Huey 'Piano' Smith - The Singles & Albums Collection 1953-62 (2021)

Huey ‘Piano’ Smith was one of the many influential musical figures to emerge from New Orleans during the 1950s, becoming a noted and successful pianist, singer and songwriter on the R&B scene, and making a significant contribution to the development of rock ‘n’ roll. Making his first records under his own name in 1953, he played piano on hits by Earl King and Smiley Lewis before signing to Ace and recording with his long-time band The Clowns, and having two landmark pop and R&B hits with “Rocking Pneumonia and the Boogie Woogie Flu” and “Don’t You Just Know It”. This 58-track 2-CD set comprises A & B sides for the Savoy, Ace, Vin and Imperial labels during this era plus the titles from his album “Havin' A Good Time” and “For Dancing” not otherwise released as on singles. It also includes selected titles from the album “Twas The Night Before Christmas”, plus Imperial recordings not otherwise released at this time. It naturally features his Top 10 US pop and R&B hits “Rockin' Pneumonia And The Boogie Woogie Flu” and “Don't You Just Know It”, along with his other career chart entries “Don't You Know, Yockomo” and “Pop-Eye”. It’s a substantial overview of what was the primary era of his career as a recording artist and an entertaining showcase for his talent as a notable exponent of the distinctive sound of New Orleans R&B.