Rockin' Pneumonia & The Boogie Woogie Flu - Huey "Piano" Smith 1957 Pts 1&2

[@markherron1407]

Happy Birthday to Huey Piano 🎹 Smith 🎊🎂🎁🎈🎇 Blessings and Hugs 💖💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕!

[@bryanbjornstad1576]

Brilliant!

[@PolkRidgeAesthete]

What wonderfully infectious, hardcore rock n roll rhythm! What a mighty groove... I heard Allen Toussaint play an unforgettable version of this at Tipitina's in the '80s. How I wish I could hear *that* again!

[@rochelleb973]

I love this song. They played this in Walmart the other, a bunch of us oldies but goodies started singing and shoulder dancing while pushing our carts. We needed that fun with all that's going on 😁

[@skronked]

Walmart ..... the joint's too small!" Was it Huey or Johnny?

[@rochelleb973]

@@skronked Johnny Rivers

[@edfriday7709]

RIP….

[@razzldazzl4846]

I remember Huey "Piano" Smith from many years ago and all the great R & B musicians! We all listened to Huggy Boy, Wolfman Jack and Art LeBoe on the radio, bought 78 and 45 records at Wallicks Music City in Hollywood-We loved listening, singing, dancing to and buying the "music". I will "never" forget!!

[@philipterstege4434]

Still a strong song. The best thing is that I have the original record at home. Everybody loves it. Great stuff. Stay safe and enjoy.

[@Sayeeda1]

This group was much loved in Washington DC where I grew up. We danced and laughed to all of their songs! Rockin Pneumonia was the most requested at our parties. It was the New Orleans R&B sound!!!

[@60s70sTheBest]

Cool.

[@reythmband]

I was a teen in the D.C. 'burbs in 1957 and well remember the kids dancing to this funky New Orleans song. It's STILL just as funky today and an example of what was originally meant by the term "rhythm and blues."

[@juan2300]

First time hearing this version. I was only familiar with Johnny Rivers recording. Sounds great.

[@andyc.4387]

This is the original and superior version.

[@williamhole1914]

Great !

[@hamishnicholls6585]

Deep Purple are putting out a cover of this on their latest album out this month ( Nov 26 2021). Love that band now introducing me lost classic music I’d never perhaps ever heard.

[@salvadordejesusguiradogonz5572]

extraordinaria esta cancion 🎼🎵🎶

[@lindadee2053]

"I would be runnin' but my feets too slow" - Love that line! I well remember dancing to this great boogie woogie when I was just a youngster.

[@60s70sTheBest]

It's a great classic. Thanks for your comment.

[@JohnRankin1943]

They used to play it at the Scene Club in Soho in the early 60's. US record import.

[@dickwarren5087]

And, can you believe that "Piano" is not in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, taking his rightful place beside such rock luminaries as Ricky Nelson and Grandmaster Flash? Take heart though, the roll call at the R & R Hall of Fame does include such well known names as Nat (King) Cole, Hank Williams, Louis Armstrong, Floyd Cramer, Bill Monroe, Mahalia Jackson, Joan Baez, Pete Seeger and Jimmie Rodgers - all of whom were great musical artists in their own rights and genres, but none of whom ever wrote or played rock and roll music. Huey Smith is not the only one so overlooked, but he is among the more flagrant omissions.

[@60s70sTheBest]

It's all industry politics.

[@alancoleman6749]

Don't forget Earl King his 70 songs should never be forgotten ! Used to play with Hughie too!

[@jamesdaviddupre99]

Huey was awesome. Johnny Rivers had a bigger hit on the charts with this song, but here you hear Huey's amazing piano style. He and others (Fats Domino, Doctor John, Allen Toussaint) learned a lot from Professor Longhair back in the day, but Huey always came up with happy sing-a-long tunes. Growing up in New Orleans, I loved them all. I could say more, but the music says it all.

[@60s70sTheBest]

Great comment. Glad you stopped by.

[@jamesdaviddupre99]

@@60s70sTheBest P.S. Two more comments: There's a quote in a book where a record producer tells Huey that he should hit a few bad notes, like Little Richard does (ha ha). Then there was a CD/book from Dr. John, where he shows variations of "the famous lick," which is the opening piano vamp here, also in many other N'Awlinz tunes.

[@60s70sTheBest]

@@jamesdaviddupre99 Again, thanks for the info. "N'Awlinz"....so that's how you pronounce it.

[@lindadee2053]

@@chasingsummer4390 I'm not usually a big fan of covers, but Johnny Rivers' cover of this is actually excellent. I still love Huey's original the most.

[@skronked]

I like the comments that make the distinction between Huey & Johnny.

[@mdhbigdog]

Thanks for this great post and for your historical notes. It's great to go back to the roots.

[@60s70sTheBest]

It's great that you appreciate the history.

[@rs-ye7kw]

Anyone else notice the amazing similarities to the music of another group from the same time period; The Coasters?

[@mackgrout]

This song has never been more fitting!! Love it!

[@PatrickWall12]

"Rockin Covid and boogie woogie flu"!!

[@PatrickWall12]

or "Rockin' Corona and boogie woogie flu" may sound better!!

[@petejefferson2]

Loved this song. Moore Boogie-Woogie. Great beat,

[@60s70sTheBest]

Thanks for the comment.

[@vintagedreams3589]

Waahooo!!!

