Dodie Stevens - Pink Shoe Laces 1959 Oldie

[jennettswan]

I came here after reading Jerry Osborne's blog. He referenced a conversation he had with Ms. Stevens regarding the background dialog of "Dooley" and who spoke it? Her answer was that it was one of the Jack Halloran Singers, most likely, whomever sang bass. She also mentioned that she was just 12 at the time of the recording... a bit of trivia I never knew :)

[TheAquadonna]

Do you think anyone would have any trouble finding this guy in public in a wardrobe described like this?

[dkmckinney1]

@TheAquadonna

Yeah; he would be fairly easy to spot. Unless you were color blind.

[TheIzzyrulez]

This reminds me of Duckie from Pretty in Pink. Love the song either way.

[centralparocker]

Great novelty song....!!!!

[MermaidBlueFins]

I think would kiss a guy who had pink shoe laces and a guy wearing a panama hat with a purple hat band. :D xoxo. One of my favs as a child.

[dkmckinney1]

@MermaidBlueFins

Great comment. Thanks for watching.

What would you do if every guy you see tomorrow is wearing a panama hat with a purple hat band?

[eubanky2112]

@dkmckinney1 i would think that alot of gay guys were around

[SonsOfLiberty65]

Just bought some tan Adidas with pink shoelaces !!!!!

[dkmckinney1]

@SonsOfLiberty65

You ought to be in high style. How about that polka-dot vest?

[BBsmileys]

i tap danced to this when i was about 5.. that's all i can think of when i listen to this. but i really do love it, and it brings back lots of memories <3

[dkmckinney1]

@BBsmileys

Thanks for the great comment. If I could tap, I would; every time I heard this song.

[okeyeye]

if he's got a whirly birdie [helicopter, for those who dont know]

he oughta afford a 2OO foot yacht!

but that wouldn't 'scan' to use the poetry term

[ciccocenta]

Was this the first rap song---sounds like she's rapping.

[MarioForTheWorld]

the mexican version is better in my opinion!! :D

[billyjack77]

Love it love it love it!!!

[crazyhash1010]

First time I heard this song I fell in love with it love old songs!!!

[okeyeye]

'12 foot yacht'

!!??

sounds like a dinky dinghy

[dkmckinney1]

@okeyeye

It does at that but what would you expect from a guy that wears tan shoes with pink shoe-laces and a topper with a purple hat band?

[MrClassi]

@okeyeye That's the point...

[mistermarkdavis]

@okeyeye how many teenagers do you knwo that have their own boats?

[mistervanrsp]

12 foot yacht?!? is that what they used to call it?

[Kenbramham]

Great old rock and roll song thanks for the upload

[dkmckinney1]

@Kenbramham

Great uploads are easy when Dodie Stevens is singing.

Thanks for the great comment.

[xAllThingsMustPassx]

I just learned to play the saxophone parts on this song! :) Really fun song to play!

[dkmckinney1]

@xAllThingsMustPassx

You couldn't have picked a better song!

Thanks for the comment.

[elc1960]

This is a re-record, because the sound is a bit crisp and clean compared to the original version. Still, a nice job by Dodie, and you got all the lyrics right. Dodie still looks gorgeous today, over 50 years after this song originally charted.

[weightfeather1]

@elc1960 Uh uh, this is the original, although it might have been taken from a master tape. There is a version recorded a few years after this, which is in stereo. She sounds just a little older on the stereo version. I Still have a 45 copy on the "Crytalette" label and it's exactly this version.

[mierpaul]

misunderstood lyrics:

"He wears tans shoes with pink shoelaces and polkadot DRESS and man o man"

[greeeendeanaaaa21]

i wish i had tan shoes with pink shoelaces, a polkadot vest and man oh man, i want tan shoes with pink shoelaces and a big panama with a purple hat band!

[gemini232003]

Great song, catchy tune.... ;- )

...and now many of us are wanting to know if this guy at the buss stop knows this tune too..

[dkmckinney1]

@gemini232003

Right you are!

