About The Song
“Mohair Sam” is a rock-tinged country single by American singer-songwriter and pianist Charlie Rich, released on July 26, 1965, by Smash Records (catalog 1996), a Mercury subsidiary. Written by Dallas Frazier, the track was Rich’s first release after leaving RCA Groove and marked his debut for Smash, where producer Jerry Kennedy aimed to reposition Rich toward a more pop-leaning country sound. Clocking in at 2:07, the song features Rich’s smooth baritone over an up-tempo arrangement driven by a walking bass line, twangy guitar riffs, and a punchy horn section—a rare inclusion for country recordings of the era.
The single debuted on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart at No. 46 in early August 1965, quickly ascending thanks to strong jukebox and radio play. It reached No. 1 on September 25, 1965, holding the top spot for three consecutive weeks and spending 12 weeks on the chart total. On the Billboard Hot 100, it entered at No. 97 in late August, peaking at No. 21 during the week of October 23, 1965, and charting for 10 weeks. Cash Box listed it at No. 1 on its Country chart for two weeks and No. 19 on its Top 100 pop chart. In Canada, it hit No. 9 on the RPM Top Singles and No. 1 on the country chart. The B-side, “I Can’t Go On,” a Rich original, did not chart independently.
Recording took place in June 1965 at Mercury’s Nashville studio on 7th Avenue North, produced by Jerry Kennedy. Kennedy assembled a hybrid session crew blending Nashville regulars (guitarist Harold Bradley, bassist Bob Moore, drummer Buddy Harman) with Memphis-style horns arranged by Bill Justis. Rich provided his own piano fills, while Boots Randolph contributed the distinctive tenor sax riff that punctuates the intro and break. The Jordanaires supplied background vocals, adding a pop sheen. Cut in three takes on four-track tape, the final mix emphasized a bright, punchy mono sound optimized for AM radio and jukebox 45s.
Smash Records, having acquired Rich’s contract from RCA for $25,000, launched an aggressive promotion campaign, including full-page ads in Billboard and Cash Box touting the single as “The Big One.” Initial U.S. pressings exceeded 300,000 copies within the first month, with distribution handled through Mercury’s network. The picture sleeve—showing Rich in a mohair suit jacket—became one of the most recognizable of his pre-Epic era. By late 1965, sales topped 800,000 units, earning an RIAA gold certification.
The song’s title refers to the fashionable mohair suits popular among 1960s musicians and clubgoers. Frazier, then a staff writer at Acuff-Rose, drew inspiration from a flamboyant Memphis character known around Beale Street. The lyric’s playful narrative about a stylish ladies’ man struck a chord during the mid-1960s youth culture boom, helping Rich cross over to pop radio without alienating country audiences.
“Mohair Sam” appeared on Rich’s Smash debut album That’s Rich (SRS 67072), released in October 1965. The LP peaked at No. 11 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart and bubbled under the Top 200 pop albums at No. 208. Structurally, the song follows a verse-chorus-verse format in E major, with a key modulation to F in the final chorus for added lift. The horn chart—unusual for Nashville at the time—foreshadowed the countrypolitan sound Rich would perfect with Billy Sherrill at Epic in the 1970s.
Reissues include Mercury’s 1995 compilation The Best of Charlie Rich: Lonely Weekends and the 2015 Varèse Sarabande collection Mohair Sam: The Smash Hits 1965-1967. Notable covers include a 1966 version by The Black Knights (Sweden), a 1967 take by The Spotnicks, and a 1990s revival by country-rock band The Derailers. The original Smash 45 with picture sleeve remains highly collectible, often fetching $50–100 in near-mint condition.
Despite its success, “Mohair Sam” proved Rich’s only No. 1 during his 1965–1967 Smash tenure, as subsequent singles like “Hawg Jaw” and “I Washed My Hands in Muddy Water” stalled in the Top 10. The track’s blend of country, R&B, and pop elements showcased Rich’s versatility and helped pave the way for his eventual 1970s superstardom with Epic Records.
Video
Lyric
[Intro]
Well, who is the hippie that’s happenin’ all over the town?
Slickin’ his hair back, puttin’ everybody down?
Talk about Mohair Sam![Chorus]
Mohair Sam, Mohair Sam
He’s got the style that makes the women say “Oh man!”
Mohair Sam, Mohair Sam
The ladies all love him, some folks can’t stand him[Verse 1]
He walks like a peacock, talks real slow
Got a mohair suit and everybody knows
He’s the sharpest cat on the scene
Drives a big white Continental, keeps it real clean[Chorus]
Mohair Sam, Mohair Sam
He’s got the style that makes the women say “Oh man!”
Mohair Sam, Mohair Sam
The ladies all love him, some folks can’t stand him[Verse 2]
He spends his money like it’s goin’ outta style
Got a different woman for every day and mile
He’ll take your baby when you’re not around
Then he’ll bring her back when he puts her down[Chorus]
Mohair Sam, Mohair Sam
He’s got the style that makes the women say “Oh man!”
Mohair Sam, Mohair Sam
The ladies all love him, some folks can’t stand him[Outro]
Talk about Mohair Sam!
Talkin’ ’bout Mohair Sam!
Yeah, Mohair Sam!