Rufus Thomas

Clown prince of rhythm & blues, Rufus Thomas was already a legend in Memphis when the fledgling Stax label recorded him in 1960; he'd had a 1953 Sun Records hit with "Bear Cat" (a song spun off Big Mama Thornton's "Hound Dog") and, as a sly, jive-talking DJ, he'd gained a massive local following. For Stax, he put the humor to music: "Walking the Dog" (1963) became his signature tune; the single is party music with a slightly ribald twist. In the early '70s, the gruff-voiced Thomas scored with "Do the Funky Chicken" and the mildly naughty "(Do the) Push and Pull, Part 1," two prime examples of his novelty funk. The Rhino collection presents all the essential Thomas, and it's still a truly funky giggle. That Woman Is Poison! features the elder, but certainly no more mature, Rufus, and the 1995 live release kicks. (PAUL EVANS)

From 2004's The New Rolling Stone Album Guide