Tommy Tucker - Hi-Heel Sneakers (1964)

Writer: Robert Higginbotham ●
Releasing date: Feb. 1964 [UK] ●
Format: 7" single ●
Label: Checker Records (#1067) [Usa]; Pye International (7N 25238) [UK] ●
B-side: "I don't want cha" ●
Chart positions: #23 UK charts; #1 Cashbox r'n'b chart, #11 Billboard Hot 11 [Usa] ●
Recording: Chicago, late 1963/early 1964 ●
Producer: Herb Abramson ●
Other versions:
Jeff Beck & Jed Leiber; Chuck Berry; Sammy Davis Jr.; The Everly Brothers; Wilton Felder; Josè Feliciano; John Fred & His Playboy Band; Wynder K. Frog; The Grateful Dead; Buddy Guy & Junior Wells; Bill Haley; John Lee Hooker; Jimmy Hughes; Jackie Ivory; Tom Jones; Janis Joplin; Cleo Laine; Jerry Lee Lewis; Ramsey Lewis Trio; Paul McCartney; Carl Perkins; Johnny Rivers; The Rokes; Pharoah Sanders; The Searchers; The Support Band; George Thorogood; Tina Turner; Ralph Williams; Stevie Wonder ●
NO COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT INTENDED. Pictures and music belong to their respective owners. I don't own or claim to own it. Can and will remove on request.

[@j.lietka9406]

I can't believe how much music I have missed!

[@terrydillon1427]

I just shared this with my two adult children. So much music in my life, why don't we hear this more often such as in movie soundtracks?

[@ronniewesson8483]

My grandmother loved to hear this in the morning while cooking breakfast before we went to school

[@clarenceray2189]

My farther away love this song

[@tiffanicrayon7027]

I think of my grandma too when I hear this or anything by Jimmy Reed 👍🏾🎵❤️

[@adamx9949]

​@@tiffanicrayon7027qq

[@sandraisreal78]

​@@tiffanicrayon7027❤❤❤❤

[@richardhigginbotham9024]

That was Tommy Tucker not Jimmy Reed, Stevie Wonder made the same mistake on an award Show!

[@danielboggs8664]

78 yrs young --- danced to this in 1964... best blues time in the world...dan-L

[@Davyboy30]

I’m 81 and still dancing to it ! Great song

[@kevindean1327]

I was born in 64, had to be a great year!!!

[@DFR_Miguel_64]

No autotune, no samplers, just real music... THANKS!!!!

[@epunderground508]

Get dressed, we goin' !!! LOVE THIS

[@Bigmama-love]

I was raised upon this song is still playing today at 67 years old

[@carlgardner5945]

Absolutely fabulous, loved it when I was 16 in 1964 and love it now. Fabulous use of electric organ and great guitar break. Real blues, funk and soul themes in one package... and great to dance to.

[@greggyeggy1]

Can't sum it up better than that!

[@johnschuessler7905]

I was playing music in a real big local band and this song rocked our world. I must have sung this song 1000 times way back when. So many awesome good times until we had to grow up. This song was like an anthem for us.

[@davidlamb7524]

@@johnschuessler7905 Definitely Friday evening going out theme.. but also massive floor-filler in all the clubs in London 1964.

[@roberthboyd6073]

Me too same age

[@aleechaadams2691]

My sister love this song and she wasn't even born when it came out.

[@mavjimbo]

That's the beauty of recorded music

[@ikewp901]

I've heard many great covers, and this original is brilliant, the best!

[@terrydillon1427]

I prefer originals, too! ❤

[@Muertes-tf2oj]

This is my 1st time hearing this. It kicks ass!!!!

[@tellaarm5748]

It was in the movie Lakawana Blues which is the reason I looked it up

[@michelewills6755]

My first time also. Where has this man been all my life. Amen for the Blues forever

[@davidlamb7524]

This was a massive dance hit in the clubs during the 60s !

