Rufus Thomas - Walking The Dog (1964)

Rufus C. Thomas, Jr. (March 26, 1917 - December 15, 2001) was an American rhythm-and-blues, funk, soul and blues singer, songwriter, dancer, DJ and comic entertainer from Memphis, Tennessee. He recorded for several labels, including Chess Records and Sun Records in the 1950s, before becoming established in the 1960s and 1970s at Stax Records. He is best known for his novelty dance records, including "Walking the Dog" (1963), "Do the Funky Chicken" (1969) and "(Do the) Push and Pull" (1970). According to the Mississippi Blues Commission, "Rufus Thomas embodied the spirit of Memphis music perhaps more than any other artist, and from the early 1940s until his death . . . occupied many important roles in the local scene."[4]
He began his career as a tap dancer, vaudeville performer, and master of ceremonies in the 1930s. He later worked as a disc jockey on radio station WDIA in Memphis, both before and after his recordings became successful. He remained active into the 1990s and as a performer and recording artist was often billed as "The World's Oldest Teenager". He was the father of the singers Carla Thomas (with whom he recorded duets) and Vaneese Thomas and the keyboard player Marvell Thomas. - Wikipedia
Shared for historical purposes. I do not own the rights.
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[@edmundhudson]

It's amazing that Rufus was over 50 years old when he had some of his biggest hits. Never give up doing what you love!

[@rachelr3230]

Wow never knew that cool and That went straight to my ❤️ about it never being to late.!🎧❤️🎧

[@iketyson718]

This is why I'm a fan.

[@byellisjohnson]

Me too!

[@purplekief8154]

I needed to read this Thank you 30yrs I've been in bands, I still feel like I'm going to have a hit song one day Now I know I will:) Rufus, wherever you are riding the cosmos Thank you too

[@matthewshaker1621]

47 in this performance

[@TheJameskidwell]

I did 2 weeks with Rufus Thomas in San Antonio back in 1983.He was 66 at the time I believe and singing and dancing great.We hung out and ate at the Dennys every night.We had a great time.one night we played some blues and I played a nice solo that he really dug.When nobody clapped he went off on the audience and said,"What's the matter with yall, the boy can play!"..A couple of weeks after the gig I spoke to him in Memphis,which is where my folks lived as well,and found out my Dad had looked him up in the phone book and called him about me..He told me "I put you up on the top shelf".That was the only thing ever that made my Dad relent a little bit in his opposition to my music pursuits...Thanks RT

[@reelblack]

what a great memory! thanks 4 sharing.

[@TheJameskidwell]

Still doing it kzbin.info/www/bejne/q3qoqHuraM9qapo

[@TheJameskidwell]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/an2tc5iiaLR9Y9U

[@TheKyleBrust]

Funny how that works ey?! My brother has made it pretty solid in the music industry and yet no one wants to give me my deserved props....that is of course, unless my brother commends me, then my folks may ask to hear a tune or two. And I'm grateful but at the same time I'm also like," yo, my catalogue runs deep with original songs." But of course I'm happy to play them "a" song. But geez gimme a break already. Lol. I feel ya bro

[@Gunners_Mate_Guns]

Damn! Rufus was a real standup guy to chime in like that for you. RIP

[@mrmaxxx94]

RUFUS Thomas had some of the funkiest and funniest songs and they are still slamming

[@dilboteabaggins]

I am sad that contemporary music has lost this groove. It just makes me want to move.

[@essiejames9492]

Mr.Rufus Thomas had the top dance songs back in the day i am 71in 2024 loved his music and dances 💃 ❤️

[@gabbyokorare364]

Rufus Thomas shock the world with his iconic hit" walking the dog 1964. Top of the charts for many years..I danced to this hit...1965 when I was in form two in college... great guy. Rufus lives ON!!

[@brucefulper4204]

Infectious groove. So very very good. RIP Rufus. You were one cool cat.

[@wakeupidiotsnow2611]

In 1963 I was a Boy of 11yrs old and my older sister was a 14yr old BOBBIE SOXER, her and friends would clear the floor in the living room and adjoining dining room and “Walk The Dog”. She knew all of the latest songs and dances, releases were choreographed with a new dance 💃! So cool back then like mashed potato, the jerk, the swim, locomotion, the pony, hand jive and the twist.

[@ben3tiger]

I was 12, remember those days so well

[@sunrah4469]

The original Dance maven "the breakdown " "Funky Penguin" "Funky Chicken" "Push and Pull"...oh , and he was also the top black radio D.J. In Memphis & Carla Thomas' father. Rufus Thomas was No joke. 👍❤💪🔥

[@BedeYahEmmanuel]

He really wasn't, and when he wanted to, he could carry a the with the best of them. I heard him do "Trouble In Mind" Live one night & said Damn! I didn't know that. And "Talkin Bout True Love" in my JAMM!!