Thanks for the great comment.

[SebbyDebb]

They play this at Aldo, where I work, allll the time and I love it! :)

[BeverleyLeslie]

Had to look this song up. Every morning at the bus stop there is a young guy who wears......tan shoes with pink shoe laces......!!!

I'm dying to know if he knows this song or if he just likes those pink shoelaces!

[dkmckinney1]

@BeverleyLeslie

I really hope he's a fan of the song; if not he's got an outrageous taste in fashion. We would truly like to know, also.

Thanks for the comment.

[rainstormz28]

Fascinating, she was in love with a teenage Ralph Lauren.....didn't know he used to go by "Dooley".......must have found an excellent doctor...

[rainstormz28]

Fascinating, she was in love with a teenage Ralph Lauren.....

[32RobinHood]

I heard this on the fifties station today. How come we don't get any of the good music?

[KSJJNJ]

I love Dodie!! She is sooooo nice!!!

[dkmckinney1]

@KSJJNJ

Dodie is always soooo nice.

Thanks for the comment.

[Tunz909]

Allright who wrote this tune? Mickie Grant? or the female composer Micki Grant?

[dkmckinney1]

@Tunz909

The spelling on the record label and the recoreded (words and music) copyright owner are both spelled as "Mickie Grant". But that doesn't mean the spelling was correct. More information would be warranted. Thanks.

[dkmckinney1]

@Tunz909

You had a good question, here's a quote from Dotie Stevens,

"Mickie Grant (Mickie is a female)"

[TheNamelessShape]

Gah, I love this song more than I love my favorite metal bands. XD <3

[pollaris18]

@TheNamelessShape hahaha idem XD \m/

[rvictor64]

This song was a popular novelty hit record in February of 1959 for 13 year old Dodie Stevens. She continued to entertain for few years later at USO Clubs, Army and Navy Hospitals for our soldiers and Sailors. Not much is know about her singing career after the early 60's. Ron

[dkmckinney1]

@rvictor64

I had no idea about the USO service and such. I appreciate the great information about this outstanding and generous performer.

[elc1960]

@rvictor64 She still occasionally performs today, and this song is a must on her set list.

[greeeendeanaaaa21]

i want tan shoes with pink shoelaces too :P

[dkmckinney1]

@greeeendeanaaaa21

I think that's a universal dream; the world would be so cool.

[shinypath]

i love this song...

[daddydo60]

Yea She Was My Dream When IWas Younger Back Then I Was In Luv With Her!!!

[dkmckinney1]

@daddydo60

I wasn't so fortunate. I had never heard of her or this song until about 1970 or '71 when a friend gave me his copy of the record and I've been mesmerized with Dodie's voice ever since.

[daddydo60]

@dkmckinney1 Ha Ha Ha Yea I Just Use 2 Sit In Front Of Mum's Old HMV Radio Listen 2 The Top Hit's Just Waiting For Her To Come On LoL!! And When She Did Well Like I Was On Cloud 9 ha ha ha and 1 night i was waiting for her to come on and when she did just started to sing that song tan shoes and pink shoelaces there was a blackout and i still never forgot that night as i was so upset and pissed off when it come back on she was gone lol!!! i would have gave the world just 2 see her in person lol!

[dkmckinney1]

@daddydo60

But now there is YouTube and you can listen to her anytime.

[shinypath]

LOVE IT .....herd this on SRILANKAN AIRLINES

[dkmckinney1]

@shinypath

I've been hooked on this record since the early '70's.

[thebradybunchlover]

should really be listening to this instead of justin bieber and miley cyrus!

[dkmckinney1]

@thebradybunchlover

No argument there. Great comment. Thanks for watching.

[underwaterwoman30]

a catchy tune....No Doubt, just one thing though, a 12 foot yacht is an awful small boat !

[dkmckinney1]

@underwaterwoman30

I'll have to agree; a tiny yacht it was.

Thanks for commenting.

[KSJJNJ]

I know Dodie Stevens!! My little sister has Dodie as her singing teacher. She is totally nice and cool!!!!!

