Mona (I Need You Baby)

"Mona (I Need You Baby)" is a song written by Elias McDaniel (real name of Bo Diddley) and was the B-side to his 1957 single "Hey! Bo Diddley".

According to Diddley's obituary in The New York Times, "Mona" was a song of praise he wrote for a 45-year-old exotic dancer who worked at the Flame Show Bar in Detroit. The song also became the template for Buddy Holly's "Not Fade Away".^[1]

Craig McLachlan & Check 1–2's version

"Mona"
Single by Craig McLachlan & Check 1–2
from the album Craig McLachlan & Check 1-2
B-side	"I Don't Mind"
Released	April 1990
Format	CD single cassingle
Genre	Pop, SynthPop
Length	3:40
Label	CBS
Writer(s)	Elias McDaniel
Producer(s)	Garth Porter
Craig McLachlan & Check 1–2 singles chronology
"Rock the Rock" (1989) "Mona" (1990) "Amanda" (1990)

In 1990, Australian actor/musician Craig McLachlan released a version with his band 'Check 1–2'. It was their second single from their album, Craig McLachlan & Check 1-2. It was a commercial success peaking at No. 3 in Australia and No. 2 in the UK. It was the highest selling single by an Australian artist in 1990.^[2]

Track listing

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Mona (7" Version)"	Elias McDaniel	3:40
2.	"Mona (Extended Remix)"	Elias McDaniel	6:52
3.	"I Don't Mind"	Craig McLachlan	3:19

Charts

"Mona" peaked at No. 2 in the UK Singles Chart, behind Elton John's "Sacrifice" in the week commencing 21 July 1990.^[3]

Chart (1990) Peak position Australian ARIA Singles Chart[4] 3 Austrian Singles Chart[4] 44 Belgian Singles Chart[4] 8 German Singles Chart[4] 44 Dutch Singles Charts MegaCharts[4] 26 New Zealand Singles Chart[4] 16 UK Singles Chart[5] 2

End of year chart (1990) Position Australian Singles Chart 15[2] Region Certification Certified units/Sales Australia (ARIA)[6] Platinum 70,000^^ ^*sales figures based on certification alone ^^shipments figures based on certification alone

Awards

Year	Nominee/work	Award	Result
1991	"Mona"	ARIA Award for Highest Selling Single of the Year[7]	Won

Cover versions

The song "Mona (I Need You Baby)" has been covered by many artists including;

• The Rolling Stones for their debut album in 1964.
• The Troggs on their Trogglodynamite album in 1967.
• Quicksilver Messenger Service for their second album Happy Trails in 1969. It was ranked number 88 on the 100 Greatest Guitar Songs of All Time by Rolling Stone.^[8]
• Grateful Dead performed the song twice. The first with Bo Diddley on 25 March 1972 (released on Dick's Picks Volume 30) and then again on 27 October 1991 with guests Gary Duncan and Carlos Santana.
• The Roosters on their 1980 self-titled debut album.
• Frank Marino and Mahogany Rush covered "Mona" on their 1980 album What's Next.
• Bruce Springsteen often performed an interpretation of the song as an introduction to "She's the One" on the Born to Run tours and Darkness Tour of the 1970s.

References

1. "Bo Diddley, Who Gave Rock His Beat, Dies at 79". The New York Times. 3 June 2008. Retrieved 21 June 2014.
2. "ARIA Charts – End of Year Charts – Top 50 Singles 1990". Aria.com.au. Retrieved 2014-07-23.
3. "1990-07-21 Top 40 Official Singles Chart UK Archive". Official Charts. 21 July 1990. Retrieved 2014-07-23.
4. "CRAIG MCLACHLAN & CHECK 1–2 – MONA (SONG)". Australian Charts. 21 June 2014. Retrieved 21 June 2014.
5. "The Official Chart Company – Craig McLachlan". Official Charts. 25 December 2011. Retrieved 21 June 2014.
6. "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 1990 Singles". Australian Recording Industry Association.
7. "Winners By Year – 27th ARIA Awards 2013". Ariaawards.com.au. Retrieved 2014-07-23.
8. "Rolling Stone's 100 Greatest Guitar Songs of All Time – Stereogum". stereogum.com. Retrieved 24 April 2013.