Do the Funky Penguin, Part 1

Recorded at Stax Records' Memphis facilities with Rufus Thomas backed by the label's house musicians during a period when he was issuing a series of dance-oriented funk singles. The session paired Thomas's humorous vocal style with a hard-driving groove built around a new novelty dance. Released in 1972, the single became one of Thomas's biggest crossover hits and continued his successful formula of dance records following earlier hits such as 'Do the Funky Chicken.' It reached both the R&B and pop charts and reinforced Stax's presence in the funk market. The track remains a staple of early-1970s funk and dance music, with its drum breaks and groove later attracting hip-hop producers and collectors. It stands as one of the signature recordings from Rufus Thomas's late-career resurgence at Stax.