Walking the Dog [Collectables]

Performer: Rufus Thomas
Distributor: Gotham Distributing Corp.

Notes: Digitally remastered from the original mono master tapes. One of the most entertaining figures in 1960s R&B, Rufus Thomas started his professional career in the 1930s as a performer on the vaudeville circuit, later becoming a DJ. Though his signature hit, 1963's "Walking the Dog," didn't come until he was 46 years old, he wasted no time in capitalizing on it, as this best-of demonstrates--later singles like "The Dog" and "Can Your Monkey Do the Dog" are among the infectious R&B novelty hits featured here. There's also a creditable version of John Lee Hooker's "Boom Boom" and Wilson Pickett's "Land of 1000 Dances," all backed up by the instantly recognizable Memphis R&B of the Stax house band.

The Crown Prince of Dance, Rufus Thomas is one of the most significant figures in Memphis music history, and is also an important contributor to the development of early rock & roll, classic Southern soul, and funk. Thomas began singing in the 1940s and made his name as a radio DJ in Memphis before recording the classic Sun Records side "Bear Cat." Thomas signed on with the legendary Stax Records in the early '60s where he released a series of fun yet hard-hitting soul records, many of which--"Do the Funky Chicken," "Do the Penguin," "Walking the Dog"--were directives for the latest dance crazes. Although Thomas was a genial entertainer, he was also one mean soulster, a reputation he upheld dutifully until his death in 2001.

Click Here for Shipping Options and Policies

Shipping or Dimension weight in pounds: 0.25