One For The Road: Bo Diddley Makes The Library Of Congress

By Chuck Sudo in Arts & Entertainment on May 23, 2012 10:30PM

Librarian of Congress James H. Billington today selected 25 sound recordings to be added to the National Recording registry today. As DCist associate editor Ben Freed notes, the marquee additions to the registry—which is also celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, were songs by Donna Summer, Prince and George Clinton and Parliament. But songs like the Sugar Hill Gang's "Rapper's Delight," Dolly Parton's "Coat of Many Colors," A Charlie Brown Christmas, and Leonard Bernstein's debut with the New York Philharmonic also made the cut.

Chicago is represented by Mr. Elias Otha Bates, best known as "Bo Diddley." Diddley's song of the same name and the B-Side, "I'm a Man," were included because of their memorable riffs and rhythms. According to Billington, it took 30 takes to get the throbbing blues of "I'm a Man" perfect.

Here's "I'm a Man."

And here's a liver performance of "Bo Diddley" given some added sexual energy with the dance moves of the background singers.