Before You Accuse Me

When Bo Diddley recorded "Before You Accuse Me" in August 1957, he was shaping a sound that would define rock and roll. The song, originally released as the B-side of the single "Say Bossman", was part of his self-titled debut album in 1958. On that original recording, Diddley was accompanied by Jody Williams on guitar, Willie Dixon on bass, and Frank Kirkland on drums. The track is a clear example of his style, fusing rock and roll with rhythm and blues and country blues, and it became a fundamental piece of his repertoire.

Over the years, "Before You Accuse Me" has been reinterpreted by various artists. Creedence Clearwater Revival included it on their 1970 album Cosmo's Factory, with John Fogerty contributing both guitar and piano. Biographer Thomas M. Kitts suggested that the lyrics, which speak of shifting blame to one's partner, might have been a way for Fogerty to send a message to his own band, at a time of growing tensions. For his part, Eric Clapton recorded the song on different occasions. An electric version appeared on his 1989 album Journeyman, and as the B-side of the single "Pretending", it reached ninth place on the Billboard Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks chart in 1990. Later, in 1992, an acoustic version was included on his album Unplugged.