Jump to content

Pretty Thing: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous edit
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
m →‎top: cite repair;
navbox added
 
(18 intermediate revisions by 11 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{other uses|Pretty Things (disambiguation)}}
{{Infobox song
{{Infobox song
| name = Pretty Thing
| name = Pretty Thing
Line 8: Line 9:
| album = [[Bo Diddley (1958 album)|Bo Diddley]]
| album = [[Bo Diddley (1958 album)|Bo Diddley]]
| B-side = Bring It to Jerome
| B-side = Bring It to Jerome
| released = {{Start date|1955|11}}<ref name="Billboard">{{cite journal
| released = {{Start date|1955|11}}<ref name="Billboard">{{cite magazine
| date = November 26, 1955
| date = November 26, 1955
| title = This Week's Best Buys
| title = This Week's Best Buys
| journal = [[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]
| magazine = [[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]
| page = 49
| page = 49
| accessdate = December 24, 2010
| accessdate = December 24, 2010
| url = https://books.google.com/?id=vCEEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA49&dq=%22Bo+Diddley%22+827#v=onepage&q=%22Bo%20Diddley%22%20827&f=false
| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=vCEEAAAAMBAJ&q=%22Bo+Diddley%22+827&pg=PA49
| publisher = Nielsen Business Media, Inc.
| publisher = Nielsen Business Media, Inc.
}}</ref>
}}</ref>
| recorded = July 14, 1955<ref name="best">{{cite AV media notes |title=His Best |author=Bo Diddley |author-link=Bo Diddley |year=1997 |url=http://aln3.albumlinernotes.com/Bo_Diddley_His_Best.html |type=CD liner |publisher=[[Chess Records]]/[[MCA Records]] |id=CHD-9373 |location=[[United States]]}}</ref>
| format = [[Gramophone record|7" 45 RPM, 10" 78 RPM]]
| recorded = July 14, 1955 in [[Chicago]], [[Illinois]]<ref name="best">{{cite AV media notes |title=His Best |author=[[Bo Diddley]] |year=1997 |url=http://aln3.albumlinernotes.com/Bo_Diddley_His_Best.html |type=CD liner |publisher=[[Chess Records]]/[[MCA Records]] |id=CHD-9373 |location=[[United States]]}}</ref>
| studio = [[Universal Recording Corp.]] (Chicago)<ref name="Saunders">{{cite web |title=The Chess Label Part II (1953-1955)|url=http://campber.people.clemson.edu/chess2.html |website=The Red Saunders Research Foundation |access-date=29 September 2021}}</ref>
| studio =
| venue =
| venue =
| genre = [[Rock and roll]], [[rhythm and blues]]
| genre = {{Flatlist|*[[Rock and roll]]
* [[rhythm and blues]]}}
| length = {{Duration|m=2|s=48}}
| length = {{Duration|m=2|s=48}}
| label = [[Checker Records|Checker]]
| label = [[Checker Records|Checker]]
| writer = [[Willie Dixon]]
| writer = [[Bo Diddley]] and [[Willie Dixon]]
| producer = [[Leonard Chess]], [[Phil Chess]], [[Bo Diddley]]<ref name="best" />
| producer = [[Leonard Chess]], [[Phil Chess]], [[Bo Diddley]]<ref name="best" />
| chronology = [[Bo Diddley]] [[United States|U.S.]]
| chronology = [[Bo Diddley]] [[United States|U.S.]]
Line 34: Line 35:
| artist = [[Bo Diddley]] [[United Kingdom|U.K.]]
| artist = [[Bo Diddley]] [[United Kingdom|U.K.]]
| type = single
| type = single
| prev_title = [[Bo Diddley (song)|Bo Diddley]]
| prev_title = [[Bo Diddley (Bo Diddley song)|Bo Diddley]]
| prev_year = 1963
| prev_year = 1963
| title = Pretty Thing
| title = Pretty Thing
Line 43: Line 44:
}}
}}


"'''Pretty Thing'''" is a 1955 song written by [[Willie Dixon]] and performed by [[Bo Diddley]]. The song was Diddley's third single release through [[Checker Records]] after "Diddley Daddy". In 1963, the song was released in the [[United Kingdom]] where it became Diddley's first of only two songs appearing on the [[UK Singles Chart]], the other single being "Hey Good Lookin'".<ref name=occ>{{cite web|title=Bo Diddley - Full Official Chart History|url=http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/10859/bo-diddley/|website=Official Charts Company|publisher=Official Charts Company|accessdate=19 January 2016}}</ref>
"'''Pretty Thing'''" is a 1955 song written by [[Bo Diddley]] and [[Willie Dixon]] and performed by Bo Diddley. The song was Diddley's third single release through [[Checker Records]] after "Diddley Daddy". In 1963, the song was released in the [[United Kingdom]] where it became Diddley's first of only two songs appearing on the [[UK Singles Chart]], the other single being "Hey Good Lookin'".<ref name=occ>{{cite web|title=Bo Diddley - Full Official Chart History|url=http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/10859/bo-diddley/|website=Official Charts Company|accessdate=19 January 2016}}</ref>


