Single:
So Tough first entered the Australian singles chart* on 26 July 1958 and peaked at #16. A re-recorded version entered the charts on 21 August 1972, peaking at #7.
The song was #82 on the Top 100 of 1958, and was #52 on the Top 100 of 1972.
Songwriter:
Gary Mears
Producers:
Johnny O’Keefe, Richard Batchens
Record label of Australian release:
Festival
*Kent Music Report / Australian Chart Book. See About.
1958 version – Johnny O’Keefe and The Dee Jays:
1972 version – Johnny O’Keefe and The Stuart Park Show Group:
Wikipedia:
Johnny O’Keefe with his group The Deejays issued three singles in 1958, the biggest seller being a cover of So Tough that had been a hit in America for The Casuals and The Cufflinx.
During 1969, O’Keefe toured Vietnam to entertain Australian troops stationed there. On the business front, he signed a new contract with Festival at the end of 1969 and continued to record and release singles, but it was not until July 1972 that he finally scored another hit with a re-recorded version of So Tough.
In January 1973, O’Keefe performed at the second Sunbury Pop Festival. MC Paul Hogan introduced him as a “newcomer” and urged the crowd to “give him a go” and, although he was at first greeted with some jeering, by the end of his set he had completely won over the crowd.
Read more: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johnny_O’Keefe
Lyrics:
Well, I saw a pretty little girlie walking down the street
The kind of girlie that I′d like to meet
She held my hand and she was so fine
Tell me darling, will you be mine?
Click for full lyrics
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