Friday Fun: Puff! Puff! Puff!

Let’s keep the smoke theme rolling and land on perhaps the most famous song ever written about the habit — Tex Williams’ monster 1947 hit Smoke! Smoke! Smoke! (That Cigarette).

Tex Lights the Match

Here’s Tex and his Western Caravan on Capitol:

I adore everything about this record — Tex’s sly, bone-dry delivery, the clever lyric, and that Western Swing arrangement that snaps like a match being struck.

The record was a genuine phenomenon, climbing all the way to number one on the pop charts, which was no small feat for a country record in 1947. Tex and co-writer Merle Travis had that rare crossover magic.

Phil Unfiltered

Naturally, other labels wanted a drag off the hit, and RCA Victor handed the song to a man who could deliver a novelty number like this in his sleep — Phil Harris, backed by The Sportsmen:

A song like this sits so squarely in Phil’s wheelhouse that if you didn’t know Tex’s original, you might assume Phil was the one it was written for.

And I love the contrast: Tex leans into the talking‑blues patter, while Phil more talk‑sings his way through the verses, giving it that Harris grin.

Did Someone Say Monster Hit?

I totally want Bobby's cardigan!

Plenty of other versions followed — some charming, some forgettable — but let’s close with one that’s simply too odd not to share.

Here’s Bobby “Boris” Pickett and the Filter‑Tip Kickers on RCA Victor in 1964:

Now, I love Smoke! Smoke! Smoke! and I love Monster Mash, but I’m not entirely sure what to think when those two worlds collide. It’s like someone dropped a cigarette into a bubbling cauldron and said, “Eh, let’s see what happens.”

Still — whatever you do — don’t puff, puff, puff yourself to death!