Black Denim Trousers Vaughn Monroe 1955

'Black Denim Trousers and Motorcycle boots' Vaughn Monroe 1955 RCA 20-6260 78 rpm. Played on a vintage Glaser Steers (Speedminder) turntable, Heathkit / Daystrom branded.
He wore black denim trousers and motorcycle boots
And a black leather jacket with an eagle on the back
He had a hopped-up 'cicle that took off like a gun
That fool was the terror of Highway 101

Well, he never washed his face and he never combed his hair
He had axle grease imbedded underneath his fingernails
On the muscle of his arm was a red tattoo
A picture of a heart saying "Mother, I love you"

He had a pretty girlfriend by the name of Mary Lou
But he treated her just like he treated all the rest
And everybody pitied her and everybody knew
He loved that doggone motorcycle best

He wore black denim trousers and motorcycle boots
And a black leather jacket with an eagle on the back
He had a hopped-up 'cicle that took off like a gun
That fool was the terror of Highway 101

Mary Lou, poor girl, she pleaded and she begged him not to leave
She said "I've got a feeling if you ride tonight I'll grieve"
But her tears were shed in vain and her every word was lost
In the rumble of his engine and the smoke from his exhaust

He took off like the Devil and there was fire in his eyes!! He
said "I'll go a thousand miles before the sun can rise." But he hit a screamin' diesel
that was California-bound" And when they cleared the wreckage, all
they found

Was his black denim trousers and motorcycle boots
And a black leather jacket with an eagle on the back
But they couldn't find the 'cicle that took off like a gun
And they never found the terror of High way 1 oh 1

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Black
• Denim
• Trousers
• motorcycle
• boots
• 78
• rpm
• orthophonic
• Vaughn
• Monroe
• 1955
• heathkit

[smurfswacker]

Who did the original version of this? I am surprised to hear Vaughn Monroe performing it--he was more of a mainstream entertainer at the time, and I always thought of this as a rock 'n' roll song. I first heard it as a kid on a 78 from "Tops," a label that specialized in sound-alike covers of current hits.

[retrod1]

There was another group (Cheers) who recorded the song on Capitol. To see the YouTube enter Capitol no.CP-446 in the search box. The record would have been considered a 'novelty song' at the time.

[sdicaseysdi]

the first version was in french by Edith Piaf called L'Homme à la Moto

[retrod1]

@sdicaseysdi

The song L'homme à la moto was written by Jean Dréjac.... It was adapted from Black Denim Trousers and Motorcycle Boots (Jerry Leiber, Mike Stoller).

[damusician]

nice glaser steers turntable! does auto operation work?

[retrod1]

Yes, the speedminder function works. I don't have a base for it, you can see the 45rpm adapter in the background.

[stevezarm2k3]

best version. i heard this song as a child in the 60's and never forgot it. thanks.

[onemarktwoyou]

My brothers had a big LP with a bunch of these songs. I could never remember the name of this song. Thanks for putting it on here!

[tonilyn82]

words cant express how this song makes me feel,right now.....memories.........

[thumbsupifyalike]

I have this 78 also...my dad use to sing this to us along with brazin lil raisin on our long road trips cross country...thanks for the memories!

[thumbsupifyalike]

I have this 78 also...my dad use to sing this to us along with brazin lil raisin on our long road trips country...thanks for the memories!

[kdj29]

I have the original Cheers version of this on a 45. I grew up with it. It was my father and aunts 45.

[fromthesidelines]

At the time this was released, Vaughn was cutting back on recording, and became better known as the spokesman for RCA Victor {radios, TV sets, records and players, factory service, etc.} in their TV and radio commercials, right into the mid-'60s.

[Auctionman2]

Heard a semi operatic version many years ago sung by a lady. Any ideas who?