[@rockinblue978]

Man this is a seminal track for lovers of blues and rock and roll

[@AustinThompson-ez8nj]

I can't say enough about this great music. Great stuff

[@mavjimbo]

The OG version is the very best

[@leosmith9825]

One of the coolest records ever recorded

[@yolandawilliams5981]

Yes!😊

[@Angelwr1luv]

You can say that again! 😃 😊

[@mctavish23]

@@Angelwr1luv Ditto!

[@douglaspaterson5269]

Damn Straight!👍🏽

[@pattyrice9370]

My Daddy use to play this for my Mother. Just about every weekend growing up there was music being played at our house. My dad passed away in 1999, but I can still hear him playing and singing. He did Long Tall Texan for me.

[@victoriadailey3745]

Tommy Tucker. HI HEEL SNEAKERS. Fabulous R&B. 1964.

[@sophiejay5111]

Without this song, I may not be here! My dad told me this is the song that inspired him to become a musician - if he hadn't done that, he wouldn't have met my mum.....

[@michaelmcloughlin8237]

Michael McLoughlin This was always one of my favorite records, my older brother bought it when it was brand new. I must played it every day 2 or 3 times a day for a month or two. Everyone I played it for loved it. I was about 12 then. It's almost 60 years go & it's still a great song.

[@paulcudlip9154]

One of the very top blues recordings, even including the early Chess recordings.

[@mctavish23]

Amen to this. Certified funky blues.

[@patriciaweiss4446]

I'm 76 yo and remember this like it was yesterday. I HAD A WIG HAT!!! "Judy in Disguise" is another crazy hoot. I really miss those days!!!😂

[@logann7942]

Is “wig hat” just another term for a wig, or is it something else?

[@Centervillejim]

​@@logann7942Tommy Tucker stated in an interview that he played at a club that was located near a girls "finishing" school that was sort of tacky. He said some of the students would visit the club frequently. Some of the students were ugly and wore wacky outfits. One of the things they wore were high heel sneekers.

[@Centervillejim]

Tommy Tucker stated in an interview that some of the girls who came to his shows wore tacky things that looked like a hat that looked like a wig. ​@@logann7942

[@johntorrez714]

One 0f Tommy Tucker's best. What a great song. Brings back so many great memories.

[@johnalfaro1847]

As a kid, growing up I remember this version, a masterpiece.

[@andywjackson1135]

🤸🎶🤸 the best song in the year 1964, and still fabulous to rock to now🤸🎶🤸🎶🛵👠👟👠🏁thank you so much for sharing 🛵☯️

[@aclark903]

The Grammy for Best Song that year went to #HelloDolly. Just saying!

[@willieedwards5839]

I liked this song when my dad first played it on our record player in the 1960's and he played this song over and over and I never did get tired of it,still love it today.

[@valeniusthekat]

Thank you Tommy, much love to you ❤💋

[@fanorydberg2424]

I saw Tommy Tucker do this on a bill in Portsmouth, England in late 1964. Three or four minutes I won't forget! I can't remember anything else he did, but never mind.

[@lawrencecreech9640]

Reminds me of 1964. I turned 13 years old love this song and there’s some great lead playing on it too.

[@dennismurillodennis3079]

I feel much cooler listening to this great oldy. I have to put on my sunglasses.

[@avagd6293]

One of the best Funk R 7 B arrangements ever produced. LUV it.

[@howardsmith8430]

Always loved that song since the time it was released, and over 50 years later I still remember it and sing along to myself sometimes. Now, when I hear the voice of Tommy Tucker I think of Ray Charles and what a good job he coud've made of that song.

[@carlissamadden478]

I heard this in Lakawana Blues and fell HEAD OVER HEELS IN LOVE WITH IT!!! I don't care if your in a Library or church, this make you get up & dance

[@rosettapatterson9295]

Sure nuff😂😅

[@forestrangel532]

I play this every time there's something to celebrate 🎉 Like now thank you 💖

[@sandragriffiths9692]

Great memories from the 60's in London. I bought this version and played it to death😁 still love it 👍💙

[@ludgvan]

Me too. Flamingo days !!

[@Carol-xt5tc]

Great classic blues.

