Ellas McDaniel / 3:33
Musicians
Mick Jagger: vocals, maracas
Keith Richards: rhythm guitar, lead guitar (?)
Brian Jones: rhythm guitar
Bill Wyman: bass
Charlie Watts: drums
Unidentified: hand claps, tambourine
Recorded
Regent Sound Studios: January 3, 1964
Technical Team
Producer: Andrew Loog Oldham
Sound Engineer: Bill Farley
Better known as Bo Diddley, Ellas McDaniel was a major source of inspiration for young British and US groups at the beginning of the sixties. A syncopated rhythm that had its origins in the depths of the Mississippi Delta before being revisited in the Chess Records canon of electric blues was the source at which the Rolling Stones drank—even before the Pretty Things, who took their name from a song by the rock ’n’ roll pioneer. “I Need You Baby (Mona)” was released in 1957 as the B-side of “Hey! Bo Diddley.”
The London gang cut their own version of “Mona” during the session of January 3, 1964. The original spirit of the song derives from that hypnotic “Bo Diddley beat” that can also be found in “Not Fade Away,” released by Buddy Holly in October 1957 and later by the Rolling Stones themselves, for their third British single, on January 10, 1964.
The version of “Mona” offered up by the five English boys is distinctly more aggressive and more tribal than the original. This impression is reinforced by the drumming, with Charlie playing mainly on the toms. Unfortunately, Bill’s bass is lost in the sea of noise and provides the drummer with only limited support. It is the two guitars that play the most prominent part, heavily colored by the vibrato delivered by their Vox AC30 guitar amps, creating an authentic “Bo Diddley” sound. One of the two—Keith seems the most likely candidate—plays a solo that adheres closely to the original. The maracas played by Mick, who takes his cue from the master Jerome Green on the original recording, are another element in common with Diddley. Jagger delivers the lyrics brilliantly, the particular quality of his voice bringing a feline character to the number. On top of all this, added no doubt by means of overdub, are a tambourine part and hand claps, both highly effective.