[@basilmarasco1975]

Great song. My favorite part is the whistle. "C'mon, boy! Come on! Come on!"

[@amberhumphreys807]

Love this ! When it first came out I was 20 and I danced to it, a lot in Soho London ! Still sounds just as good today. What a great artist.

[@falldinounclez]

I'm an Italian Portuguese, 27 years old and listening trying to imagine this scene inside Soho. Very good!!! Lovely sound.

[@stephenbrooks6174]

Was that you in The Flamingo? We danced together.

[@jeffreybarkin3177]

Heard this while I was REALLY Young, and every Time that I walked my Dog I would try to remember the words... Did a Mash-Up many years later, as I remembered THIS COOL Tune, and the Band played the Real Deal beautifully, but it was "Very Funky" as I couldn't remember the REAL Lyrics! LOVE This Tune!!! ❤ 😂

[@jeffcory1056]

As much as I have always liked the Rolling Stones cover of this, they pale in comparison to the originator.... powerful, rocking and funky at the same time... Wow. Love this!

[@pauldickinson6943]

lots of bands like the rolling stones and the Beatles covered songs, even though they great in their own write, I've never heard either of them do a classic cover better than the original. I can't think of one example of someone who covered a great song and improved it, apart from one, ken booth, everything I own ( a david gates song) that's the only one.

[@pauldickinson6943]

oh, and the hollies ' air that I breath' and David Bowies version of ' where have all the good times gone by the kinks' what did the Roman's ever do for us anyway?

[@jeffcory1056]

@@pauldickinson6943 Yes, even the Beatles muffed a few - I am thinking of their less than mediocre rendition of Chuck Berry's Roll Over Beethoven - but their Words of Love is divine.... much better than Buddy Holly's.

[@pauldickinson6943]

@@jeffcory1056 obviously they were the most successful band of all time and we'll never see anything like them again, incredible, and im a musician fanatical Beatles fan but I didn't rate any of the covers they did, but then started writing their own songs, they were pretty good at that.

[@pauldickinson6943]

one of my favourite songs is ' baby its you'' the Beatles obviously loved it and covered it, it was about as appealing as an unflushed toilet.

[@lindapro1287]

Wow! Rufus Thomas and his band are jammin!!

[@souljazzrb]

Rufus was the Man back in the early 70s when I was a kid. "Do the Push and Pull" was one of the first records I ever owned. RIP Mr. Thomas.

[@141sharon270]

And in the 60's, great R 'n' B, songs like this started the R 'n' B revolution.

[@leebowens2631]

Don't forget the Break down !

[@shyratolbert7371]

My grandfather use 2 sing this song 2 me in his own way when I was little. I can still hear him singing it sometimes. (R.I.P. I miss you everyday.👼❤😢)

[@lindalocke3233]

2024 who's listening to this jam My old Auntie's used to have walking the Dog Contest. My cousin's and I would sneak and Watch them working those Big Butts.😅❤😂😮

[@hildibildibaldi]

Introduced by Keith Fordyce this programme was on ITV (Rediffusion) every Friday - Ready, Steady, Go!

[@icewaterslim7260]

Unlike most of the TV performances in that small a venue back then . . . No lip sync . . . the way to play it real and the band sounds good.

[@jennamercury7625]

I swear this makes me so happy! Its 6am and my house is dancing!❤️

[@billwells2922]

I sing it karaoke....and I can tear it up. Being white with Blacks in the audience has saying where did that come from. I was in a garage band in 1966...so that’s my kind music...still.

[@zaysensationalvibes2120]

A customer told me to search this up and all I can say is I'm impressed 😁

[@maryrandolph7751]

Memphis loved Rufus, always an honor to bump into him.

[@erica3muttsdragon]

I named one of my favorite dogs after him, in tribute♥️

[@basilmarasco1975]

Best possible tribute ...

[@jonathanmoseley6447]

Man this song was it bac in the day. Yes I bought the 45 👍🏾👍🏾💯💯💯💯

[@ashleywilliams4149]

When I heard his voice it reminded me of home, looked him up and lo and behold, he's from Mississippi/Memphis. Memphis Magic. American music architects.

[@jermainejackson2708]

WHERE RUFUS FROM

[@shyratolbert5878]

my grandfather use to sing this song 2 me and my sister when we were little. (His own version I think.) it takes me back R.I.P Grandaddy I love & miss u.

[@drewmo007]

I danced to Rufus at the Rum Boogie. Doesn't get any better!

[@charlescurry2222]

Don't cha just wish you were there? Man,that look like they were having a good time. Them horns brought the party.

[@pauldickinson6943]

great voice and whistle.