[@jimharrydariusjr.whitesell4026]

this is the best version or the song... its really powerful and raw... pure rock and roll

[@brenthaymon667]

Great song. Love blues music. Thanks.

[@hughhart5972]

pure rock and rolling R&B and what a great little 4-piece combo! Plus Tommy Tucker singing on top of it all.

[@paulbrown1585]

I lived on this stuff as a teenager. Was 14 when this was on the radio. AM was the only thing going then, no FM then except for some classical music for a few hours each day. And that was in the big cities. AM radio ruled with gems like this, and there were many. The Beatles came along and the British Invasion brought a new era to us, then Woodstock. But great stuff like this was priceless and timeless. So glad it all happened , just as it did.

[@sandsoftime1954]

A.M. was King, there was nothing else to compare it to. I kind of thought I knew what stereo was, but I really didn't. I used one of those G.E. portable record players til around 1968 when I moved up to stereo.

[@2020heinsite]

Me too. Listened to it all pumped out of WLS Chicago at 50,000 watts. This & many others created the sound track for our lives.

[@Robt.Velasquez]

If you listened to these songs on a tube radio in a 1955 Pontiac convertible, you didn't have a care in the world!

[@bornonsouthside3094]

@@2020heinsite I never heard this on WLS. In 1964, one listened to WVON Chicago for blues. After all it was owned by Chess.

[@richardhigginbotham9024]

@@bornonsouthside3094 Played plenty of times on WVON (Voice of the Negro) in Chicago!

[@lydiarico6971]

My dad loved this song it brings him memory ❤️ rip. Your music is forever in my heart

[@jacobsrich2010]

Simply put, this is what is known as primal perfection in the land of R&B. They recorded three takes of it and we're grateful this is the one that made the cut. It's raw, real and captures the sweaty essence of the juke joints it honored.

[@jokermaan1]

I bought this record in 1964 cos I'd heard it on the radio and it blew me away. This is a longer version than the one that I had though.

[@sha1om]

Yeah they edited out that third verse (I got my Old Crow liquor, and my paycheck in my hand/Because Big John’s bootleg whiskey cost much more than I can stand) No way were they going to get that on the radio in 1964. Especially if it ran over 4 minutes. Thank God someone saved the master tape though.

[@annlandels1464]

Fabulous. Definitely the best version and of course it's the original!

[@CheezNrice4u]

I still this on 45, I was born in 65, but have been a long time music nut😊

[@timmotel5804]

I remembered this song and found this site today. Good song and good old memories.

[@DeanJuvenal]

Given the limited technical capabilities at the time, this is SUCH a good recording.

[@juliannamcgill7626]

Thanks Jean✨🔥🤘

[@rogerw2101]

I love this song Awesome what a bluesy cut man

[@paulajames5130]

My Grandmother loved this song she shook what she could but it was a lot of fun & love something we don't have now

[@sharonjackson3106]

When my mom play this i got in the middle of the floor dance so hard like i was at the juke joint love it

[@paititi]

No other version can compare to this, the original release: its sharpness, rich and distinct tone, interplay between organ and guitar, and pure sensuously rolling blues-tone and perfect vocal are beyond compare.

[@eldauncey2774]

Perfection!!

[@SiliconMolybdenumNitrogen]

I love the mummies garage punk take on this and that is what brought me here...but i agree totally this is perfection !

[@redhowzredhowz4743]

Greg Deyermenjian AGREED!!!!!!-

[@benlewis754]

Especially any Grateful Dead version after 1967!! Or any Johnny Rivers version!! Greg is right, don't mention these other versions!

[@GH3K3]

Bullshit. This version is great if you want blues, but Stevie Wonder rocked this sucker into the next dimension for rockers like me.

[@tobycarr9171]

Love raw. Delta Blues Shuffles . thanks U Tube for the wonderful memories !

