music.wikisort.org - Composition

"Rockin' Pneumonia and the Boogie Woogie Flu" is a song written and originally recorded by Huey 'Piano' Smith in 1957, who scored a minor Billboard hit with it, peaking at No. 52 on the Top 100 chart, and a more successful No.5 on the Most Played R&B by Jockeys chart.[2]

"Rockin' Pneumonia and the Boogie Woogie Flu"
Single by Huey 'Piano' Smith
A-side	"Rockin' Pneumonia and the Boogie Woogie Flu" (Part 1)
B-side	"Rockin' Pneumonia and the Boogie Woogie Flu" (Part 2)
Released	August 1957
Genre	Rock and roll
Label	Ace
Songwriter(s)	Johnny Vincent Huey Smith
Huey 'Piano' Smith singles chronology
"Rockin' Pneumonia and the Boogie Woogie Flu" (1957) "Don't You Just Know It" (1958)

"Rockin' Pneumonia - Boogie Woogie Flu"
Single by Johnny Rivers
from the album L.A. Reggae
B-side	"Come Home America"
Released	September 1972[1]
Recorded	1972
Genre	Blues rock, electric blues
Length	3:30
Label	United Artists
Songwriter(s)	Johnny Vincent Huey Smith
Johnny Rivers singles chronology
"Think His Name" (1971) "Rockin' Pneumonia - Boogie Woogie Flu" (1972) "Blue Suede Shoes" (1973)

Background

The title is a reference to "walking" pneumonia and the Asian flu, hitting the United States in 1957-58. According to the lyrics, the singer would like to approach a woman he sees in a club, or "joint," but due to his musical illness, he's unsuccessful.

Johnny Rivers cover

1972 saw the song become an international hit single for Johnny Rivers, featuring Larry Knechtel on piano as well as other L.A. sessions musicians from the Wrecking Crew.[3] "Rockin' Pneumonia" reached No.6 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 during the winter of 1973. It was Rivers' fifth highest charting song and spent a longer time on the chart (19 weeks) than any of his two dozen hits to that date. On the U.S. Cash Box Top 100 the song peaked at No.5, and in Canada it reached No.3.[4]

Rivers' cover of "Rockin' Pneumonia" became his third Gold record. His last Gold record would be five years later with the 1977 hit, "Swayin' to the Music (Slow Dancing)."

Chart performance

Musician credits

• Huey "Piano" Smith - piano
• Gerri Hall - vocals
• Bobby Marchan - vocals
• James Black - vocals
• Eugene Francis - vocals
• Sidney Rayfield - vocals
• "Scarface" John Williams - vocals
• Lee Allen - tenor saxophone
• Alvin "Red" Tyler - baritone saxophone
• Earl King - guitar
• Frank Fields - bass
• Charles "Hungry" Williams - drums[10][11]

Other cover versions

• In 1957, the tune was recorded by Larry Williams on Specialty Records. The back-up band included René Hall, guitar, Earl Palmer, drums, and Plas Johnson, tenor sax.[12]
• The Crickets,on their 1960 album In Style with the Crickets.
• The Flamin' Groovies, in 1969, on their debut album Supersnazz, and again on their second album Flamingo, in 1970.
• Aerosmith, in 1987, for the Less than Zero soundtrack.
• Grateful Dead, on their Europe '72 tour at the Strand Lyceum, London, England, 23 and 24 May 1972.
• James Booker, on his albums Gonzo: Live 1976 [13] and King of New Orleans Keyboard.[14]
• Professor Longhair, in 1974, released only in 1997 on his album Rock 'n Roll Gumbo. [15]
• Deep Purple, on their 2021 album Turning to Crime.

References

External links

• Listen to "Rockin' Pneumonia - Boogie Woogie Flu" on YouTube (Huey "Piano" Smith)
• Listen to "Rockin' Pneumonia - Boogie Woogie Flu" on YouTube (Johnny Rivers)

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