The song was based on a guitar riff by Jody Williams and was written by Bo Diddley under the name of his wife at the time, Ethel Smith; it was recorded by Bo and Buddy Holly, among others. The guitar riff was also used by Dave "Baby" Cortez in his 1962 instrumental song "Rinky Dink", also credited to Diddley.
Background and recordings
At a concert at Howard Theatre in Washington, D.C. Mickey and Sylvia heard Jody Williams play a guitar riff that Williams had played on Billy Stewart's debut single "Billy's Blues".[3] "Billy's Blues" was released as a single in June 1956 .[4] Sylvia Robinson claims that she and Mickey Baker wrote the lyrics, while Bo Diddley claims that he wrote them.
The first recorded version of "Love Is Strange" was performed by Bo Diddley, who recorded his version on May 24, 1956 with Jody Williams on lead guitar. This version was not released until its appearance on I'm a Man: The Chess Masters, 1955–1958 in 2007.[5] Mickey & Sylvia's version was recorded several months later on October 17, 1956.[2] A second Mickey & Sylvia studio recording, recorded some years after, featured now-legendary drummer Bernard "Pretty" Purdie on his first paid session gig.[6][7][8] Another early version was by UK singer Michael Holliday who recorded the song in 1957.
The song is noted for its spoken dialogue section which goes as follows:
"Sylvia!"
"Yes, Mickey."
"How do you call your Lover Boy?"
"Come here, Lover Boy!"
"And if he doesn't answer?"
"Oh, Lover Boy!"
"And if he still doesn't answer?"
"I simply say..."
(Sung) "Baby/ Oh baby/ My sweet baby/ You're the one."
(The sung part is repeated with Mickey singing the harmony.)
(This is followed by a repeat of the instrumental section before the song's fade.)
This version was recorded for the "Nancy & Lee" album, but subsequently left off the record. It was included on the Light In The Attic Records expanded reissue in 2022.
This version also includes two spoken word sections. Nancy is first, followed by Lee. When Nancy asks: "And if she still doesn't answer?" Lee replies: "You better get on in here or I'm gonna start without you!"
Recorded in 1959, this version of "Love Is Strange", featuring multiple instrumental overdubs, was released on the posthumous album Giant in 1969, a decade after Holly's death.[14]
Bloom: I know Lucifer so well I call him by his first name! Dharma: What do you call him? Bloom: I call him, hey Lu! Dharma: And if he don't answer? Bloom: I say, hey Lu... lover boy...
The song is parodied in the 1973 New York Dolls song "Trash", where singer David Johansen quotes "Oh how do you call your loverboy? ... Trash!" then later uses the same melody for several bars.
The spoken part is referenced by Lou Reed at the end of his song "Beginning of A Great Adventure" on his 1989 album New York. He had married Sylvia Morales in 1980.
The song appears also in the Dennis Potter 1993 TV miniseriesLipstick on Your Collar where Mickey and Sylvia become the two main characters.[17]
^I'm a Man: The Chess Masters, 1955–1958 (CD liner). Bo Diddley. United States: Hip-O Select. 2007. B0009231-02.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^Madinger, Chip; Easter, Mark (2000). Eight Arms to Hold You: The Solo Beatles Compendium (1st ed.). Chesterfield, Mo.: 44.1 Productions. ISBN978-0615117249.
