Rockin’ Pneumonia and the Boogie Woogie Flu – Another classic song from the ’50s that became an early ’70s hit. #MusicisLife #TedTocksCovers #HueyPianoSmith #JohnnyRivers #RodStewart #LarryKnechtel #Aerosmith #GratefulDead

It’s all about the piano. So much so, the guy who wrote ‘Rockin’ Pneumonia and the Boogie Woogie Flu’ was known as Huey ‘Piano’ Smith. Today’s post is a little bit about this song and then a little bit more about the three people who played a role in making it a top ten hit in several countries. In 1972, Johnny Rivers took it to #6 in the United States where it spent 19 weeks on the chart. Here is the story about how it got there. It’s a fun journey that began in 1957.

It all begins with a New Orleans based piano player named Huey Pierce Smith. Huey is a renowned R&B pianist whose style has had an incredible impact on rock and roll music. He is said to have combined the styles of Pete Johnson (see Mess Around), for the boogie woogie sound, Jelly Roll Morton, for the jazz influence and his New Orleans friend Fats Domino (see Ain’t That a Shame) for the R&B. Steve Huey of All Music sums up Huey ‘Piano’ Smith’s influence in the following passage:

“At the peak of his game, Smith epitomized New Orleans R&B at its most infectious and rollicking…”

Steve Huey

For Huey ‘Piano’ Smith it all began on his happening little street in Central City, New Orleans. He wrote ‘Robertson Street Boogie’ about the street where he lived when he was only 8 years old. By the time he was fifteen he was playing New Orleans clubs. He signed a recording contract with Savoy Records in 1952, and in 1953 he released his first single known as ‘You Made Me Cry’. It is no accident that this song title is the first line of the Fats Domino hit ‘Ain’t That a Shame’ because the two moved in similar circles and in the tight New Orleans music fraternity the artists drew inspiration from each other.

By 1955, Huey ‘Piano’ Smith became the piano player for Little Richard’s band during his first sessions for Specialty Records. Later that year he played with several other artists including Lloyd Price, with whom he performed on ‘I Hear You Knocking’. With all this experience under his belt, Smith formed his own band, called Huey ‘Piano’ Smith and his Clowns and signed an album deal with Ace Records where he recorded several singles including ‘Rockin’ Pneumonia and the Boogie Woogie Flu’. For Smith, the song sold over a million copies, achieving Gold status. Huey ‘Piano’ Smith’s influence is felt to this day. He was honoured by the Rhythm and Blues Foundation with a Pioneer Award in 2000. He is alive and well and still resides in his native New Orleans. Here is Huey ‘Piano’ Smith and his rockin’ version of ‘Rockin’ Pneumonia and the Boogie Woogie Flu’.

Does anyone else hear ‘Hot Legs’ by Rod Stewart? I am just sayin…this speaks to influence and it goes back to players like Huey ‘Piano’ Smith.

For part two of today’s feature we fast forward to 1972 and the recording by Johnny Rivers. Rivers, whose real name is John Henry Ramistella, was born in New York, but when he was young his family moved to Baton Rouge, Louisiana. There seems to be something in the air down on the bayou because like Huey ‘Piano’ Smith, Rivers became infatuated with music. He began playing guitar at the age of eight and never looked back. In 1958, a sixteen year old, Ramistella had an encounter that would change his life. He met with the legendary rock and roll DJ, Alan Freed. Freed did two things. First, he advised Johnny Ramistella to change his name. He asked the up and coming singer where he came from and when he was told, Louisiana he suggested that since the Mississippi flowed through Baton Rouge, he should change his name to Rivers. Soon after, Alan Freed helped Johnny Rivers get a recording contract. While the recordings did not sell well it gave Rivers the music bug. He headed back home and toured relentlessly. It was during this run of sets that he met Audrey Williams, the ex-wife of Hank Williams, who suggested he move to Nashville and focus on songwriting. It was here he cut his teeth with the great Roger Miller and in 1961 he met up with James Burton, who at the time was the guitarist for Ricky Nelson’s band. Burton encouraged him to move to Los Angeles and it was in L.A. that his career really took off. During the ‘60s and ‘70s Johnny Rivers had a run of chart success, mostly doing cover versions of other artist’s work. It worked for Rivers. One of these successful recordings was today’s feature; recorded in 1972.

