The bands I was in always did this song. I didn’t know this version at the time though…it was The Who’s version that we went by. That riff was a powerful guitar riff that kicked in after edging down the strings.
This song was written by Bo Diddley who came up with the ultimate riff with the song Bo Diddley. This song was released in 1959 and it peaked at #20 in the Billboard R&B Charts and #75 on the Billboard 100. It has been covered by many artists over the years and featured in various movies, TV shows, and commercials.
Bo Diddley was born Ellas Bates. He had his name changed to Ellas McDaniels when he was adopted. He took his stage name from a one-stringed Deep South instrument, the Diddley Bow.
You can be cool… but not Bo Diddley playing his square guitar cool… he was a great guitarist and showman.
I always loved his square guitar. He built a guitar that looked like no other. He designed and constructed a custom-built square-shaped guitar for himself, he then commissioned Gretsch Guitars and Kinman Guitar Electrix to build further custom-built square-shaped models for him.
Road Runner
I’m a road runner honey,Beep! Beep!
I’m a road runner honey,And you can’t keep up with me,I’m a road runner honey,And you can’t keep up with me,Come on, let’s race,Baby baby, you will see,Here I come,Beep! Beep!
Move over honey,Let me by,Move over baby,Let this man by,I’m gonna show you baby, look out your head,Gonna put some dirt in your eye,Here I go!
Oh yea, how am I doin?Beep! Beep!
Take my hand baby,I’m gonna prove to you that I’m a road running man,I wanna show you something,That I’m the fastest in the land,Now let me by,Beep! Beep!Oh yea, you said you’s fast,But it don’t look like you gonna last,Goodbye! I’ve got to put you down,I’ll see you some day,Baby, somewhere hangin’ around.
…
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One of my favorites!
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I loved it when I heard it by The Who in the Kids Are Alright
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Way ahead of anybody else in his time. ZZ Top had square guitars made to emulate Bo.
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That guitar is iconic…I do love it.
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The Who cover was good, but the Bo Diddley original is perfect and can’t be improved upon. What was the deal with those guys combing their hair in the beginning of that video, very 50s.
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I guess the important part of the Who doing it is it filtered down to people like me….they were spreading the word.
Oh I know why Jim…that was in the middle of the 1950s revival in the UK and they were combing their hair back in 50s style.
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Bo Diddley certainly does look more happy when he has ‘that’ guitar on his album sleeves.
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Yes he does.
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I love Bo Diddley – I have an amazing LP of him an Chuck Berry jamming together. One side they jam to a Berry riff for about 12 minutes, on the other they jam to a Diddley riff for @ similar time. One of my favourite LPs.
And the Diddley Bow? Another lesson leaned …. every day’s a school day here at Powerpop.
Cheers
🙂
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Thanks man! I’ll have to look that live album up…that sounds great.
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Max you stole my thunder. I was going to feature The Who version on my “Live” gigs. I cant bitch, great choice fella. Bo is just flat out good. great cut. Chris Spedding does one of my all time favorite Versions. No secret that Bo inspired a lot of these folks we listen t. Beep Beep.
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I found out about the song CB through that Who cover…I love how Townshend kicks all the way through it…literally.
It’s hard to beat that Who version….I love Bo’s as well of course.
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Like you I first caught it from the same film. The Who give it their stamp from when they were tops.
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that guitar is up there on the list of coolest-looking ones! One of rock’s real pioneers. I find I don’t really know the song…I was thinking of the ’80s one the Modern Lovers (and others have done)
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Oh I first heard it through The Who….after I did we started to play it live…a fun rocking song with a great riff.
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I never realized there were two songs with the same title. When I think of the title, I think of the Jonathan Richman song.
This one’s good too.
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Lucky enough to see Bo here back in the 70s. A slick show- no-one left early or disappointed.
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That is cool…you got to see Chuck and Bo which is a great thing.
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Yeah, in this far flung part of the world you took a look at anyone who had a rep whether you liked their genre or not- so few options, it was either home-grown or some Aussie band touring, trying to get noticed. Chuck, Bo, Sonny Terry and Brownie McGee and Cleo Laine spring to mind- not all my cuppa tea at the time but at least you became more accepting of things like jazz, etc.
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I was going to ask you about how many artists tour there regularly.
I’ve listened to some McGee…great musician but yea…I have to be in the mood for it.
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It’s like the old saying says, you can be cool, but you can’t be Bo Diddley playing his cigar box guitar cool…’
He was part of the Chess Records blues/R&B crew. I think Muddy Waters played a couple of his songs…
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Thats it! Perfect saying…I’ve never played one before but always wanted to.
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I mostly knew the Jr Walker and the Allstars tune – different song, same title.
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I found out today there were more songs by that name.
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Saw a bit of his memorabilia when I toured Chess Records. He was one of a kind that Bo.
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“Road Runner” is a great song. I can’t remember whose rendition I heard first. It might have been Bo Diddley. His square guitars were wild looking. I didn’t know the rendition by The Who – great clip!
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