[dkmckinney1]

@KSJJNJ

From what I hear your little sister couldn't have a better voice coach; she is very fortunate. Thanks for the great comment.

[LeedsCityLass93]

Been looking for this song everywhere. am 16 aswell, and been brought up on the rocking scene. Cant help but sing and dance when i hear it ;D

[dkmckinney1]

@LeedsCityLass93

Thanks for the great comment.

[felixbautista]

Cutie song of the late 50's as I recall- the year of lollipops and pony tails among girls.

[Lhildebrand0604]

Have looked for this everywhere - Youtube comes through again ! Thanks !!

[dkmckinney1]

@Lhildebrand0604

There is nothing like YouTube. Thanks to you.

[AllMyLovingIsToPaul]

Aww, this is one of my very favorite songs ever! I'm 16 and this is my theme song basically!

[dkmckinney1]

@AllMyLovingIsToPaul

You must have great taste in music. Thanks for the comment.

[AllMyLovingIsToPaul]

@dkmckinney1 You're SO welcome!

[koolkat403]

tehehe i grew up with this song super funny

[dkmckinney1]

@koolkat403

Thanks for the comment.

[koolkat403]

@dkmckinney1 umm.... yw i guess

[akiddlydivy2]

This is one of my top 10 fave oldies! Just played it to death when I was little. Novelty or not, it's just so catchy and cute! Rockin sax solo too.

[dkmckinney1]

@akiddlydivy2 This is the second record; I wore out the original long before there was YouTube. The sax is great!

Thanks for commenting.

[SWEETIRISHHUH]

Silly song day from "my day" circa 1959 or so...got lots more, ,so beware!

[dkmckinney1]

@SWEETIRISHHUH Thanks for watching. This tune got my attention around 1971 and I've been hooked ever since.

[MYBIGKINDHEART]

@SWEETIRISHHUH lets hear them

[thejoel906]

Now I've got a guy and his name is Dooley

He's my guy and I love him truly He's not good lookin', heaven knows



[pvtpyle74]

she's rapping

[Ezdduf4kuZ]

What have I got to say about this pop hit, other than it was another one of those novelty songs from back when. It joins the ranks of Abduls Party, Alley Opp & Itsy Bitsy Yellow Bikini, to name just a few. Thx4 postin'

[dkmckinney1]

@Ezdduf4kuZ Thanks for the comment.

[bobjfs]

White people rapping in 1959. Almost as odd as Pat Boone singing Tutti Frutti.

[kittywuvsidvicious]

she's only 13....wow!

[TheBndgk4eva]

haha. my science teacher showed this video at class today and it's pretty catchy!

[kittywuvsidvicious]

@TheBndgk4eva who are you??? this is elaine!!! :P

[TheBndgk4eva]

@kittywuvsidvicious it's alyssa r!!!! haha

[aattura]

Tan shoes!! I liked that song so much I persuaded Mo to buy me tan (suede) shoes and I got pink shoelaces for them -- did not have a polka dotted vest but I had a jacket with huge black polka dots on it- and i wore this with PRIDE!! (no panama, but I had a Gilligan's island-type slouch hat -- when you're 13 you can wear this stuff and look cooool! -- actuallyif I had this today I'd still wear it (and be institutionalized -LOL!)

[dkmckinney1]

I guess you're not afraid to wear what you feel like wearing. I guess its good you don't still have the outfit?

Thanks for the information/comment.

[aattura]

@dkmckinney1 Nah-- I'm looking for this all over again -- it's never too late to once again have a happy childhood.

Oh, PS-- it was MA, not "Mo" -- LOL!!!!

[dkmckinney1]

@aattura I figured it was MA. I'm ready for another happy childhood.

[chg657]

Hard to believe she had such a "Big Voice" for a 13 yr old. But this song truly is a delightful gem of the early R&R era. Hard to listen to w/o gettin' a big, silly grin on yr face...Also hard to believe its been 51 FREAKIN' YEARS AGO...Arrrrrgh !! (grin)

[dkmckinney1]

Only 51 years!

