Here's a compilation that's going after our hearts! As revolutionary as the oft-imitated Bo Diddley beat was in early rock & roll, he doesn't get the credit he deserves for the far reaching impact of his songwriting – having been covered by everyone from Buddy Holly, The New York Dolls, The Shadows Of Night, The Animals, The Pretty Things, Captain Beefheart, Los Lobos and so many more artists of all stripes over the years! This excellent set from Ace Records does a fantastic job of showing not only how far his influence reaches, but also how stylistically adaptable his tunes are. Swamp rock, proto punk, bluesy soul and more. Very well done and each cut is a keeper, with 24 tracks in all: "Bo Diddley" by Buddy Holly, "Crackin Up" by The Gants, "Pills" by New York Dolls, "Road Runner" by The Zombies, "Diddy Wah Diddy" by Captain Beefheart & The Magic Band, "Diddley Daddy" by The British Walkers, "You Don't Love Me (You Don't Care)" by The Birds, "Who Do You Love" by Ronnie Hawkins & The Hawks and many more. (Soul, Rock) CD

A perfect example of the jamming style of Quicksilver Messenger Service at their best – as side one features a 25 minute extrapolation of Bo Diddley's "Who Do You Love", stretched out by the group into these wicked long guitar lines and pulsating rhythms that shift nicely over time! Bo's a surprising inspiration for a group that's better known for their psych output – but their use of that track, and his "Mona", on the live recordings here really helps carve a link out of two different generations of guitar innovation – and suddenly helps us understand links between them both. The set continues with some great original numbers – the very long "Calvary", plus "Maiden Of The Cancer Moon" – as well as a cover of "Happy Trails". CD

Music from Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley, Duane Eddy, Dale Hawkins , Les Paul & Mary Ford, Billy Mure's Supersonic Guitars, the Virtues, Eddie Cochran, Link Wray & His Ray Men, Carl Perkins & more. CD

Features more than a side of work by Los Lobos – their own 80s takes on Ritche Valens classics – plus more by Bo Diddley, Marshall Crenshaw, Brian Setzer, and Howard Hutsberry. LP, Vinyl record album

Music from Bill Haley and the Comets, the Moonglows, Cadiallacs, Bo Diddley, Joe Turner, Smiley Lewis, Clyde McPhatter and the Drifters, Johnny Ace, Chuck Berry, the Penguins, Ruth Brown, and more – 22 tracks in all! CD

There have been plenty of surf rock collections over the years, but this may be one of the coolest – as it spreads its scope far past the sunny beaches of southern California, to embrace a wider range of artists who helped the music find its own formation in the pre-60s years, as well as some other 60s proponents who then took surf-styled guitar overseas! As always with the Fremeaux label, there's a thoughtfulness to the package that really stands out, and which is carried through in the notes, which are in both English and French – great support for the package of 48 tracks that includes work from Dick Dale, The Spotnicks, John Barry, Link Wray, The Revels, Jesters, Shadows, Excellents, Lewis Reed, Rivingtons, Dion, Eddie Cochran, Bo Diddley, Jimmie Lane, Pee Wee King, Merle Travis, Sol Hoopii, and others. CD

Tim Hardin's last album for Verve – and a record that has a bit of a different vibe than his previous three sets! Although still in folksy territory, Tim's really drawn a lot from blues as well – and the set adds in some electric guitar riffing and harmonica, to emphasize the blusier currents of the new tunes that Hardin penned for the album! Most of the tracks have a different spirit than before – maybe more of sense of pride and person than some of the bluer-tinged material that Tim first gave us – but amidst the brasher phrasing, there's still that unmistakable Hardin quality of humanity – a vibe that gives the whole thing a very different feel than other bluesy material of the time. Titles include "I Can't Slow Down", "Airmobile", "Whiskey Whiskey", "Ain't Gonna Do Without", and "Hello Baby" – plus versions of "Bo Diddley" and "Seventh Son". LP, Vinyl record album

A great side of the too-small Zombies catalog of the 60s – rare material recorded for BBC Radio – almost all of it with the same sort of great fidelity as their famous singles! The music here spans the years 1964 to 1968 – starting with some early material with a grittier edge, and featuring a surprising handful of soul music covers, too – including tracks by Curtis Mayfield, Stevie Wonder, and Bo Diddley – in addition to the group's own originals. Covers include "This Old Heart Of Mine", "Loving You Is Sweeter Than Ever", "Just A Little Bit", "Soulville", "It's All Right", and "For You My Love" – next to Zombies originals "She's Not There", "What More Can I Do", "Friends Of Mine", "Whenever You're Ready", and "Just Out Of Reach". Also includes some cool other bits – including "Kenny Everett Interview & Jingle", plus "Colin Talks About The Continent", "The Zombies Find America", and "Different Instruments" – all interview passages. LP, Vinyl record album

