The Best of Huey Piano Smith

Huey Piano Smith (Artist), His Clowns (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 5, 2009)
• Original Release Date: 2009
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Fuel 2000
• ASIN: B001YXXS7E
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #109,373 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Rockin' Pneumonia and the Boogie Woogie Flu, Pt. 1

2. Little Liza Jane

3. Everybody's Whalin'

4. Just a Lonely Clown

5. Free, Single and Disengaged

6. Don't You Just Know It

7. High Blood Pressure

8. Little Chickee Wah Wah

9. We Like Birdland

10. Having a Good Time

11. Don't You Know Yockomo

12. Well I'll Be John Brown

13. Sea Cruise

14. Would You Believe It (I Have a Cold)

15. Genevieve

16. Tu-Ber-Cu-Lucas and the Sinus Blues

17. Beatnik Blues

18. For Cryin' Out Loud

19. Pop-Eye

20. Scald-Dog

Editorial Reviews

Excellent 2009 collection. Fats Domino said no one better typified the New Orleans piano style than Huey Piano Smith. He was also one of R&B's great comedians, his best singles rivaled the Coasters for genial, goodtime humor, although his taste often ran more towards nonsense lyrics. But at the peak of his game, Smith epitomized New Orleans R&B at its most infectious and rollicking, as showcased on his classic signature tune 'Rockin' Pneumonia And The Boogie Woogie Flu'. For years, Huey Piano Smith lacked a comprehensive overview of his recording career, and no compilation ever appeared on CD in the United States until now! This 20 track collection features all of his hit singles for Ace plus several other singles and New Orleans staples.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Rock 'n Roll, February 5, 2010

By 

Alexander B. Dewitt "shopaholic" (east coast, usa) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Best of Huey Piano Smith (Audio CD)

Huey Piano Smith has been one of my favorite artists since I was a boy and bought 45 RPM records with his hits current on the charts. That of course was in the mid fifties but time has been good for his music. It stays as good as ever, in my opinion. This collection is very comprehensive and includes many recordings I had never heard before, including his version of "Sea Cruise". I highly recommend this collection as it is a real buy.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Real Deal Old School N'Awlinz party music, May 17, 2011

By 

Sax Lover - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Best of Huey Piano Smith (Audio CD)

Dated but timeless in its N'Awlinz good-time party music appeal. More people should be hip to this! Although typecast as a so-called "novelty tune" artist, Huey had bouncy, easy to singalong music with a solid backing band - especially on the early charts, including Lee Allen on tenor sax, Red Tyler on baritone sax, and Charles 'Hungry' Williams on drums. And Huey is a monster piano player, despite the sparse licks heard on these studio recordings.

This collection has most of the best. Even if the title track was done up slicker by Johnny Rivers (but without the funk), and even if Frankie Ford sang better on 'Sea Cruise,' it's cool to hear the originals.

Often back then, recordings were re-issued with the same backing tracks but with new vocals. Case in point: 'Sea Cruise.' Or new lyrics: 'Having a Good Time' was re-released as 'At the Mardi Gras,' BTW, a version with better lyrics.

The only down side, as in so many compilations, is the inconsistency in EQ at the various recording sessions (some bassy, some tinny) that makes it hard to listen to without adjusting, but it's worth it.

Thanks to all the 'Clowns' who made this fun music!

P.S. It's a crying shame that Huey's Christmas LP was censored after release and remains an expensive collector's item at present.