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Rockin' Pneumonia and the Boogie Woogie Flu
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Wikipedia article
"'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.
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.
"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.
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
Weekly charts
Year-end charts
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[The Blues Discography 1943-1970 The Classic Years, Les Fancourt & Bob McGrath (Eyeball Productions)]Huey "Piano" Smith And The Rocking Pneumonia Blues, Author: John Wirt, LSU Press, 2014, P. 49
Other cover versions
* In 1957, the tune was recorded by Larry Williams on Specialty Records. The back-up band included Ren Hall, guitar, Earl Palmer, drums, and Plas Johnson, tenor sax.Larry Williams: Bad Boy The Legends of Specialty Records, Speciality Records 1989, liner notes
* 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' and 'King of New Orleans Keyboard'.
* Professor Longhair, in 1974, released only in 1997 on his album 'Rock 'n Roll Gumbo.'
* Deep Purple, on their 2021 album 'Turning to Crime'.
References
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