Thanks

[7ljm]

@chg657

Hear you talking..... I was 9 when she sang this song. My sister and cousin knew the words by heart.

OMW...... we're antiques !

[ShortestShowShown]

Reminds me of Gidget

[dkmckinney1]

I can see that now, never thought about it before!

Thanks for commenting.

[fatpizzaman]

In one music book or newspaper, a reporter claimed that the vocals on this record was the prototype for rap music. I don't know how he came up with that observation, but I could see this song being done as a rap song by some girl-next-door type like Icy Blue or a scrumptious model fresh from the cover of '17' magazine (or "Dolly" in Australia!).

[rockincarbonara]

@fatpizzaman Well, if you listen to the style this song has been "Sung" it IS rap indeed! Rap actualy is not only the whole immage of Black Getto Boys & Girls.It is this "Spoken Singing"-Stile wich gives something, where 30 years later was known as "Rap"

[fatpizzaman]

If we have any Sergio Mendes fans on here: little-known fact: Dodie sang lead and backing vocals on his 1972 album "Primal Roots" which was done in Portugese only at a time when he was mostly flirting with covering top 40 rock and pop songs. It's an amazing album and in the top 10 of my all time favourite albums - have a listen to it sometime, especially "The Circle Game", it's a 19 minute epic that will leave you flabbergasted by how inventive and diverse it is. :)

[dkmckinney1]

Great comment and information.

Thanks for watching.

[barbj7121]

lol such an easy song to sing too???lol

[dkmckinney1]

You can't go wrong.

Thanks for the comment.

[BriTheEquestrian]

im thirteen and love this song :) dont hate.

[dkmckinney1]

B.A.

I think I was about 16 the first time I remember hearing it; 'been hooked ever since !

Thanks for watching and leaving the nice comment.

D.K.M.

[nytrini2005]

nice!!!!

i saw the video to this on a PBS fund raising special with Pat Boone. She was just fantastic

[dkmckinney1]

Yes, Dodie is a fantastic singer and performer. (Pat Boone too).

Thanks for the comment.

[Bopalena]

There are some recent clips of her and her lovely daughter Stephanie performing on Youtube. Looks like a great show!

[dkmckinney1]

I haven't checked in a few months, I will tonight. Thanks for watching.

[Bopalena]

She looks better than ever now! Truly lovely lady with a beautiful voice and killer stage presense.

[dkmckinney1]

Yes she is still great. Would be nice if somebody would post some clips from some of her recent concerts!

[Bopalena]

How can you go fishing in a submarine? Everyone would drown! Great song by a lovely lady just the same.

[dkmckinney1]

That is REAL deep sea fishing. I don't guess we should worry about the details?

Thanks for the comment!

[ashkiray]

I love Doolie's clothes. I think all men need to be brave enough to wear "tan shoes with pink shoelaces... and a big Panama with a purple hatband." Awesome song. Thanks for the new ringtone.

[dkmckinney1]

You're welcome.

Thanks for watching.

[dkmckinney1]

I don't think a REAL man would have any trouble going out in public with Tan Shoes with pink shoelaces and big Panama complete with a purple band; would he?

[h2ofield]

I just heard this on my friends 1952 Wurlitzer 1500.

Beautiful!

[dkmckinney1]

You are too lucky!  I hope you enjoyed it.

[177hender]

This is an irresistible song. I must have heard it a million times. Until just this minute I never knew that Dooley wore tan shoes, and not tennis shoes. Tennis shoes with pink shoelaces is kind of cool. But tan shoes? This has ruined the song for me.

[dkmckinney1]

Too bad, but her song is still irresistible isn't it?

[weightfeather1]

A friend of mine has a really clean copy of this record in a restored Seeberg jukebox, and it feels like Dodie and her band are right in the room with us! Great fun for us "oldsters" to dance to!