[@stephenbrooks6174]

As a drummer who has studied how beats have changed over the years, from the swing of old jazz to the straight 4 to the bar, of funk and rock. This one can't make up its mind, as to whether the drummer wants to hit 3 on the cymbal to the 2nd and 4th beat, or to go into 4 to the bar. It's almost a shuffle beat as well. I love it. And why isn't this the first version of this song to pop up when I researched it? I quite like Johnny Rivers, but he's no Huey 'Piano' Lewis.

[@michaelclark9762]

Johnny Rivers covered it in 1972. There are a lot more folks alive today who remember things from 1972 than things from 1957. Rivers also sold more records because he had national distribution whereas record distribution was much more regional in 1957.

[@stephenbrooks6174]

@@michaelclark9762 Your point being?

[@michaelclark9762]

@@stephenbrooks6174 You asked, "Why isn't this the first version of this song that popped up... ? Well excuuuuuuuse me for trying to answer your question.

[@Accam570]

River's version was an international hit. The hit version usually comes up first.

[@dlm9293]

​@@stephenbrooks6174he just answered the question you posed at the end of your comment, brother!

[@Nucc3]

I was 12 years old when this came out.

[@Sayeeda1]

I was 14 years old!

[@JohnRankin1943]

@@Sayeeda1 me too

[@jamespfitz]

Stayed home sick with a cold a while back. Assistant called to check in. Asked what I had. I said "Rockin' pneumonia, AND boogie-woogie flu." She was entirely confused but thought I was serious and using Boomer slang to refer to either a hangover or serious drug problem, which she told the entire office. OK, Millennials.

[@im1sinfulman]

THANK YOU FOR SHARING,

[@Thejakemarc1]

I wanna jump but I'm afraid I'll fall. I wanna holler but the joint's too small. Young man rhythm's got a hold of me too. I got a rockin' pneumonia and a boogie woogie flu. Want some lovin', baby, that ain't all. I wanna kiss her but the gal's too tall. Young man rhythm's got a hold of me too. I got a rockin' pneumonia and a boogie woogie flu. I wanna scream, I want you all to know, I would be runnin' but my feet's too slow. Young man rhythm's got a hold of me too. I got a rockin' pneumonia and a boogie woogie flu. Yeah! Well, all right! Yeah! I wanna scream, I want you all to know, I would be runnin' but my feets' too slow. Young man rhythm's got a hold of me too. I got a rockin' pneumonia and a boogie woogie flu. Baby. comin' now I'm hurryin' home. I know she's leavin' 'cause I'm takin' too long. Young man rhythm's got a hold of me too. I got a rockin' pneumonia and a boogie woogie flu.

[@stevepethel6843]

117 bpm

[@melvinwren]

young man rhythm....i swear i heard something else the first time.

[@marjoriecohn3868]

This is the original, it's great. I like it better than the Jerry Lee Lewis version. Totally love Johnny Rivers too.

[@bobmack3919]

HUEY SMITH AND THE CLOWNS PERFORMED AT MY WHITE ELEPHANT CLUB IN 1960 - HEAR 5 UNRELEASED ALBUMS OF THE WORLDS MOST AMAZING RECORDS AT "BOB MACK PLAYS RARE PITTSBURGH DOO WOP" NOW ON KZbin #

[@MegaRamon1985]

10/2021

[@codascot7341]

Coronavirus anyone? 😆

[@futurechannel48]

codascot Normal People: Coronavirus Me:

[@codascot7341]

Future Channel I don’t know what that means...I’m in my 20s and I have no idea what you are saying there, friend

[@diegovoss7601]

@@futurechannel48 lol

[@claytonmcarthur6907]

Kind of funny you say that because the song came out I believe in about 1957 and was a mockery of the Asian flu

[@reythmband]

"I Got the Rockin' Pneumonia and the Covid-19 Flu"!

[@PatrickWall12]

"Asian Flu Pandemic Blues". Great song inspired by that pandemic. Also done by Jerry Lee Lewis.

[@randysvynil9502]

I just got here because according to news Deep Purple did a cover of this song.

[@BobWarnerBarn]

..............:)

[@60s70sTheBest]

Thanks.

[@brittanyballance2668]

I can’t believe I thought it was Rockin’ Pneumonia and the Boogie Woogie Blues! Oops 😬

[@60s70sTheBest]

If you had the flu you'd have the blues. Thanks for your comment.

[@brittanyballance2668]

60s70sTheBest 🎵💕 you’re welcome! & awesome KZbin channel

[@60s70sTheBest]

@@brittanyballance2668 Thanks. I appreciate that.

[@DDRocker]

This is the one you're probably thinking of, Brittany - same song, different title - kzbin.info/www/bejne/aZiUlpKPqquDntk

[@DDRocker]

Wrong link - kzbin.info/www/bejne/mZmVgJ6mo52NmcU

[@bassreeves2410]

johnny rivers version is slow and somewhat tepid. this is rock n roll.

[@michaelclark9762]

Both are great. That syncopated bass line on the chord changes in Rivers' version is wicked. Rivers' version was recorded fifteen years later at a time when recording technology had improved a lot. You can hear all of the parts of the music better in stereo than mono, too.

[@sploggins1]

Like rivers vocals better. And better last part with guitar.

[@jamesfellers1673]

An average,everyday God...

[@scottyg.4199]

This was good, but Jeannie C. Riley had the Best "Rockin Pneumonia" ever.

[@patrickcronin5134]

I957 - 58 was the years of the Asian flu pandemic, the 18th largest in history according to a book by historian Niall Ferguson.