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Bob Seger — Bo Diddley
Album: Smokin' O.P's
Avg rating:
7.5

Your rating:
Total ratings: 2229









Released: 1972
Length: 6:15
Plays (last 30 days): 0
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Bo Diddley, Bo Diddley have you heard
Mama gonna buy you a mockingbird
If that mockingbird don't sing
She gonna buy you a diamond ring
If that diamond ring don't shine
Baby gonna take it to a private eye
If that private eye can't see
He gonna have to come an talk to me

Said hey Bo Diddley
Hey now Bo Diddley
Hey Bo Diddley

I walked 47 miles of barbed wire
Use a cobra snake for a necktie
Got a brand new house on the roadside child
Made out of rattlesnake hide
Brand new chimney on top
Made out of human skulls
Come and take a little walk with me Arlene
Tell me who do you love
Who do you love
Who do you love
Who do you love

Arlene took me by my hand
Said cool it Robert you know your my man
Who do you love
Who do you love
Who do you love

Night was dark the sky was blue
Down the alley we was swingin' through

Lord I heard just what I seen
Who do you love
Who do you love
Who do you love
Comments (94)add comment
Never got the opportunity to see this guy live, real shame!!
Posted 1 month ago by mgkiwi    [ Reply ]
if this doesn’t get you moving, or at least your toes tappin’, you don’t have a pulse. 
Posted 11 months ago by OlderGentleman    [ Reply ]
Always claimed I wasn't a Seger fan, then was drug to one of his shows. Song after song, hit after hit I finally realized I was wrong. Still not buying his albums but I don't dive to the station knob, or mouse these days, when he comes on.
Posted 1 year ago by jimabegglen589    [ Reply ]
 eileenomurphy wrote:

Bob Seger is hit or miss for me. This is a HIT!!



Same here!  Bo Diddley's Beat continues to rattle the EM Spectrum! And yeah, the Hammond in this JAMS...
Posted 1 year ago by coloradojohn    [ Reply ]
Yeah - not the biggest Bob Segar fan but great track and band... Damn, who's the B3 player? SAWEET!
Posted 1 year ago by chasbro    [ Reply ]
 timjclark wrote:

I'm not a Bob Seger fan.  But I really DIG this track!



i've come to appreciate him more and more over the last 3 decades, listening to more than what was so often repeated on classic rock stations. never heard this one! THIS is AMAZING. dig the funkiness.
Posted 1 year ago by lily34    [ Reply ]
I'm not a Bob Seger fan.  But I really DIG this track!
Posted 1 year ago by timjclark    [ Reply ]
gets a 9 for having the balls and the band to do that And the voice. Bob was a much better vocal man that got talked about enough.
Posted 1 year ago by ccjemmett    [ Reply ]
 willmcnaught wrote:


I too grew up in the burbs of Detroit, home boy was rocking back in 72! so many fond memories of bob and his different bands 


Grew up not far from Cleveland.  We rocked as hard as you Detroit folks and I loved Bob Seger.  Still have several of his albums on vinyl.  Doesn't get much better. 
Posted 1 year ago by mjlucas    [ Reply ]
+1 to 10 cuz thisshit ROCKS!!
And now I'm calling Mr. Seger "Bob Diddley"
LLRP 
Posted 2 years ago by lizardking    [ Reply ]
 Jeffrey_Mishik wrote:

this is a new Seger song for me. it's a great groove.



I too grew up in the burbs of Detroit, home boy was rocking back in 72! so many fond memories of bob and his different bands 
Posted 2 years ago by willmcnaught    [ Reply ]
this is a new Seger song for me. it's a great groove.
Posted 2 years ago by Jeffrey_Mishik    [ Reply ]
🤩 DAMN!!
Posted 2 years ago by xc.farmer.antoine486    [ Reply ]
 bkrans9 wrote:


As a Detroiter, I've known of this album since the '70s. I assumed that the album title was a drug reference other than to nicotine! Thanks for enlightening! 