To close out this post I want to mention a background player in ‘Rockin’ Pneumonia and the Boogie Woogie Flu’. In numerous posts over the nearly 600 song history of Ted Tocks Covers, I have referred to the cast of session players known as The Wrecking Crew. When I opened today’s post I stated simply, “It’s all about the piano.” Well, the piano player in the Johnny Rivers version of ‘Rockin’ Pneumonia and the Boogie Woogie Flu’ is none other than Larry Knechtel of the Wrecking Crew. To my ear he steals the show. What a piece of music. Here is his brief biography which admittedly, will not do him justice.

Larry Knechtel has a musical resume a mile long. If you are a fan of ’60s music, you have likely been listening to Knechtal play and not even known. To say he was prolific as a session player with this iconic group of musicians is an understatement. His career began as a member of Duane Eddy and the Rebels from 1959 to 1963. As this project drew to a close Knechtel began to spend more and more time in the studio where he caught the eye of the legendary Phil Spector. At the time Spector was creating his famous ‘Wall of Sound’ and in Knechtel he found a perfect compliment. The versatile bassist and keyboard player was prominent on many era recordings. The list is extensive. Here are just a few:

Surf City – Jan and Dean

Eve of Destruction – Barry McGuire

Pet Sounds – Beach Boys

Back to Back – Righteous Brothers

The Mamas and the Papas – Debut Album

The Monkees – Too many to name

The 5^th Dimension – Up, Up and Away and Age of Aquarius

The Doors – Debut album

Elvis Presley – Too many to name

Simon and Garfunkel – Bridge Over Troubled Water

Dave Mason – Alone Together

The Partridge Family – The Partridge Family Album

Poco – Debut album

Barbra Striesand – Too many to name

Bread – A founding member

Jerry Garcia – Reflections

Neil Diamond – Beautiful Noise

Dolly Parton – Nine to Five and Odd Jobs

Byrds – Too many to name

Rocky Horror Picture Show – Soundtrack album

Johnny Rivers – Too many to name

The list just goes on and on. His bass guitar is prominent, and his keyboard contributions are mythical. He along with the Wrecking Crew were so revered in their time that virtually every big name artist who needed studio contributions would call on this ensemble. For his part Larry Knechtel and The Wrecking Crew were inducted into the Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville.

Sadly, Larry Knechtel died ten years ago today of a heart attack. His contribution to music will be remembered forever. Like I said, it is all about the piano.

In 1987, Aerosmith recorded a version of ‘Rockin Pneumonia and the Boogie Woogie Flu’ for the Less Than Zero soundtrack. On this track Joe Perry’s guitar work and Stevie Tyler’s harmonica attempt to match the piano from the earlier works and fall a little short. Joey Kramer’s drums sound really crisp though. This song came out as the band was about to make a remarkable comeback after a horrible period where members of the band battled an array of personal issues.

To close out we have a cool version from Grateful Dead, recorded in London, England during their famous Europe ’72 Tour. This is special to Deadheads because within one month the band’s keyboard player, Ron McKernan, better known as Pigpen would be forced to leave the band due to health issues.

No matter who delivers the message ‘Rockin’ Pneumonia and the Boogie Woogie Flu’ gets the point across. Rock and roll was indeed here to stay.

I wanna to jump but I’m afraid I’ll fall 
I wanna to holler but the joint’s too small 
Young man rhythm’s got a hold of me too 
I got the rockin’ pneumonia and the boogie woogie flu

Huey ‘Piano’ Smith

Have a great day!