I Need You Baby (Mona)

Album: The Rolling Stones (1964)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This song was written and originally performed Bo Diddley (Ellas McDaniel) in 1958. It contains his signature beat.
  • This was an obscure American R&B song The Stones covered on their first album and played it live at concerts from 1963-1964 and again in 1981. They were the first to bring it to a white audience.
  • Keith Richards: "I've never heard anybody, before or since, get that Bo Diddley thing down. Diddley himself was astounded, saying that Brian was the only cat he knew who'd worked out the secret of it." >>>
    Suggestion credit:
    Bertrand - Paris, France, for above 2
  • Bruce Springsteen would sometimes perform this at concerts, carrying the Bo Diddley beat into "She's The One."
  • Quicksilver Messenger Service recorded a popular psychedelic version of this song for their 1969 album Happy Trails.
  • Tom Petty and Bo Diddley can be seen doing "Mona" as a duet on Tom Petty's DVD Hight Grass Dogs, which was recorded during Tom Petty's lengthy stint at The Fillmore in San Francisco, California. Bo Diddley was one of the guests who opened the show for Petty during Petty's extended Fillmore appearances. >>>
    Suggestion credit:
    Willy - Vallejo, DC

Comments: 5

  • Peter from The NetherlandsWhy is this song not on the American version. Instead of it they placed "Not Fade Away". On the remastered cd, they used the American version, so "I Need You Baby (Mona)" is not to find in a remastered version anywhere.
  • Stefanie Magura from Rock Hill, ScHa ha craig! Very funny!
  • Craig from Dunedin, New ZealandBo Diddley is Jesus!!! Who were the Stoning Rolls anyway???
  • Frank from Pittsburgh, Pathe smiths copped the opening riff of this song on "how soon is now"
  • Don from Sebastopol, CaQuicksilver Messenger Service also did this song on their "Happy Trails" album. And the entire first side of that record is musical mutations of Bo Diddley's 'Who Do You Love?'.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Edie Brickell

Edie BrickellSongwriter Interviews

Edie Brickell on her collaborations with Paul Simon, Steve Martin and Willie Nelson, and her 2021 album with the New Bohemians.

Rick Springfield

Rick SpringfieldSongwriter Interviews

Rick has a surprising dark side, a strong feminine side and, in a certain TV show, a naked backside. But he still hasn't found Jessie's Girl.

Pam Tillis

Pam TillisSongwriter Interviews

The country sweetheart opines about the demands of touring and talks about writing songs with her famous father.

90s Music Quiz 1

90s Music Quiz 1Music Quiz

First question: Michael Jordan and Magic Johnson appeared in videos for what artist?

Colin Hay

Colin HaySongwriter Interviews

Established as a redoubtable singer-songwriter, the Men At Work frontman explains how religion, sobriety and Jack Nicholson play into his songwriting.

They Might Be Giants

They Might Be GiantsSongwriter Interviews

Who writes a song about a name they found in a phone book? That's just one of the everyday things these guys find to sing about. Anything in their field of vision or general scope of knowledge is fair game. If you cross paths with them, so are you.