You're welcome.  Born and raised in Detroit myself, though I no longer live there.
Posted 2 years ago by garyalex    [ Reply ]
Columnist Bob Greene on Seger and Springsteen: "...the things Springsteen has been celebrated for -- singing about the real America, reaching emotions buried deep, connecting with the true concerns in ordinary people's lives -- Seger has been doing longer and better than Springsteen has. But he has never been celebrated in the way Springsteen has been celebrated from the start." Bob Greene, 1986, Chicago Tribune. "Bob Seger: Still the unsung hero of American rock."
Posted 2 years ago by ExpatLarry    [ Reply ]
 garyalex wrote:

In the unlikely event that anyone cares:  The album title refers to smoking other people's cigarettes rather than buying your own.  Since he covers other people's songs it made sense for this album.



As a Detroiter, I've known of this album since the '70s. I assumed that the album title was a drug reference other than to nicotine! Thanks for enlightening! 
Posted 2 years ago by bkrans9    [ Reply ]
 idiot_wind wrote:

Saw him play STL in 1970s, a few times

great shows

his live album is one of the top live RnR albums, ever  



agreed, I was from the suburbs of Detroit, I was at one of those shows at 
Cobo Hall when that disc was recorded such fond memories of my original home turf! 
Posted 2 years ago by willmcnaught    [ Reply ]
Saw him play STL in 1970s, a few times

great shows

his live album is one of the top live RnR albums, ever  
Posted 2 years ago by idiot_wind    [ Reply ]
Don't need that second cup of coffee now!
Posted 2 years ago by onerb    [ Reply ]
Bob Seger is hit or miss for me. This is a HIT!!
Posted 2 years ago by eileenomurphy    [ Reply ]
yup, a 10.. crank it up
Posted 3 years ago by john_m_hopkins    [ Reply ]
This song is incredible whether you're a Bob Seger fan or not. I was not for the majority of my life but now appreciate him in a new way.
Posted 3 years ago by itsme_bygolly    [ Reply ]
 Mairy wrote:

Bob has one of *the* most distinctive voices in rock. I like the funk and blues of this track - so much a relief from the Like a Rock" truck commercials.

Read somewhere that Seger was more than happy to have the song

in the commercial since he'd spent time on the GM assembly line in

his youth...

Tony in NJ

W.A.S.T.E.



Posted 3 years ago by tonyinnj    [ Reply ]
Possibly my favorite version!
Posted 3 years ago by lmic    [ Reply ]
 argexpat wrote:

Seger could've easily fronted AC/DC, amarite??



I'd say he did pretty good on his own.
Posted 3 years ago by Laptopdog    [ Reply ]
 argexpat wrote:

Seger could've easily fronted AC/DC, amarite??




I would pay to see it.
Posted 3 years ago by dwlangham    [ Reply ]
I THOUGHT I didn't like Bob Seger. I. was mistaken. Sorry.
Posted 3 years ago by TRC    [ Reply ]
 jberko wrote:

Not a big Seeger fan, but this rocks.  What a neat funk rock groove.



That funk rock groove is called the Bo Diddley beat!
Posted 3 years ago by opaceo    [ Reply ]
Warren Zevon's version of Bo Diddley on Stand in the Fire kicks some ass too. Just a great rock n roll song.
Posted 3 years ago by SchoepTone    [ Reply ]
this is a rocker, baby
Posted 3 years ago by idiot_wind    [ Reply ]
he deserves more credit as a great rnr guy

his live shows in the mid 1970s, kicked 
Posted 3 years ago by idiot_wind    [ Reply ]
Getting slight Satellite by The Hooters vibes. Similar lyrics?
Posted 3 years ago by captbradders    [ Reply ]
 garyalex wrote:

In the unlikely event that anyone cares:  The album title refers to smoking other people's cigarettes rather than buying your own.  Since he covers other people's songs it made sense for this album.



And the cover is a play on  a Lucky Strikes package...BTW, during WWII,
the K ration contained three Lucky Strikes...

Tony in NJ
W.A.S.T.E.
Posted 3 years ago by tonyinnj    [ Reply ]
I gotta chime in as another lukewarm Seger fan, this is good.
Posted 3 years ago by billybob123    [ Reply ]
Shredding that organ...damn!!!!
Posted 3 years ago by molson    [ Reply ]
 stretcher wrote:

Love this, even though never really dig Seger.  Fantastic tune here though - whoa.




