Rockin' Pneumonia and the Boogie Woogie Flu

1972 saw the song as an international hit single for Johnny Rivers, featuring Larry Knechtel on piano as well as other L.A. sessions musicians from the Wrecking Crew.[2] "Rockin' Pneumonia" reached number six on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 during the winter of 1973. It was only Rivers' fifth highest charting song, but spent much longer 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 number five, and in Canada it reached number three.[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)."

The title is a reference to "walking" pneumonia and the Asian flu, hitting the United States in 1957-58.

• 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.[9]
• The song was covered by The Flamin' Groovies in 1969 on their debut album Supersnazz, and again on their second album Flamingo in 1970.
• Aerosmith covered the song in 1987 for the Less Than Zero soundtrack.
• Grateful Dead covered the song on their Europe '72 tour at The Strand Lyceum, London, England 5/23 and 5/24/1972
• James Booker covered the song on his albums Gonzo: Live 1976[10] and King Of New Orleans Keyboard.[11]

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