[@bangna5]

Understand from user comments and DJBobbyJay who worked the radio with Rufus.that Rufus wrote Gee Whiz in 1958 for Carla but held the song back because he didn't think her voice was developed sufficiently for the power of the song

[@gussiewilliams7712]

Walk it Rufus; Rest in Paradise🤔☺

[@maurice8607]

A great clip from British tv show, Ready Steady Go.

[@sarinaflowers8540]

Im 11, and i adore this song! lol, mostly from my grand parents.

[@kyaksich7076]

I was listening to a list of songs turning 60 this year, when this song played and Rufus whistled my puppy went nuts, he is still barking lol. 😅

[@procopiojrpalacios9702]

The mighty Rufus Thomas gettin' down and funky, with a nice little backup band helpin' him walk that dog...!

[@bobwatson1162]

The Memphis bulldog Rufus Thomas made some funky dance music especially in the 70s

[@claudiakatz-palme9708]

Hello from Berlin, Germany - this is so wonderful, 😍👍🌹

[@hrwatchinpuff6551]

And to this day Europeans have remained fans of Black music. Our kids today have reinvented the music industry, but channels like Reel Black✊🏿will always keep it real✊🏿✊🏿

[@larrywoolridge5359]

Young black Americans have thrown r&b away for rap and hip hop white Europeans have and still love r&b

[@coreyhall1266]

You don’t listen to r&b then

[@jerryblair61]

What a great classic one of my 45s when I was a kid Ablums and 45s then

[@mrstacyj9496]

Thanks for sharing. I gotta go walk my dog. Cmon Now

[@MiTmite9]

This is every dog's favorite song.

[@maximumrnb66]

Absolutely fantastic..Mr Cool 😎

[@rickjohnson9191]

64’, that’s got to be England. Mr. Rufus

[@kokolanza7543]

Thanks for posting, and for the background on Rufus Thomas. What a career!

[@141sharon270]

My God this takes me back a few years.

[@sheristewart2770]

The ONLY rendition of Walking the Dog! Perfect! Wish I'd been there!

[@quoV11]

Yessssssss BACK IN THE DAY❤

[@earlgoodlett7593]

thats my favorite song

[@AR-pm9nv]

Always loved this song.👍

[@pauldickinson6943]

he constantly looks like hes trying to laugh, a brilliant singer and a brilliant song.

[@b8akaratn]

Walking these dawgs is where i'm headed after i loop this song indefinitely... 😂

[@rollerchickable]

I Love This Song Thank You For Sharing.

[@vivianlang5269]

Great walking the dog music for real💕

[@churbah3151]

1964 though.. timeless 🤙🤙

[@seankolednik8860]

Just the ‘Funkiest man alive’. Thanks Rufus.

[@JohnKorvell]

The Thomas family are legends and all need to be in the rock n roll HoF~

[@emilystevens6335]

That was my jam. Love it!

[@randyelliott9152]

Named my last dog Rufus because of this song...

[@appledoreman]

Great live performance!!

[@carpadelpitu3523]

Me encontré con disco mientras andaba con mis primas caminando,había una montaña de discos y basura a una orilla de la calle ,nos acercamos y sacamos los que pudimos y busqué la canción que salía en uno de esos discos, y apareció esto.

[@kennyguitarallen5662]

just brilliant,rufus was the man,great old video footage

[@carolmiles2351]

Ya can't beat old school....😆👀

[@sandratogneri9982]

Love It XXX

[@michaelstucker6739]

Better'n the Stones! Better'n Aerosmith! The man, the myth, the legend! Rufus Thomas!!!!!!!

[@pauldickinson6943]

brilliant record.

[@sangredelic]

Rufus was so handsome 😍

[@markjackson5665]

On “Ready Steady Go” TV show in London

[@ruyjose6015]

Uhuuuuu🎵🎶Olha o balanço, vai, vai, deixa cair...Uhuuuu🎶🎵😉✌🏽🇧🇷

[@ramonwolfkamp5724]

Derksen bedankt

[@michaele.]

It's still great

[@rollingfog1]

Absolutely excellent

[@alanmurr6562]

He sang that just as good as he did on the original recording! That is rare for even the best rock-pop singers!

[@colinhalliley111]

The dance , Walking The Dog , could be danced to nice or real naughty . Use your imagination if you don't know 😁

[@mocksock69]

I had always thought this was originally an Aerosmith song! This is great though. These black singers created rocknroll and deserve more credit!

[@marcobechere4452]

Too much artists recorded this song before the Aerosmiths to be considered an Aerosmiths' song.

[@reimaginethesounds6694]

@@marcobechere4452 but very few own it as Aerosmith does

[@Geessettfc]

Legendary asf

[@KC-gy5xw]

Perfection!!