I'm with you, not that much of a Seger fan, but this is great.
Posted 3 years ago by ekimedual    [ Reply ]
 garyalex wrote:

In the unlikely event that anyone cares:  The album title refers to smoking other people's cigarettes rather than buying your own.  Since he covers other people's songs it made sense for this album.



Not to be confused with OPP...
Posted 3 years ago by bahalana    [ Reply ]
Never get tired of hearing this. What a great groove. 
Posted 3 years ago by doktorkev    [ Reply ]
 idiot_wind wrote:

the second best ever live album:  Bob Seger and the silver bullet band.



Is the first best The Allman Brothers Band Live at Fillmore East?
Posted 3 years ago by Ok_Sobriquet    [ Reply ]
the second best ever live album:  Bob Seger and the silver bullet band.
Posted 3 years ago by idiot_wind    [ Reply ]
Now that's what I call Gangsta Rap
Posted 3 years ago by ExploitingChaos    [ Reply ]
well executed! Robert & Co.
Posted 3 years ago by john_m_hopkins    [ Reply ]
Not a big Seeger fan, but this rocks.  What a neat funk rock groove.
Posted 3 years ago by jberko    [ Reply ]
 thewiseking wrote:
Saw Bo Diddley shortly before he died. Must have been in his late 70s. Even at that age he blew this away by a mile.
 I was fortunate enough to see him too, probably the same tour. At the Paramount in Austin, about ten rows back. He had a 'boot' on one foot, I think it was related to his diabetes. But it didn't slow him down none. Rocked the house.
c.

Posted 3 years ago by cc_rider    [ Reply ]
Went to see Tina Turner at the Commodore in Vancouver, circa early 80s. Seger was playing earlier the same night in a larger venue. There was a rumour that he was going to join Tina onstage for a song or two (Nutbush City Limits, or this classic tune, maybe?) Well as it turns out he never made it onstage, but near the end of Tina's set I turned around and there was Bob standing behind me in the packed club, groovin' to Tina!
Posted 4 years ago by On_The_Beach    [ Reply ]
Wow !  That flat out rocks !!!!!  Love how Bob honors the original and gives it some Bob-ness too !!!!
Posted 4 years ago by awightman1    [ Reply ]
Best Rock Singer?   i think its between Seger  or Paul Rodgers
Posted 4 years ago by grhorn    [ Reply ]
Bob Seger could've sat in with AC/DC...he sounds a lot like Brian Johnson, amarite?
Posted 4 years ago by argexpat    [ Reply ]
Now thats a rocking voice
Posted 4 years ago by neotrogg    [ Reply ]
As an ex-Detroiter I remember cruising down Woodward avenue in my old Camaro playing this so loud the windows ratttled.  Seemed like a good idea then.  Actually, it still does.  And the more I think about it, the windows rattled anyway.  And I loved that car.
Posted 4 years ago by garyalex    [ Reply ]
Nice that you played another song in between before you repeated this one! Not that it's bad, but...
Posted 4 years ago by samstag    [ Reply ]
Man oh man the memories. I think Bob Seeger showed up at every concert I saw in St Louis back in the day (70’s) and he was ALWAYS on it! This... takes me back! I can smell the illicit smoke and spilled booze -lovin it all over again...
Posted 4 years ago by SpamNRice    [ Reply ]
I walked forty seven miles of barbed wire.
I got a cobra snake for a necktie.
Got a brand new house by the roadside
made out of rattlesnake hide.

Yeah, that's me, baby.
Posted 4 years ago by unclehud    [ Reply ]
Sweet
Posted 4 years ago by murr69st335    [ Reply ]
Whooaa, this groovemonster blew me away. Never heard this one before, shame on me! Have to get the vinyl immediately.
Posted 4 years ago by pankman    [ Reply ]
Met the Bob a long while ago as he cooked & served pancakes at a parent/child function at my kid’s school. Cool dude. He rocked pancakes, too, without smokin’ them.
Posted 4 years ago by Roguewarer    [ Reply ]
And here I thought House Behind a House was his best jam...wrong.
Posted 4 years ago by Zoonhollis    [ Reply ]
Nice version, but doesn't come close to Ronnie Hawkins doing it in the 60s. For those who don't know him, Ronnie was a mentor to The Band in Toronto when they were called The Hawks.
Posted 4 years ago by Canadese    [ Reply ]
 thewiseking wrote:
Saw Bo Diddley shortly before he died. Must have been in his late 70s. Even at that age he blew this away by a mile.
 
