Walk a Mile in My Shoes
From Wikipedia the free encyclopedia
"Walk A Mile In My Shoes" | ||||
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Single by Joe South | ||||
from the album Don't It Make You Want To Go Home | ||||
B-side | "Shelter" | |||
Released | January 1970 | |||
Recorded | 1969, Atlanta, GA | |||
Genre | Rock | |||
Length | 3:42 | |||
Label | Capitol 2704 | |||
Songwriter(s) | Joe South | |||
Producer(s) | Joe South | |||
Joe South singles chronology | ||||
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"Walk a Mile in My Shoes" is a song written by Joe South, who had a hit with it in 1970. South was also producer and arranger of the track and of its B-side, "Shelter." The single was credited to "Joe South and the Believers"; the Believers included his brother Tommy South and his sister-in-law Barbara South.
The song's highest position on the Billboard Hot 100 was #12, which was also its highest position in the Cashbox chart. It also reached highs of #56 country and #3 Adult Contemporary in Billboard, and it made #10 in the RPM chart in Canada. It was South's second and final record to reach the top 20 of the Billboard chart. It also reached the Top 20 in Australia.
Background[edit]
The song concerns racial tolerance and the need for perspective and compassion.
Chart history[edit]
Weekly charts[edit]
| Year-end charts[edit]
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Notable covers and references[edit]
- Elvis Presley, on his 1970 live album On Stage
- Willie Hightower, as a single in 1970 (also included on the Honest Jon's 2004 compilation album simply titled Willie Hightower), originally produced by Rick Hall at FAME Studios in Muscle Shoals, Alabama
- Harry Belafonte and Lena Horne as part of an hour-long television special
- Cliff Waldron, on his 1970 bluegrass album Right On
- Bob Andy, in a 1970 reggae cover
- Ray Stevens, on his 1970 album Everything Is Beautiful
- Billy Eckstine, on his 1971 album Feel the Warm
- Marion Montgomery, on her 1972 album Marion in the Morning
- Jerry Lee Lewis, on his 1972 album The Killer Rocks On
- People's Temple Choir, on their 1973 album He's Able[8]
- Bryan Ferry, on his 1974 album Another Time, Another Place[9]
- De Dijk, on their 2002 album Muzikanten dansen niet (Dutch version of the song)
- Greg Page, included in his 2004 Nashville concert
- Coldcut, on their 2006 album Sound Mirrors, featuring vocals from Robert Owens
- Otis Clay, on his 2007 album Walk a Mile in My Shoes
- Kentucky Headhunters, on their 2011 album Midnight Special
- Lake Street Dive, as part of a 2020 Ad Council campaign encouraging a more welcoming nation[10]
Notes[edit]
- ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (doc). Australian Chart Book, St Ives, N.S.W. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
- ^ "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada".
- ^ "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. 1970-02-28. Retrieved 2018-03-30.
- ^ Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955-1990 - ISBN 0-89820-089-X
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (2002). Top Adult Contemporary: 1961-2001. Record Research. p. 227.
- ^ Australian-charts.com
- ^ Cash Box Year-End Charts: Top 100 Pop Singles, December 26, 1970
- ^ "People's Temple Choir - He's Able". Discogs. 1973.
- ^ "www.allmusic.com". allmusic.com. Retrieved January 16, 2022.
- ^ "Ad Council Launches "Belonging Begins With Us" Campaign Featuring Exclusive New Music from Lake Street Dive". PR Newswire. 3 December 2020. Retrieved 22 January 2021.