[@richardbanker3910]

It’s interesting to see how white British rock groups like the Beatles and Stones covered songs from groups they admired and worked in guitars in place of horns, keyboards etc and did their adaptation. This is a case in point. Love both versions of this song. I’m glad Rufus Thomas got a look in and got success finally.

[@bootreese1]

Rufus my man!

[@josecorreia2518]

Como e bom! Que ritmo!

[@patriciakimbrell3734]

Love the Music ♥️🎸

[@SerpentOfTheWound]

He must have made a good living off just this one song. Think of the royalties! There were so many remakes of this.

[@randy464]

The band is getting it done.

[@Czar1925]

Conheci essa música no jogo do máfia 3 game..........🎸📺🎸

[@25447carepear]

Great voice. They used us alot back then. I bet he doesn't have royalties for his family after him.

[@ninja5672]

He had a very long and successful career until he died in 2001. Why would you assume he wasn't compensated fairly? I'm sure he agreed to all his contracts.

[@joycesmith53]

Actually he does his daughter is still alive

[@paulzimmerman6182]

Abe and the Houserockers, Daytona Beach, CIty Island Rec ..1964

[@tyronescott2730]

Rufus Thomas on "Ready Steady Go".

[@profoundja9598]

This is my favorite song on Mafia 3, something about that Whistle.lol

[@peterfraser5704]

And, by a strange coincidence, the saxophone player is "Lol". Lol Coxhill.

[@kemetdebgibson2875]

Wow I was four years old when this came out. My mother asked me to do the dog for her friends

[@bootreese1]

I was nine........bad ass jam!

[@TheSpikehere]

Classic!

[@siboneypeltier2307]

Walking the Dog Rufus Thomas EXPLICIT Baby's back dressed in black Silver buttons all down her back High ho tipsy toe She broke the needle now she can't sew Walking the dog Just a-walking the dog Well if you don't know how to do it I'll show you how to walk the dog. Mary Mary quite contrary How does your garden grow Silver bells and cockle shells And pretty maids all in a row. Walking the dog Just a-walking the dog Well if you don't know how to do it I'll show you how to walk the dog. (Sax Solo) Hey diddle diddle The cats got the fiddle The cow jumped over the moon He jumped so high touched the sky Didn't come back till the fourth of July. Walking the dog Just a-walking the dog Well if you don't know how to do it I'll show you how to walk the dog. Written by: Rufus Thomas Album: Rufus Live! Released: 1998 Lyrics provided by Musixmatch

[@nathanlanglois8123]

Alice Cooper told me that this song inspired the hook "Hey, Ho, Let's go!" from the Ramones 'Blitzkrieg Bop'

[@biualblessed]

He wasn't the only one singing this song. Look up Jackie Shane.. She sung this song too.

[@metalheadrelic9873]

Later on RATT and Aerosmith covered it too.

[@splatgang7127]

bro im only here cuz my grandpa told me bout this song

[@mercyhowls2688]

LOVE IT!

[@gabrieldimasyazbek]

Beautiful man

[@softyme63]

Reminds me of “Barefootin”

[@JoePadovano]

Check out Pete Townsend Live at Deep End. Bare Footin.

[@cookiee5272]

I use to dance off this music. 2024

[@plertisdibble1504]

Awesome. I liked Aerosmiths version, I had no idea he did it first

[@ronaldstubbs9450]

Rufus was the Man

[@floydpattersonii4996]

:28 - love that drummer = coolness of cool...the glasses, plaid jacket...kinda Buddy Holly ish and has the "too bad if you dont like it" feel

[@feleciapique9826]

Johnny Rivers does it good also

[@quequeintento]

Baby's back, dressed in black, Silver buttons all down her back High, low, tipsy toe, She broke a needle and she can't sew Walkin' the dog, Just walkin' the dog If you don't know how to do it, I'll show you how to walk te dog Asked a fellow for fifteen cents, See the fellow he jumped the fence Jumped so high he touched the sky, Never got back till the fourth of July Walkin' the dog, Just walkin' the dog If you don't know how to do it, I'll show you how to walk the dog Come on now, come on, come on Mary, Mary, quite contrary Tell me, how does your garden grow? You got silver bells and you got cockleshells Pretty maids all in a row Walking the dog Just a walkin' the dog If you don't know how to do it Show you how to walk the dog Come on now, come on, come on Oh oh, just a, just a, just a walkin' Just a, just a, just a walkin' Just a, just a, just a walkin' Oh yeah, if you don't know how to do it I'll show you how to walk the dog, oh Just a, just a, just a, just a, just a, just a walkin' Just a, just a, just a, just a, just a, just a walkin', oh

[@marina-florinagrigoras5013]

Love yooooou for doing this! 🙏

[@57highland]

I always thought he said, "To see the elephant jump the fence."