[@andrewlongcake6446]

years and years of listening to great rnb, soul,ska,rocksteady,rock'n'roll, blues and country music brought me here

[@sharonchambliss3268]

I love this song

[@kabernat]

First time I ever heard this beautiful and soulful number! This came out before I was born but I love love love the grove!👟👟👟👠👠👠💙💙💙👞👞

[@mavjimbo]

There were plenty of jumping jams back then

[@BrunoandAnthony]

Timeless soulful vocal and organ wrapped around deep south guitar pickin blues. Got this at a record shop in downtown Brooklyn after a Stones concert. Ironically the Stones did their own cover.

[@cynthiahawkins2389]

I live in New Orleans now and this great old tune would be right at home....

[@RockLives4u]

This folks is indeed a Foundation song..This guy was very talented, and we are very fortunate that the recording survives and uploaded to KZbin...Thanks

[@foureyedchick]

This is an excellent song, when BLUES was BLUES!

[@richardhigginbotham9024]

I’m told it’s considered a standard and classic....I’m trying to imagine the cash flow from licensing it’s garnered....no accountability!

[@sormcmxcix]

This song just makes me happy...I was sitting in Starbucks in Santa Monica - writing my journal and behind me stood a queue of 4 or 5 people (later, I realised they were waiting for the bathroom)... and this song started playing and 3 of them started to sing along... it was classic!

[@matthewwhiting9283]

Steven Rafter no one cares

[@blackcaddi68]

sounds better down south....js

[@chrisferguson6007]

Steven Rafte little johnny taylor

[@hortochar]

When I had my first date with my wife in 1964 the band was playing this song. Our 48th anniversary will be in December. Great memory.

[@klondikepennys5363]

Where were you on that date? I had a 1964 party once, and this was on our playlist. Shortly afterwards we bought the house that Dave Lewis once bought for his mom, in Seattle. He was the godfather of organ music being used in rock. The Dave Lewis trio left a note on music composition paper that we found stuffed in the wall. It said: "Dave, waited for you, we jammed some of the old songs".

[@weswolever7477]

Late to the party, but here’s to you two madcaps 🥃 and 48 more👠👟

[@dennisreddington554]

Still great

[@eddyg2745]

This singe got airplay on the local soul stations, I was in junior high school and we used to dance to it at the school dances in the gym. There were alot of great singles released on the Checker label (a shoot-off of the legendary Chess Records)

[@avagd6293]

Not too many recordings in the sixties ran for for more than 2 and one half minutes. I'm so glad this one did. It was worth it. All right now.

[@michaelfinney8810]

Me too! I was thrilled to hear this single for this long!

[@Beowulf_93]

What?? Not true. I have lps from the 60s, they run 3 or 4 minutes as well. Sometimes 6 minutes. Ur are talking about Beatles only.

[@coastalcowboy707]

I enjoyed all the Coasters and the Drifters as a child growing up in the East Bay of SF. KFRC of course.Nice to see it's still being appreciated.

[@avagd6293]

First heard this song on WLAC 1510 Nashville TN. It is truly a classic.

[@Fitzliputzli23]

Blues, Rock, R&B, Soul, goosebump-factor: Everything is in this tune.

[@WilliamSims-i4b]

Use to hear this in my living room as a kid

[@coravisser3846]

Thank you so much it is brilliant.

[@rockinblue978]

This is awesome. Never heard this version before 🎉

[@livingtrash24]

This is the original version

[@misstbikini]

Love this song! Thank you Allen and kyle!!!

[@tabriff3832]

The first real music I ever heard. Don't know how old I was 12, 10, or younger? I was born Jan 1961, went to Canada in 66, Ontario. I had an appetite for music, and I used to tune in to American radio stations, to hear the music that didn't get played on commercial radio, probably transmitting from Buffalo, late at night, and recording on a mono cassette recorder. Never forgot it, been in my head ever since. Of course I was enjoying the music, but I was listening with an intensity, that should of told me, I should stuff everything and be a musician. I didn't listen, but 45 or so years on, I started becoming that musician. It's going good, but I could sure do with those 45 years. I've heard sadder stories.

[@bennyjazzful]

WOW WOW WOW !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! From a mad keen 76yo Aussie fan.