I don't doubt that but this one still rocks.
Posted 4 years ago by garyalex    [ Reply ]
Saw Bo Diddley shortly before he died. Must have been in his late 70s. Even at that age he blew this away by a mile.
Posted 4 years ago by thewiseking    [ Reply ]
 lizardking wrote:

My lovely wife has seen him and the Silver Bullet band, which she said was like two full bands and they ROCKED.  I almost got us tickets and then he had to cancel due to throat cancer and all....not sure if he's still rocking at 74 y/o though I'd jump at the chance still....this is at least an 8, nearly a 9, Long Live RP!!
 
I got this rockin-tune on the drive home last Friday, and boy it's a real great one cranked at 11...giving it the ol'+1 to 9...Long Live RP!!
Posted 4 years ago by lizardking    [ Reply ]
ciao ragazzi, 
questa radio mi piace moltissimo!
Elisa from Italy
Posted 4 years ago by rarissimo81    [ Reply ]
Smokin'!
Posted 4 years ago by Jelani    [ Reply ]
easy 8 for ala DP type organ sound
Posted 4 years ago by uksminas    [ Reply ]
 argexpat wrote:
Seger could've easily fronted AC/DC, amarite??
 
Not sure, but I'd love to have seen an extended audition!
Posted 4 years ago by unclehud    [ Reply ]
Bob Seeger in Hochform, das rockt auch noch Jahrzehnte später.
Grüße  aus Bayern an alle da draußen
Posted 4 years ago by ger-man    [ Reply ]
Easily my favorite tune that Bob Seger does!! This is rockin'! 
Posted 4 years ago by JIan    [ Reply ]
This.  Can.  Play.  Againer..........
Posted 5 years ago by alain.brault    [ Reply ]
 stretcher wrote:
Love this, even though never really dig Seger.  Fantastic tune here though - whoa.
 
My lovely wife has seen him and the Silver Bullet band, which she said was like two full bands and they ROCKED.  I almost got us tickets and then he had to cancel due to throat cancer and all....not sure if he's still rocking at 74 y/o though I'd jump at the chance still....this is at least an 8, nearly a 9, Long Live RP!!
Posted 5 years ago by lizardking    [ Reply ]
 Pearhead wrote:
The original 'garage' version! This is raw Seger. Much better than the Live Bullet cut. One of the best fusions of Rock and funk that's ever passed through my auditory canals. This one makes me start pigeon neckin'. :D P.S. You will do this song injustice unless you take it to 11.
 
