"Black Denim Trousers and Motorcycle Boots" is a popular teenage tragedy song that was a top-ten hit for The Cheers in the fall of 1955. It went to #6 on the Billboard Best Selling singles chart. Veteran performer Vaughn Monroe covered the record, going to #38 on the Billboard charts, and a top-ten co-listing on Cashbox.
Written by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller, the song tells the story of a motorcycle rider and his long-suffering girlfriend Mary Lou. In the song she pleads with him not to ride one night: "I've got a feeling if you ride tonight I'll grieve," she tells him, but he ignores her and "hit a screamin' diesel that was California bound." Featuring a catchy tune and the chorus of "He wore black denim trousers and motorcycle boots and a black leather jacket with an eagle on the back," the song was the second big hit for the Cheers, after "Bazoom (I Need Your Lovin')." It was also the first song to chart about motorcycles and the "new" motorcyclists, earning it the reputation as the first biker song. In 1956, French chanteuse Edith Piaf recorded a French translation of the song entitled "L' Homme à la Moto," which became one of her biggest selling singles. This song was also recorded by Canadian group The Diamonds, who did it for the Coral Records label; the Diamonds achieved fame a couple years later with the Rock and Roll classic "Little Darlin'." In 1994, Chris Spedding recorded a new version of the song. It has also been recorded by Joan Morris and William Bolcom and has become a staple of their concert repertoire.
In 1959, Dodie Stevens became famous with her parody of "Black Denim Trousers," "Pink Shoe Laces."
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Famous quotes containing the words black, trousers, motorcycle and/or boots:
“Teaching Black Studies, I find that students are quick to label a black person who has grown up in a predominantly white setting and attended similar schools as “not black enough.” ...Our concept of black experience has been too narrow and constricting.”
—bell hooks (b. c. 1955)
“You should never have your best trousers on when you turn out to fight for freedom and truth.”
—Henrik Ibsen (1828–1906)
“Actually being married seemed so crowded with unspoken rules and odd secrets and unfathomable responsibilities that it had no more occurred to her to imagine being married herself than it had to imagine driving a motorcycle or having a job. She had, however, thought about being a bride, which had more to do with being the center of attention and looking inexplicably, temporarily beautiful than it did with sharing a double bed with someone with hairy legs and a drawer full of boxer shorts.”
—Anna Quindlen (b. 1952)
“These clothes are good enough to drink in, and so be these boots too.”
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616)