrected the song to "Whom Do You Love?"
That's cause it's a pun on 'hoodoo.'
(Hawkins' version contains of the great rock and roll screams)
posted by jonmc at 3:55 PM on October 26, 2008 [1 favorite]
That's cause it's a pun on 'hoodoo.'
(Hawkins' version contains of the great rock and roll screams)
posted by jonmc at 3:55 PM on October 26, 2008 [1 favorite]
I was only joking, of course.
posted by Dee Xtrovert at 4:05 PM on October 26, 2008
posted by Dee Xtrovert at 4:05 PM on October 26, 2008
Also the Woolies did a nifty garage rock version back in '67.
I saw Bo Diddley perform the song live twice, once in Central Park and once at the Garden. Both times it brought the house down.
posted by jonmc at 4:12 PM on October 26, 2008
I saw Bo Diddley perform the song live twice, once in Central Park and once at the Garden. Both times it brought the house down.
posted by jonmc at 4:12 PM on October 26, 2008
Hee!
I made a mix-CD of Bo-Diddley-rhythm songs for my Bo-Diddley fan father this year for Father's Day -- it went all over the musical map, with stuff from Bo and Elvis to Buddy Holly and the Rolling Stones, to Neil Sedaka, The Band, Pat Benetar, and U2, and I ended with the George Thorogood cover of Who Do Ya Love. He LOVED it. I've been grooving myself listening to all the clips here (although, I have to admit, I didn't much like the Woolies version -- this song just NEEDS that chunk a-chunk a-chunk a-chunk-chunk driving it).
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 5:05 PM on October 26, 2008
I made a mix-CD of Bo-Diddley-rhythm songs for my Bo-Diddley fan father this year for Father's Day -- it went all over the musical map, with stuff from Bo and Elvis to Buddy Holly and the Rolling Stones, to Neil Sedaka, The Band, Pat Benetar, and U2, and I ended with the George Thorogood cover of Who Do Ya Love. He LOVED it. I've been grooving myself listening to all the clips here (although, I have to admit, I didn't much like the Woolies version -- this song just NEEDS that chunk a-chunk a-chunk a-chunk-chunk driving it).
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 5:05 PM on October 26, 2008
Ah, Bo Diddley. One of the great great great Greats. Who do I love? I love you, Bo! Course, you knew that.
Bo Diddley: guitar as percussion. One of the real inventors of rock n'roll, which I think he still hasn't really gotten nearly enough credit and recognition for.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 5:07 PM on October 26, 2008 [1 favorite]
Bo Diddley: guitar as percussion. One of the real inventors of rock n'roll, which I think he still hasn't really gotten nearly enough credit and recognition for.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 5:07 PM on October 26, 2008 [1 favorite]
Hey, adamvasco, regarding jonmc's comment above, might I suggest you add the hoodoo tag?
posted by flapjax at midnite at 5:09 PM on October 26, 2008
posted by flapjax at midnite at 5:09 PM on October 26, 2008
I think it's important, in these uncertain times, that I point out that the last link includes a Donnie Osmond keytar solo.
posted by Joseph Gurl at 5:57 PM on October 26, 2008
posted by Joseph Gurl at 5:57 PM on October 26, 2008
The Drones do a blistering version of this song as well - you can find it here, although you'll have to scroll down a bit to get to it.
posted by awfurby at 6:30 PM on October 26, 2008
posted by awfurby at 6:30 PM on October 26, 2008
That brings back memories - and another YAY psychedelic rock. I totally have this in vinyl.
posted by bluesky43 at 6:58 PM on October 26, 2008
posted by bluesky43 at 6:58 PM on October 26, 2008
I like Who Do You Love? all fine and dandy but when it comes to Quicksilver Messenger Service nothing quite hits the sweet spot like Mona.
I really need to get more QMS.
posted by Kattullus at 7:04 PM on October 26, 2008
I really need to get more QMS.
posted by Kattullus at 7:04 PM on October 26, 2008
The Woolies were local East Lansing boys - somewhere I've got their album with Who Do You Love on it. It's easier to find on the expanded version of Nuggets.
posted by rfs at 7:14 PM on October 26, 2008
posted by rfs at 7:14 PM on October 26, 2008
...none of them corrected the song to "Whom Do You Love?"
And the last line in the post should read "...Hey Ellas Otha Bates"!
Neat post! Happy Trails!
posted by Kronos_to_Earth at 7:17 PM on October 26, 2008
And the last line in the post should read "...Hey Ellas Otha Bates"!
Neat post! Happy Trails!
posted by Kronos_to_Earth at 7:17 PM on October 26, 2008
Bo Diddley only wrote one song, but it was a great one.
posted by cogneuro at 8:20 PM on October 26, 2008
posted by cogneuro at 8:20 PM on October 26, 2008
TBH these are the only QMS songs that are really this good. I've always found their original stuff kind of anemic.
Cool article I just found about the beat.
And Katullus, while we're following the thread of the beat, I've always like the Stones version of Mona.
posted by Potomac Avenue at 10:51 PM on October 26, 2008
Cool article I just found about the beat.
And Katullus, while we're following the thread of the beat, I've always like the Stones version of Mona.
posted by Potomac Avenue at 10:51 PM on October 26, 2008
I really need to get more QMS.
While you're at it, don't forget to get yourself some Dinosaurs, featuring John Cipollina along with Barry Melton, Peter Albin, Spenser Dreyden, Hunter, and Merl Saunders... ( RIP, Merl )
http://www.archive.org/details/Dinosaurs
posted by mikelieman at 5:28 AM on October 27, 2008
While you're at it, don't forget to get yourself some Dinosaurs, featuring John Cipollina along with Barry Melton, Peter Albin, Spenser Dreyden, Hunter, and Merl Saunders... ( RIP, Merl )
http://www.archive.org/details/Dinosaurs
posted by mikelieman at 5:28 AM on October 27, 2008
Jessamyn is a star of the nth degree for she has corrected my very silly spelling error in the FPP which was so kindly pointed out to me by the wonderful nickyskye.
posted by adamvasco at 5:54 AM on October 27, 2008
posted by adamvasco at 5:54 AM on October 27, 2008
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