"Tuff Enuff" | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Single by The Fabulous Thunderbirds | ||||
from the album Tuff Enuff | ||||
B-side | "Look at That, Look at That" | |||
Released | 1986 | |||
Recorded | 1985 | |||
Genre | Blues rock, [1] Southern rock | |||
Length | 3:21 | |||
Label | ||||
Songwriter(s) | Kim Wilson | |||
Producer(s) | Dave Edmunds | |||
The Fabulous Thunderbirds singles chronology | ||||
|
"Tuff Enuff" is a song by the blues rock band The Fabulous Thunderbirds. It was written by Kim Wilson. The song was included on the album Tuff Enuff , produced by Dave Edmunds. Released as a single in 1986, "Tuff Enuff" peaked at number 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 4 on Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks; [2] it reached the top 20 in other countries [3] and number 83 in Australia. [4] It was the band's first single and has since become their signature song. It was ranked number 96 on VH1's "100 Greatest One Hit Wonders of the 80s"---although "Wrap It Up" was a minor hit.
The music video directed by Harry Lake, and features the band performing on a sound stage, accompanied by dancing female construction workers. [5]
The Michigan Daily called the song "a real rocker." [6] The Reading Eagle called it "an unforgettable R&B scorcher." [7]
Wynonna Judd recorded the song for her 2000 album, New Day Dawning . In 2015, the song was performed by Foo Fighters on Austin City Limits , with guest artists Gary Clark Jr. and former Thunderbird Jimmie Vaughan .
"Tuff Enuff" has been used in many movies, such as Gung Ho , The Naked Cage , The Money Pit , Hannah and Her Sisters , the opening credits of Ruthless People , Tough Guys , Ricochet , the 2007 film The Game Plan , and the closing credits of the 1986 film Wise Guys . It also appeared on the television series Married... with Children . [8] "Tuff Enuff" and the Fabulous Thunderbirds are mentioned on American Dad! , in the episode "Family Affair", in season 5.
The Fabulous Thunderbirds is an American blues band formed in 1974. Singer Kim Wilson is the only constant member through the band's entire history. Their 1986 album Tuff Enuff sold over a million copies, and spawned two minor hit singles: the title track and "Wrap It Up".
Kim Wilson is an American blues singer and harmonica player. He is best known as the lead vocalist and frontman for The Fabulous Thunderbirds on two hit songs of the 1980s, "Tuff Enuff" and "Wrap It Up."
Jimmie Lawrence Vaughan Jr. is an American blues rock guitarist and singer based in Austin, Texas. He is the older brother of the late, great Texas blues guitarist Stevie Ray Vaughan. He was a founding member of the The Fabulous Thunderbirds.
Havana Moon is a solo album by Carlos Santana, released in 1983.
JW-Jones is a Canadian blues guitarist, singer, songwriter and band leader. He is a Juno Award nominee (2015), Billboard magazine Top 10 Selling artist, and winner of the International Blues Challenge for "Best Self-Produced CD Award" for his release 'High Temperature' in 2017 and Best Guitarist in 2020.
Lou Ann Barton is an American blues singer based in Austin, Texas since the 1970s. AllMusic noted that "The grace, poise, and confidence she projects on-stage is part of a long tradition for women blues singers".
Tuff Enuff is a 1986 studio album by Texas-based blues rock band the Fabulous Thunderbirds, which pointed the band in a more mainstream direction. The single "Tuff Enuff" was featured in the films Gung Ho and Tough Guys, as was the follow-up single "Wrap It Up". It has also been played a number of times on the sitcom Married... with Children. "Tuff Enuff" remains the band's only Top 40 hit, peaking at No. 10 on the Billboard Hot 100.
The Live Alive Tour was a concert tour through North America and Europe, undertaken by Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble from 1986 to 1988. At the start of the tour, Vaughan and bassist Tommy Shannon had both achieved sobriety. Their success with overcoming long-term drug and alcohol addiction had been attained by entering a rehabilitation facility, where they stayed for four weeks. Although Vaughan was nervous about performing while sober, he received encouragement from his bandmates. Throughout the tour during performances, Vaughan would warn his audiences about the dangers of substance abuse.
Powerful Stuff is a 1989 studio album by Texas based blues rock band The Fabulous Thunderbirds. It was recorded in Memphis and produced by Terry Manning. It was the last studio album to feature Jimmie Vaughan before leaving for a solo career. The track "Powerful Stuff" achieved mainstream success and was featured in Touchstone Pictures' 1988 hit film Cocktail. It was the first single released from the Cocktail soundtrack album, which reached number one on the Billboard Charts and sold over 19 million copies worldwide.
Hot Number is a studio album by the American blues rock band the Fabulous Thunderbirds, released in 1987. It peaked at No. 49 on the Billboard 200. The band supported the album by touring with Crosby, Stills & Nash.
T-Bird Rhythm is the fourth studio album by Texas-based blues rock band the Fabulous Thunderbirds, released in 1982. The recording contains a mixture of covers and originals. Chrysalis dropped the band following the release of the album.
Girls Go Wild is the alternate title of the 1979 debut studio album by the Texas-based blues rock band The Fabulous Thunderbirds. The album was an eponymous release, but due to the prominence of the words "Girls Go Wild" on the cover it has often been referred to by that name. The album was reissued via Benchmark Recordings in 2000.
What's the Word is the second studio album by the Austin, Texas-based blues band the Fabulous Thunderbirds, released in 1980. Like its predecessor, the album initially sold poorly, but is now regarded as a noteworthy blues recording of the period. The 2000 CD reissue on Benchmark Records contains three bonus tracks, two of which were recorded live at Club Koda, Austin, Texas.
Roll of the Dice is a 1995 studio album by Texas-based blues rock band The Fabulous Thunderbirds, their second without Jimmie Vaughan.
Different Tacos is a 1996 compilation album by Texas-based blues rock band The Fabulous Thunderbirds. The album features a collection of rarities, B-sides and outtakes from their first four albums. It also contains live tracks from various UK tours.
New Day Dawning is the fifth solo studio album by American country music artist Wynonna Judd, released in 2000. It produced only two chart singles on the Billboard Hot Country Singles and Tracks charts: "Can't Nobody Love You " at #31, and "Going Nowhere" at #43. Also included are cover versions of Joni Mitchell's "Help Me" and the Fabulous Thunderbirds' "Tuff Enuff".
Benchmark Recordings is a record label that was founded in 2000 by music industry veterans Bill Coben and Denny Bruce.
The Best of the Fabulous Thunderbirds: Early Birds Special is a 2011 compilation album by Texas-based blues rock band The Fabulous Thunderbirds released on Benchmark Recordings. The album features a collection of songs from the original tracks from their first four albums, live versions, and the hits from their later albums, spanning their first decade of recording and touring.
Bill Carter is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and member of the Austin Music Hall of Fame. He is best known for co-writing "Crossfire" and "Willie The Wimp", recorded by Stevie Ray Vaughan; "Why Get Up?", recorded by The Fabulous Thunderbirds; and "Jacksboro Highway", recorded by John Mayall. Carter's songs have been covered by other blues, country, and rock artists including Waylon Jennings, Robert Palmer, Ruth Brown, Stray Cats, and Counting Crows.
Francis Anthony Christina is an American drummer known for his work in Texas blues band the Fabulous Thunderbirds (1979–97). He was also the founding drummer of Roomful of Blues (1967–1971).