[dkmckinney1]

When I was 12 yrs old (many years ago) you could play your favorite tune for a solid nickel. There is and has never been anything better than a 7 45 playing on a genuine SEEBURG Jukebox; cranked up loud. I almost get tears thinking about it.

Ive heard some of the same digital songs on a few of the so-called modern jukeboxes but ITS NOT THE SAME as a 7 45 rpm on the real thing. I regret that Ive never heard any jukebox playing a real 10 78 (in person live).

[dkmckinney1]

You tube apparently removes the apostrophes and quotation marks. My comment should have reflected - 7 inch 45 rpm and 10 inch 78 rpm.

[weightfeather1]

I have several friends who are quite into restoring juke boxes and collecting old records. Because of the hardness of shellac, you can get great fidelity from 78 rpm records. Unfortunately, many old juke boxes have very heavy tone arms, so the records wear out fast. I've heard 78s on a couple of restored juke boxes. Sometimes, they sound great, but often, not. The 45s seem to last better.

[dkmckinney1]

Thanks for the info. That would explain why the 45's were swapped out very often.

You mentioned shellac; for people intending to clean a 78 with chemicals that is important information.

Thanks for watching/listening.

[weightfeather1]

Shellac has an alcohol base, so of course, don't clean 78s with alcohol, they'll just melt! Gentle sudsy water and a tooth brush, with a good rinse works well, but be careful to protect the label. This works well on vinyl too. Things like nail polish or choon gum stuck in grooves will usually come out with a fine needle and a magnifing glass, then wash. Just don't be too agressive with the needle!

[dkmckinney1]

Thanks for the info. Maybe you've saved some old 78s from the landfill.

[bobjfs]

And you thought rap music was an invention of the 1970s. LOL!

[NyteScrybe]

I'm 46...one of my earliest memories was of my dad playing this song over and over on some old type of machine that wasn't a record player. Anyway, since I was a toddler, I have always thought it was "tennis shoes." Now 40 years later, I'm learning it was "tan shoes." What do you know....

[mysterymediacorp]

DAMN !!! the first rap song in history is a song from a 12 year old white girl in the 50's WOW !!!!!!!

[dkmckinney1]

It's never too late to hear this song again.

I played it so much in my teens that it mysteriously disappeared.

That was many years ago and I still havent found my first copy.

(WHAT WAS THE MACHINE???)

[moonshinerman]

she was a cutie for sure but back in 58 i was walkin around with my thumb in my ear

[elviejero2000]

she was 12 years old!! awesome!!

[Treemeadow]

Can you believe she was only 13/14 here? WOW!

Miley Cyrus eat your heart out!

[dkmckinney1]

Good onya. There are very few today that have a perfect voice.

[AceTheBathound]

Lulu(of Man with a Golden Gun Fame) sang "Shout" at age Fifteen, and damn, if she didn't sound like an adult doing it, like Dodie did here...

[seeker12370]

you tell her...miley needs singing lesson

[dkmckinney1]

Hopefully Dodie or Stephanie will see your comment.  I'm not sure Miley would agree. Although, I do understand your comment. Thanks for watching and the "nice" comment.

[yardlet6]

@Treemeadow She was eleven when she recorded it and she HATED it! She was more into the LA R&B sound.

[pettee1979]

@Treemeadow She was 12!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Treemeadow]

I'm a 21 year old girl. I sing this song allll the time, as do several of my friends. In fact, in college, my whole level in the dorm would sing it, often in the shower.

You just can't top this kinda sound. Todays stuff is too raunchy/angsty/fast/bad.

I LOVE this style. Always have.

[aoxomoxoadead]

Who sang Dooley's part? It sounded a little like Dean Martin.

[blinko656]

Dodie works at my Walmart. Not really.

[mjhotie]

i love it

[BrittSquit]

Man, I love this song!!! But I wish i could go back in time to when this was made!!! It would be real fun 2 live in the 50s!!! :D

[dkmckinney1]

I'm sure you would have really enjoyed being there! Make the most of what you have. (I wouldn't want to forget the memories for anything.)

