When Rufus Thomas topped the Billboard R&B chart in early 1971 with “(Do The) Push and Pull (Part 1),” he didn’t just land the biggest hit of his career — he reaffirmed his status as one of Stax Records’ most enduring performers. While a new generation of artists and songwriters propelled the label into the new decade, Rufus reminded audiences that the old guard could still spark a party.

At 53 years old, Rufus didn’t look like the face of a chart comeback. But he had history on his side. As a DJ, emcee, and recording artist, he had been essential to the label’s foundation. He’d cut its first successful duet alongside daughter Carla Thomas, served as an in-house hype man and mentor, and carved a lane for himself as St

ax’s resident dance-craze creator with singles like “Walking the Dog” and “Do the Funky Chicken.” When the label needed energy and impact, Rufus knew how to deliver.

“Push and Pull” followed Rufus’ signature process. He walked into the studio without a lyric sheet or a plan. He waited for the rhythm section to find a groove, then built a vocal around the feel in real time — half dance instruction, half freestyle sermon. That method only worked when the band locked in, and this one did: Michael Toles on guitar, James Alexander on bass, Willie Hall on drums, and Carl Hampton on keys and arrangement.

Hampton had recently moved over from We Produce, a smaller imprint within the Stax family, where he’d shown promise writing for the Temprees and Ernie Hines. “Push and Pull” marked his first significant moment with the core Stax roster. His arrangement left room for spontaneity while adding structure, and his horn charts gave the track a bold, layered sound. Rufus co-produced the session alongside Tom Nixon and Al Bell, with Bell also overseeing mastering in his new role as label co-owner. Released in October 1970, the single featured “(Do The) Push and Pull – Part I” backed with “Part II.” It became Rufus’ first No.1 on the Billboard R&B chart, holding the top spot for two weeks, and climbed to No.25 on the Hot 100 — his highest-charting pop entry.

In 1971, Rufus brought the groove to the stage with Rufus Thomas Live: Doing The Push and Pull at P.J.’s, recorded at the famed Los Angeles nightclub. The live set captured the full breadth of his vaudeville-inspired stage persona. Between off-the-cuff crowd work and extended monologues, Rufus moved through songs like “Old McDonald Had a Farm,” “The Preacher and the Bear,” and “Do the Funky Chicken,” with “Push and Pull” arriving late in the performance as one of the evening’s peak moments. The LP reached No.19 on the R&B albums chart and No.147 on the Pop chart — the best album performance of his career and a testament to his enduring appeal as a live act.

A studio version of the single also appeared on Did You Heard Me?, Rufus’s 1972 LP that compiled many of his early-‘70s dancefloor staples, including “The Breakdown” and “Do the Funky Penguin.” Produced by a team that included Bell, Nixon, and Marvell Thomas, the album reflected his fully realized identity as the label’s funky elder statesman.

The single also marked a key early triumph for Carl Hampton, whose later songwriting with Homer Banks and Raymond Jackson would yield hits for The Soul Children, Carla Thomas, and the Staple Singers. His contributions to “Push and Pull” hinted at the sophisticated soul to come, with tightly arranged rhythm sections and horn lines that remained danceable without sacrificing structure.

“(Do The) Push and Pull (Part 1)” didn’t mark a turning point for Stax so much as a reminder that the label’s earliest stars could still hold their own, even as the sound of soul continued to evolve. For Rufus Thomas, the hit wasn’t just a return but a reaffirmation. Decades into his career, he remained a cultural force, bridging eras with his wit and rhythm. Most of all, the song kept a veteran entertainer at the center of the dance floor.

– By Jared Boyd