"Mona (I Need You Baby)" is a song written by Ellas McDaniel (Bo Diddley) that appeared as 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 the Crickets's "Not Fade Away".[1]

Craig McLachlan & Check 1–2 version

"Mona"
Single by Craig McLachlan & Check 1–2
from the album Craig McLachlan & Check 1-2
B-side"I Don't Mind"
ReleasedMarch 18, 1990 (1990-03-18)[2]
Length3:40
LabelCBS
Songwriter(s)Ellas McDaniel
Producer(s)Garth Porter
Craig McLachlan & Check 1–2 singles chronology
"Rock the Rock"
(1989) 		"Mona"
(1990) 		"Amanda"
(1990)

In March 1990, Australian actor and musician Craig McLachlan released a version with his band, Check 1–2, as the second single from their 1990 debut album, Craig McLachlan & Check 1-2. It was a commercial success, peaking at No. 3 in Australia and No. 2 in the United Kingdom. In Australia, it was the highest-selling single by a native artist in 1990.[3]

Track listing

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Mona" (7-inch version)Ellas McDaniel3:40
2."Mona" (extended remix)Ellas McDaniel6:52
3."I Don't Mind"Craig McLachlan3:19

Awards

Year Nominee / work Award Result
1991 "Mona" ARIA Award for Highest Selling Single of the Year[4] Won

Charts

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[3] Platinum 70,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Cover versions

"Mona (I Need You Baby)" has been covered by many artists, including:

References

  1. ^ Ratliff, Ben (June 3, 2008). "Bo Diddley, Who Gave Rock His Beat, Dies at 79". The New York Times. Retrieved June 21, 2014.
  2. ^ a b "Craig McLachlan & Check 1-2 – Mona". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved July 13, 2020.
  3. ^ a b c "ARIA Top 50 Singles for 1990". ARIA. Retrieved July 13, 2020.
  4. ^ "Winners By Year – 27th ARIA Awards 2013". ariaawards.com.au. Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved July 23, 2014.
  5. ^ "Craig McLachlan & Check 1-2 – Mona" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved July 13, 2020.
  6. ^ "Craig McLachlan & Check 1-2 – Mona" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved July 13, 2020.
  7. ^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 7, no. 30. July 28, 1990. p. IV. Retrieved July 13, 2020.
  8. ^ "Craig McLachlan & Check 1-2 – Mona" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved July 13, 2020.
  9. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Mona". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved July 13, 2020.
  10. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 30, 1990" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved July 13, 2020.
  11. ^ "Craig McLachlan & Check 1-2 – Mona" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved July 13, 2020.
  12. ^ "Craig McLachlan & Check 1-2 – Mona". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved July 13, 2020.
  13. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 13, 2020.
  14. ^ "Jaaroverzichten 1990" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved July 13, 2020.
  15. ^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles 1990" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 7, no. 51. December 22, 1990. p. 36. Retrieved July 13, 2020.
  16. ^ "End of Year Charts 1990". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved July 13, 2020.
  17. ^ "1990 Top 100 Singles". Music Week. London, England. March 2, 1991. p. 41.
  18. ^ "TC Atlantic". Minniepaulmusic.com.
  19. ^ "Rolling Stone's 100 Greatest Guitar Songs of All Time – Stereogum". stereogum.com. May 30, 2008. Retrieved April 24, 2013.
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