One dozen "berrys", all of them great – the fresh fruits of the labors of a young Chuck Berry – heard here at his raw, early best! The sound here is stunning – a version of Chuck that gets way past any oldies cliches – and which reminds us that at the start, his music was coming from the same Chess Records fount as Bo Diddley's riffing guitar and Muddy Waters' Chicago blues! The tunes all work together perfectly – and the familiar numbers fit in perfectly with overlooked gems that really make the album great – especially when Chuck's guitar is really given a chance to step out and solo. Titles include "La Juanda", "Sweet Little Sixteen", "It Don't Take But A Few Minutes", "Rock & Roll Music", and "Low Feeling". (Soul, Rock) LP, Vinyl record album

A perfect example of the jamming style of Quicksilver Messenger Service at their best – as side one features a 25 minute extrapolation of Bo Diddley's "Who Do You Love", stretched out by the group into these wicked long guitar lines and pulsating rhythms that shift nicely over time! Bo's a surprising inspiration for a group that's better known for their psych output – but their use of that track, and his "Mona", on the live recordings here really helps carve a link out of two different generations of guitar innovation – and suddenly helps us understand links between them both. The set continues with some great original numbers – the very long "Calvary", plus "Maiden Of The Cancer Moon" – as well as a cover of "Happy Trails". CD

Titles include "Bo Diddley", "Love The One You're With", "Let It Rock", "Jesse James", "Someday", and "Heavy Music". CD

Titles include "Bo Diddley", "Love The One You're With", "Let It Rock", "Jesse James", "Someday", and "Heavy Music". LP, Vinyl record album

Music from Little Richard, Dee Clark, Fats Domino, Bo Diddley, Lloyd Price, Chuck Berry, Big Al Downing, Otis Redding, Johnny Otis, LaVern Baker, Mister PT, and more (Soul, Rock) CD

Music from Slim Harpo, Bo Diddley, Mose Allison, Eddie Cochran, Johnny Kidd & The Pirates, Jimmy Reed, Benny Spellman, The Yardbirds, Small Faces, The Action, The Creation, The Impressions, Booker T. Jones, and The Who. CD

A sublime early 70 set of rustic-accented folk, soul & blues from Tim Hardin that's heavy on covers – with tunes penned by Willie Dixon, Randy Newman, and others – in a soulful rock mode that's just ragged enough to give it a loose charm unlike any of Hardin's earlier work! Tim's in fine, effortlessly soulful voice here on material that could have found him going over the top, ala Joe Cocker, but he's tastefully restrained throughout. An underrated gem! Titles include the a loosely buzzing cover of the eternal Bo Diddley via Willie Dixon masterpiece "You Can't Judge A Book By The Cover" and Dixon's "Do The Do", plus "Midnight Caller", "Yankee Lady", "Lonesome Valley", "Till We Meet Again", "I'll Be Home", "Nobody Knows You When You're Down And Out" and more. LP, Vinyl record album

A really groovy record by a really unusual group – a trio who played at a small resort in Missouri during the 60s, where they effortlessly mixed up elements of rock, jazz, and country for the crowds at the bar! That's the lovely Ann Delrene on the front, and she's a hell of a singer – way more than some lounge wanna-be, and instead a richly talented vocalist who not only does a hell of a lot when she steps to the mic, but also manages to give familiar tunes a very fresh flavor of their own – playing bass alongside the guitar and drums in the trio! Titles include "The Tide", "Funnel Of Love", "Girl From Ipanema", "Voodoo Doll", "Hey Bo Diddley", "Night Train", and "Your Cheatin Heart". (Vocalists, Rock) LP, Vinyl record album

Novelty and tribute songs by Junior & his friends, Betty Riley, Allan Chase, Bo Diddley, Dixie Drifter, the Valentines, Balboa, George Jackson, Jane Dora, Tiny Tim, the People, and more – 29 tracks total. CD

Includes music by Albert Ammons, T-Bone Walker, Sol Hoopii, Chet Atkins, Lowell Fulson, Johnny Guitar Watson, Bill Doggett, BB King, Link Wray, Duane Eddy, Bo Diddley, Eddie Cochran, Dr. John, Santo and Johnny, the Ventures, Shadows, Dick Dale, King Curtis, and others – 66 tracks total. CD

A swirling, mangy psychedelia drenched pounder from the Paisleys – who kind of took an acid-steeped Syd Barrett approach to the garage formula, making for one of the densest, bluntest, heaviest lumbering mastodon's of the era! Seven tracks from the original LP: "Cosmic Mind At Play", "Rockin'", "Now", "Smokey Windows", "Diddley", "Wind", and "Musical Journey". There's seven bonus tracks, too, including "Something's Missing", "The Fool With The Jewel", "Elf In A Magic Bottle", "In Dreams" and more! LP, Vinyl record album