“I’m a Man,” the first song recorded by Bo Diddley in 1955, became the flip side of his debut single, the eponymous “Bo Diddley,” which was selected as a Blues Hall of Fame classic in 2017. While the infectious “Bo Diddley” was the primary hit, the bold, brash blues declaration “I’m a Man” also made it onto the charts. According to Cash Box magazine’s regional reports, “I’m a Man” actually charted higher at some points than “Bo Diddley” in some Southern markets, including Memphis. Bo’s band on the Chicago session included Billy Boy Arnold, Otis Spann, Jerome Arnold, Willie Dixon, and Clifton James. Bo’s theme gained new life when Muddy Waters recorded a very similar follow-up, “Mannish Boy.”