==Writing and recording==
==Writing and recording==
Original releases of the single credited Bo Diddley (Ellas McDaniel) as the song's writer, but many later releases credit Willie Dixon. Bo Diddley himself said: "Willie Dixon wrote 'Pretty Thing'. I remember Willie standin' over me, whisperin' the lyrics in my ear before I got to the next line! He was nice enough to give me part of the tune. It should be on the credits: 'McDaniel & Dixon'".<ref>[https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=HJXt6xLGQ1EC&pg=PA140&lpg=PA140&dq=%22Pretty+Thing%22+writer+dixon+diddley&source=bl&ots=N_pBEB7G3u&sig=ACfU3U0-dfflcIH2q5vC-N10SRWpaaF72w&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwi2uq3BmL3qAhVkQRUIHTPeAusQ6AEwCXoECAoQAQ#v=onepage&q=%22Pretty%20Thing%22%20writer%20dixon%20diddley&f=false Mitsutoshi Inaba, ''Willie Dixon: Preacher of the Blues'', Scarecrow Press, 2011, p.140]</ref>
Original releases of the single credited Bo Diddley (Ellas McDaniel) as the song's writer, but many later releases credit Willie Dixon. Bo Diddley himself said: "I remember Willie standin' over me, whisperin' the lyrics in my ear before I got to the next line! He was nice enough to give me part of the tune. It should be on the credits: 'McDaniel & Dixon'."<ref>{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HJXt6xLGQ1EC&dq=%22Pretty+Thing%22+writer+dixon+diddley&pg=PA140 | title=Willie Dixon: Preacher of the Blues | isbn=9780810869936 | last1=Inaba | first1=Mitsutoshi | year=2011 |publisher=[[Scarecrow Press]] |page=140 }}</ref>


"Pretty Thing" was recorded by Bo Diddley on July 14, 1955 in [[Chicago]], [[Illinois]] – the same day as "Bring It to Jerome". [[Record producer|Producing]] the session were the Chess brothers – [[Leonard Chess|Leonard]] and [[Phil Chess|Phil]] – and Bo Diddley. The performers on the song were Bo Diddley ([[Singing|vocals]], [[guitar]]), [[Jerome Green]] ([[maraca]]s), [[Lester Davenport]] ([[harmonica]]), and [[Clifton James (musician)|Clifton James]] ([[Drum kit|drum]]s).<ref name="best" />
"Pretty Thing" was recorded by Bo Diddley on July 14, 1955 – the same day as "Bring It to Jerome". [[Record producer|Producing]] the session at [[Universal Recording Corporation]]<ref name="Saunders"/> in [[Chicago]], [[Illinois]] were the Chess brothers – [[Leonard Chess|Leonard]] and [[Phil Chess|Phil]] – and Bo Diddley. The performers on the song were Bo Diddley ([[Singing|vocals]], [[guitar]]), [[Jerome Green]] ([[maraca]]s), [[Lester Davenport]] ([[harmonica]]), and [[Clifton James (musician)|Clifton James]] ([[Drum kit|drum]]s).<ref name="best" />


==Single track listings==
==Single track listings==
Line 65: Line 66:


==Chart performance==
==Chart performance==
"Pretty Thing" was Diddley's second charter on the U.S. ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' [[Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs|R&B Singles]] chart reaching #4 sometime in 1956, and is Diddley's third highest charter next to "Bo Diddley/I'm a Man" (#1) and "Say Man" (#3).<ref>{{cite web |url={{Allmusic|class=artist|id=bo-diddley-p57518/charts-awards/billboard-singles|pure_url=yes}} |title=Bo Diddley - Billboard Singles |work=[[Allmusic]] |publisher=[[Rovi Corporation]] |location=[[United States]] |accessdate=November 28, 2010 }}</ref> "Pretty Thing" reached #34 on the [[UK Singles Chart]].<ref name=occ/>
"Pretty Thing" was Diddley's second charter on the U.S. ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' [[Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs|R&B Singles]] chart reaching #4 sometime in 1956, and is Diddley's third highest charter next to "Bo Diddley/I'm a Man" (#1) and "Say Man" (#3).<ref>{{cite web |url={{AllMusic|class=artist|id=bo-diddley-p57518/charts-awards/billboard-singles|pure_url=yes}} |title=Bo Diddley - Billboard Singles |work=[[Allmusic]] |publisher=[[Rovi Corporation]] |location=[[United States]] |accessdate=November 28, 2010 }}</ref> "Pretty Thing" reached #34 on the [[UK Singles Chart]].<ref name=occ/>


