From '' (Like) Tequila / Intoxica ''
Label: Impact Records -- 3-IM
Format: Yellow Vinyl, 7''
Country: US
Released: 1961

Tracklist
A (Like) Tequila
B Intoxica

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"Tequila" is a 1958 Latin-flavored rock and roll instrumental recorded by The Champs.
The word "Tequila" is spoken three times throughout the tune. "Tequila" became a #1 hit on both the pop and R&B charts at the time of its release and continues to be strongly referenced in pop culture to this day.
The track would be the Champs' only hit song, relegating them to one-hit wonder status.

History

In 1957, Gene Autry's record label, Challenge Records, signed Dave Burgess (born 1934), a rockabilly singer-songwriter from California who often recorded under the name "Dave Dupree."
At the end of 1957, having produced no hits, Challenge Records looked to Burgess, who organized a recording session on December 23 in Hollywood. In the studio that day were Burgess on rhythm guitar, Cliff Hills on bass guitar, the Flores Trio (Danny Flores on saxophone and keyboards, Gene Alden on drums, and lead guitarist Buddy Bruce), and Huelyn Duvall contributing backing vocals.
They gathered primarily to record "Train to Nowhere", a song by Burgess, as well as "Night Beat" and "All Night Rock".

The last tune recorded was "Tequila", essentially just a jam by the Flores Trio.
There were three takes, and Danny Flores, who wrote the song, was also the man who actually spoke the word "Tequila!". Flores also played the trademark "dirty sax" solo.
The song served as the B-side for "Train to Nowhere", which was released by Challenge Records on January 15, 1958.
Duvall recalls that the record initially found little success, but, after a DJ in Cleveland played the B-side, "Tequila" skyrocketed up the charts, reaching #1 on the Billboard chart on March 28, 1958.

Daniel Flores had written "Tequila", but, because he was signed to another label, the tune was credited to "Chuck Rio", a name he adopted for the stage.
Those present for the December 23 session began recording together again on January 20, 1958, under the name the Champs; the group technically formed after recording "Tequila".
The tune has been noted to have the same sound and structure of Bo Diddley's 1958 release "Dearest Darling"

Covers

Eddie Platt in 1958
The Ventures
The Piltdown Men in 1962 called "Tequila Bossa Nova"
Iskre in 1965
Wes Montgomery in 1966
Boots Randolph in 1967
In late 1960s Joe Loss Orchestra
Dr. Feelgood in 1974
Larry Carlton in 1983
The Reverend Horton Heat in 1990 "Marijuana"
A.L.T. in 1992
Perez Prado
Sublime
No Way José in 1985.
Klutæ in 1995 "Tequila Slammer"
Bad Manners
The Tony Levin Band in 2002
Azúcar Moreno in 2002
David Sanborn in 2003
Suggs "(No More) Alcohol"
Ska Cubano
The Pugs in 1997
One of the battle themes from the RPG Earthbound is similar to this tune.
Keimzeit
Reel Big Fish "Beer" on their 2011 tour with Streetlight Manifesto.
George Benson in 2011

In pop culture

In the TV series Happy Days
In the 1980 film Cheech and Chong's Next Movie
In the 1985 film Pee-wee's Big Adventure
In the 1990 film Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
The song "Está llegando la banda" ("The band is arriving") uses the tune of "Tequila". "Está llegando la banda" is usually sung at Mexican Football Federation football matches
In the 1993 film The Sandlot
In the Weather Channel
In the Two and a Half Men episode "Principal Gallagher's Lesbian Lover"
Mafia II featured the Champs' "Tequila"
Terrorvision used the main elements of the melody of this tune as the basis of their 1998 song "Tequila"

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