[@tonyfortuna3503]

This is the roots of rock and roll song no sounds effects just the real rock and roll if you can dig it

[@tlc4369]

This was one of my Uncles favorites. Man could he dance! Get down Poop!!! RIP Forever, Harrison Jack Dozier. I pray to see you dancing in a better place someday!

[@petekarnes2918]

Great Cut, My band still doe's this song,and folks still love this song.

[@garynewton2016]

love this ladies in these dresses oh it is a same that the greatest times are gone

[@superflybouy]

A great raw live sound - thanks for this Mr Tucker

[@davidh.4220]

Wow...this song really brings back memories. I don't know why I decided to search for it, but I am glad I did. My parents used to play this song all the time when I was very young. Wow. This took me back a few years. Thank you Canale for posting it!

[@mthrtrkr6231]

Funny in 1978 I had a pair of blue high heel sneakers and my Mom used to sing this when I came walking in... I couldn't get her to understand they're BLUE.. Duh it was me who didn't get it! Miss you Mom

[@d.a.elliottjr.367]

I've heard so many covers of this song over the decades by the Searchers, Elvis Presley, Jose Feliciano (2 versions) to name a few but this is the first time I heard the original. It's about time!

[@johnnyfryman7919]

I can remember late 40s on,there was some fun music In the 60s,maybe because I was young...JLF

[@Krabadaque]

The Beatles also played it!

[@79tazman]

Johnny Rivers live version is a good one in my opinion

[@markmarkofkane8167]

Stones did it too. BBC radio recording.

[@Bomaniful]

Stevie Wonder too

[@ghostwritter1075]

I had already heard this song before thanks to my grandparents but I was REintroduced to it thanks to the movie Lackawanna Blues!! When the girls was getting ready to go hit the town!!!!! Masterpiece if ever one existed!!!!!

[@robertperrella4194]

that is why i love you tube!!!!!! i am now a tommy tucker fan!!!!!!!

[@addiebrooks6169]

Can remember this song playing on WVON when I was in elementary school. Thanks for posting this song.

[@kingpetra6886]

I was living in Wayne County when this came out. I still come back to listen to it.

[@queenj7720]

I'm an 80s baby and I loveeeeee this song.

[@OtisFan1]

Love this. I remember when it came out that my older brother and I, big blues fans, were thrilled to hear a blues song on the Top 40 stations. I thought I had the single but can't find it in my collection (thanks for showing various released versions). Bet my brother has it!

[@avagd6293]

The one and only great version that stands alone.

[@richdabrowski4387]

Smooth with a great groove...

[@donayers5925]

Good music! Makes my toe start tapping !

[@bradybaylis8001]

Tommy Tucker was born Robert HIGGINBOTHAM !!!!!!!

[@be-presentmichaelwalti9537]

Beautiful version of this song! Finally one with the "old crow liquor" which you can't find on Spotify

[@santelder]

Always loved this version best makes me want to sing everytime bought this when I was young and still love it

[@tommytruth7595]

Back when a singer loved what they were doing. And it showed.

[@skeric87]

I was 8 years old when this song came out, I would cut up. When the movie 'Lackawanna Blues" came out that scene where they're in the kitchen doing their hair getting ready to go to the cabaret... I still jump up and cut up 😊

[@michaelskay1880]

close your eyes & you can transport yourself to the Mississippi Delta. One of the tunes that got me through the service!

[@danielelliott5532]

only heard this a couple of times as a kid..thank you tick tick for the awesome upload😎

[@trukarizma]

THANK YOU FOR SHARING THIS!!! Truly enjoying it, I can not tell you the joys and memories I have!!! :-) many many blessings

[@MarkDragavon69]

The first blues tune I learned how to play on the guitar back in ‘64

[@cityzen2717]

wAY BACK IN TIME, songs like this were what we were playing and dancing down here in MISSISSIPPI, hotsweatygritty.

[@rtrepsas]

tick-tock70: is a wonderfully arranged and clear recording, thanks for posting and especially for the discographical detail!

[@dorismoore2943]

Celebrating our 4ver Anniversary today, 2.October 19..🍾 ......Amen ❤️