"Rockin' Pneumonia and the Boogie Woogie Flu" is a song written and originally recorded in 1957 by Huey "Piano" Smith, 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, which hit the United States in 1957–58. The lyrics recount the predicament of the singer who would like to approach a woman he sees in a club (or "joint"), but is unsuccessful due to his musical ailments.
Musician credits Huey "Piano" Smith – piano 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
Johnny Rivers recording
1972 saw the song become an international hit single for Johnny Rivers, featuring Larry Knechtel on piano as well as other Los Angeles session 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.
"Rockin' Pneumonia" gave Rivers his third gold record. His final gold record would be with the 1977 hit "Swayin' to the Music (Slow Dancing)".
Chart performance
Weekly charts Chart (1972–1973)PeakpositionAustralia (Go-Set)27New Zealand (Listener)11U.S. Billboard Hot 100 6U.S. Cashbox Top 1005U.S. Record World 4
Year-end charts Chart (1973)RankU.S. Billboard Hot 100 78U.S. Cash Box 30
Other cover versions Larry Williams, in 1957, on Specialty Records, with a back-up band including René 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. Paul Peek, on his 1966 single for Columbia Records (4-43527). Flamin' Groovies, in 1969, on their debut album Supersnazz, and again on their second album Flamingo, in 1970. Grateful Dead, on their Europe '72 tour at the Strand Lyceum, London, England, 23 and 24 May 1972. Family, in their January 26, 1973 radio concert on the BBC, released in 1991 as BBC Radio 1: Live in Concert. Professor Longhair, in 1974, released in 1997 on his album Rock 'n Roll Gumbo. Billy Vera, on his 1976 album Backdoor Man and his 2006 album Blue-Eyed Soul Man.https://www.allmusic.com/album/blue-eyed-soul-man-mw0002379301 James Booker, on his albums Gonzo: Live 1976 and King of New Orleans Keyboard. Patti LaBelle recorded the song for her 1981 album, The Spirit's in It. Aerosmith, in 1987, for the Less than Zero soundtrack. Deep Purple, on their 2021 album Turning to Crime.
References
External links (Huey "Piano" Smith) (Johnny Rivers)