==Cover versions==
==Cover versions==
Line 72: Line 73:
==References==
==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{MetroLyrics song|bo-diddley|pretty-thing}}<!-- Licensed lyrics provider -->


{{Bo Diddley}}
{{Bo Diddley}}
{{Willie Dixon}}
{{Authority control}}


[[Category:1956 singles]]
[[Category:1956 singles]]

Latest revision as of 22:51, 18 February 2024

For other uses, see Pretty Things (disambiguation).
"Pretty Thing"
The 1963 UK single release of "Pretty Thing" by Pye International Records.
Single by Bo Diddley
from the album Bo Diddley
B-side"Bring It to Jerome"
ReleasedNovember 1955 (1955-11)[1]
RecordedJuly 14, 1955[2]
StudioUniversal Recording Corp. (Chicago)[3]
Genre
Length2:48
LabelChecker
Songwriter(s)Bo Diddley and Willie Dixon
Producer(s)Leonard Chess, Phil Chess, Bo Diddley[2]
Bo Diddley U.S. singles chronology
"Diddley Daddy"
(1955) 		"Pretty Thing"
(1955) 		"Diddy Wah Diddy"
(1956)
Bo Diddley U.K. singles chronology
"Bo Diddley"
(1963) 		"Pretty Thing"
(1963) 		"Bo Diddley Is a Lover"
(1963)

"Pretty Thing" is a 1955 song written by Bo Diddley and Willie Dixon and performed by Bo Diddley. The song was Diddley's third single release through Checker Records after "Diddley Daddy". In 1963, the song was released in the United Kingdom where it became Diddley's first of only two songs appearing on the UK Singles Chart, the other single being "Hey Good Lookin'".[4]

Writing and recording

[edit]

Original releases of the single credited Bo Diddley (Ellas McDaniel) as the song's writer, but many later releases credit Willie Dixon. Bo Diddley himself said: "I remember Willie standin' over me, whisperin' the lyrics in my ear before I got to the next line! He was nice enough to give me part of the tune. It should be on the credits: 'McDaniel & Dixon'."[5]

"Pretty Thing" was recorded by Bo Diddley on July 14, 1955 – the same day as "Bring It to Jerome". Producing the session at Universal Recording Corporation[3] in Chicago, Illinois were the Chess brothers – Leonard and Phil – and Bo Diddley. The performers on the song were Bo Diddley (vocals, guitar), Jerome Green (maracas), Lester Davenport (harmonica), and Clifton James (drums).[2]

Single track listings

[edit]

US 45 RPM/78 RPM

[edit]
Side one
  1. "Pretty Thing"
Side two
  1. "Bring It to Jerome"

UK 45 RPM

[edit]
Side one
  1. "Pretty Thing"
Side two
  1. "Road Runner"

Chart performance

[edit]

"Pretty Thing" was Diddley's second charter on the U.S. Billboard R&B Singles chart reaching #4 sometime in 1956, and is Diddley's third highest charter next to "Bo Diddley/I'm a Man" (#1) and "Say Man" (#3).[6] "Pretty Thing" reached #34 on the UK Singles Chart.[4]

Cover versions

[edit]

The Pretty Things, who took their name from the song, made a cover version of the song on their eponymous debut album in March 1965. The Animals recorded a version on a 1963 EP and also released it as a bonus track on Animalisms. Canned Heat released a studio version of the song on Vintage in 1970. John Hammond and The Nighthawks recorded a cover version of "Pretty Thing" at Vanguard Records studios in September 1979 and released it on Hot Tracks.[7]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "This Week's Best Buys". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. November 26, 1955. p. 49. Retrieved December 24, 2010.
  2. ^ a b c Bo Diddley (1997). His Best (CD liner). United States: Chess Records/MCA Records. CHD-9373.
  3. ^ a b "The Chess Label Part II (1953-1955)". The Red Saunders Research Foundation. Retrieved 29 September 2021.
  4. ^ a b "Bo Diddley - Full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 19 January 2016.
  5. ^ Inaba, Mitsutoshi (2011). Willie Dixon: Preacher of the Blues. Scarecrow Press. p. 140. ISBN 9780810869936.
  6. ^ "Bo Diddley - Billboard Singles". Allmusic. United States: Rovi Corporation. Retrieved November 28, 2010.
  7. ^ Eder, Bruce. "Overview: Hot Tracks by John Hammond, Jr". Allmusic. United States: Rovi Corporation. Retrieved December 24, 2010.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Pretty_Thing&oldid=1208784350"