Cheers ... this song got me pigeon neckin too!!!  
Posted 5 years ago by GoodKarm    [ Reply ]
Love this, even though never really dig Seger.  Fantastic tune here though - whoa.
Posted 5 years ago by stretcher    [ Reply ]
I had a strong urge to get up and dance during the instrumental part! GROOOOOOOVY!!!!
Posted 5 years ago by njswede    [ Reply ]
Seger could've easily fronted AC/DC, amarite??
Posted 5 years ago by argexpat    [ Reply ]
Bob Seger does a great job covering Bo Diddley, he's a rocker.
Wouldn't mind RP playing some other Seger greats like Come To Papa, Fire Down Below and Sunspot Baby ....  
Posted 5 years ago by Isabeau    [ Reply ]
Damn is this a bop.
Posted 5 years ago by linden    [ Reply ]
In the unlikely event that anyone cares:  The album title refers to smoking other people's cigarettes rather than buying your own.  Since he covers other people's songs it made sense for this album.
Posted 5 years ago by garyalex    [ Reply ]
I did NOT know this was 'Bo Diddley'... :-s
Posted 20 years ago by trekhead    [ Reply ]
Okay, so maybe he does deserve to be in the R&R Hall O'Fame after all. Generally, Seger bugs me to mute-ville. So far I have not invoked the power of the button, and we're to the synth solo already.
Posted 20 years ago by ChardRemains    [ Reply ]
Pearhead wrote:
The original 'garage' version! This is raw Seger. Much better than the Live Bullet cut. This sounds alot like the Live Bullet cut... altho it's been a real long time since I heard it. Either way, great to hear this on RP.
Posted 20 years ago by Cyclehawk    [ Reply ]
Mr. Seger, you profess to "love that old time rock and roll" - Could you please demonstrate? Oh, I see you already did. Thank you.
Posted 20 years ago by robinesque    [ Reply ]
Geed wrote:
Never heard this before. Shit, great tune.
Ahhh, yea. That pretty much kicked ass, and I'm not saying that because I'm from Bobs hometown... I could care less about most all of his music anymore.
Posted 20 years ago by lotus_65    [ Reply ]
Thanks, just before lunch on a Friday. Ya gotta go and make it hard for me to wanna come back to work, don't cha' ?
Posted 20 years ago by Phonedave    [ Reply ]
Cool jam! Wish I was playing...
Posted 20 years ago by Dave_Mack    [ Reply ]
omigod...Bob Seger? whodathunkit? i like it!
Posted 20 years ago by bschena    [ Reply ]
Bob has one of *the* most distinctive voices in rock. I like the funk and blues of this track - so much a relief from the Like a Rock" truck commercials.
Posted 20 years ago by Mairy    [ Reply ]
Wow - I had no idea..... major groovage!
Posted 20 years ago by ciscochasbro    [ Reply ]
Bob Seger always reminds me of growing up in Michigan. It was pretty easy to take him for granted then, he was everywhere on the radio. I've been building my Seger collection on CD, it's great to be rediscovering him. Glad to hear him on RP! Great work Bill!
Posted 20 years ago by pikester    [ Reply ]
Pearhead wrote:
Damn! Did it really take 2 years since upload for this to get airtime? The beavers are way too busy....but cool that it finally found a slot. You are a stellar salesman Rebecca Sorry Mot...... reckin' that's what I get for not reviewing my uploads and you for nitting on a "raw" cut. (see below). Nonetheless....it seems to have made the grade. Funnier still is that the album title "smoked" the Amazon buy link. Iffin' you want this one folks.......head over to e-bay.
And just as I thought, the Smokin' icon is for Humble Pie. Not Seeger, but real good anyway.
Posted 20 years ago by Gregorama    [ Reply ]
Mot wrote:
This recording is pretty rough. Keeps fading in and out especially in the left channel. I can't say I'm anywhere near as impressed with Bob as I used to be. He doesn't seem to age well. I do think that he has some more sophisticated stuff that would work better on RP, though.
Damn! Did it really take 2 years since upload for this to get airtime? The beavers are way too busy....but cool that it finally found a slot. You are a stellar salesman Rebecca Sorry Mot...... reckin' that's what I get for not reviewing my uploads and you for nitting on a "raw" cut. (see below). Nonetheless....it seems to have made the grade. Funnier still is that the album title "smoked" the Amazon buy link. Iffin' you want this one folks.......head over to e-bay.
Posted 20 years ago by Pearhead    [ Reply ]
If there's Bob Seger that sounds like this, why do radio stations only play that other stuff?
Posted 20 years ago by Veritas    [ Reply ]
This recording is pretty rough. Keeps fading in and out especially in the left channel. I can't say I'm anywhere near as impressed with Bob as I used to be. He doesn't seem to age well. I do think that he has some more sophisticated stuff that would work better on RP, though.
Posted 20 years ago by Mot    [ Reply ]
Never heard this before. Shit, great tune.
Posted 20 years ago by Geed    [ Reply ]
Excellent choice. Bob Seger's catalog is way unerappreciated and overlooked. Also try "If I Were a Carpenter" from this same Lp. Does RP have a copy of Back in '72 in the archives? Some of that would be welcome!!
Posted 20 years ago by akousa    [ Reply ]
The original 'garage' version! This is raw Seger. Much better than the Live Bullet cut. One of the best fusions of Rock and funk that's ever passed through my auditory canals. This one makes me start pigeon neckin'. :D P.S. You will do this song injustice unless you take it to 11.
Posted 22 years ago by Pearhead    [ Reply ]