Dodie Stevens could make the most out of any song she did. (She still can!)

Thanks for watching.

[Treemeadow]

I hear you! I WISH WISH WISH I had been born in, oh, 1939 would be perfect! I'd have been a kid in the war, (Australia, not so bad) then a teen in the 50s!

In my twenties during the 60s! I'd have gotten to see all those awesome TV shows like Laugh-in *sobs*

and I'd be in retirement NOW.

[dkmckinney1]

Right you are; you would be OLD & retired.

[Treemeadow]

Well, no matter which decade it is, I'd be old at some stage ^^ May as well have had my golden years in the golden years.

[1969jmd]

my dad gave me a dodie stevens cd and i like dancing to it from jess aged 11.

[VinDcator]

Great post, McK!

[foo10019]

Oh, yeah, the Dodie Stevens version rulez. Chordettes were dominated on this track.

Go back to Lollipop, girlz. Pwned!

[laggie24]

I'm laughing here 2...they're not all goodies are they...)... but they were certainly ALL OURS!!!

[edwardcullen4eva997]

i like the way she sings it faster than the chordettes :D

[brownies4you]

Go to any sock hop in 1959-60 and you always heard this jumpin' llittle tune. It always got us kids filling the dance floor. Fifty years ago the instrumental part in the middle of the song was considered "really wild and risque" for a young, white girl recording. That's probably why it was requested over and over on the sode shop's jukebox. We just loved it. It was a high energy party song, excellent to dance to, and fun to sing along with. I was 15 when it came out and had a ball with it.

[perryfan10]

I have a daughter in her twenties who sings this by heart all the time. For some reason she loves this song but I think she discovered it in her teen years.

[mierpaul]

I really love her squeeky, silly, sexy voice that booms at the chorus :)

[wheelma678]

hey thanx so much for this... pieces of this song have been stuck in my head since i was a little kid (and that's a long time ago) its so good to hear it again

[sansalamandra]

Mucha mejor esta la version en español de 1962 de Los Hollygans. PEro esta en ingles, no esta nada mal, tampoco, saludos a los twistmaniacos

[VinDcator]

WOW!!  Back from my days of groov'n. Thanks for this great post!!!

[yankmex]

mickie grant

[spelleb]

Born feb. 17 1947 Dodie was 12 y. 3 month of age when she in the month of may 1959 received a gold record for 1 million copies sold of Pink Shoelaces. Maye she was only 11 when it was recorded??

[danje10]

Born Feb 17, 1946. She was 13 when she became the youngest to sell over one million copies of a single. Yep, probably recorded at 12 yrs old.

What a voice!

Born Geraldine Pasquale. Married at 17, divorced at 20. See wikipedia for more.

Toured with Fabian in the 1990's, Tours with her daughter Stephanie today.

[spelleb]

Hi Danje

You are probably right. I´w got the information regarding her birth year from Guinnes Record Book 1969 that says it was 1947, but that must be a mistake. In interviews, she mentions herself as being 13 y. when she hitted

[DeathbringsHeadache]

im 13. i love the 50's <3 i was born in the wrong era,

[RjSlippy2]

Tell me about it... music today goes rite down the drain.

these songs have lasted 50 years...

the ones today will last. well.... 2 seconds maybe?

[sansalamandra]

i am 32, and either!

[y00sta]

we used to dance to this at sock hops in the gym in school,sax is good wanna hear a mean sax player find i danced till a quarter of 3 ,by gary us bonds sax man was called daddy dee. he playedon alot of the oldies y00sta

[hajune]

Great stuff. The time of innocense. I miss it.

[gronda94]

its greate

[AsphodelFilms]

Awesome song. Anyone know where you can get a good quality mp3 of it?

[torkerbmx]

its ok but i prefer death metal

[Chelseaa199508]

OMG I LOVE THIS SONG!!

kids at my dance school did tap to this song:P

I LOVE IT soooo BAD!!

[soyelquesoy85]

"Agujetas de color de rosa" en español