Johnny Rivers - Rockin' Pneumonia

[Tunz909]

Yes Knechtel did a great job here, wonder what type of piano he was using?? The tones are very tasteful indeed!! How do you know he did it in just one take?

[timeout1958]

If you turn this song off I'll certainly hurt you. What a great piece. And now I see that Larry Knechtel worked this jam. He did some Bread work...

[onnitro]

I love this song and used to roller skate to this song back in the 70's. I even have the 45 on an old Seeburg jukebox in our rec room. Just hearing it makes my legs want to move!

Problem is, I'd probably break a hip if I tried to roller skate to it these days!

Thanks for posting!

[beatlestoneful]

@ispepteid1 sorry but i know every breath taken in this song ...its rivers.

[909chuck]

GOOD TO KNOW jOHNNY STILL LOOKS AND SOUNDS SO GOOD. KEEP THE MUSIC ALIVE! THANX FOR THE POPULARITY UPDATE TOO.

[MrWeedpatch]

Try and remember Johnny Rivers is best there ever was...and still is....

[MrWeedpatch]

Try and remember Johnny Rivers is best there is....

[paperboy6996]

I rocke the house down with this on at my favorite Karaoke bar thatks for posting it

[guitwar71]

this song hit the album charts at #6 in 1972.for johnny Rivers of course.

[0917gva]

I had forgotten about this great tune. I love it, it is so upbeat and just an all-around fun song! Thank you for this post.

[DownSouthJukin91]

Great feel good tune!

[909chuck]

Odd that for all his hits he never did achieve top stardom and now is less remembered. This tune is, to use a cliche, hot hot hot! That wonderful New Orleans type sound and his authentic accent really sell this '50s classic.  For a later evolution his (more timely than ever) song from '68 THE WAY WE LIVE. Thanx 4 posting this rockin' hit!

[MrWeedpatch]

@909chuck not sure where your from Chuck but Johnny Rivers was as big as they get when I lived in Fla, Long Island, NY and Ft Worth Texas.....He still draws a full house when he comes to Billy Bob's here in Cow Town...he's the greatest.....

[19chiefs57]

As highly rated as he is, he is still underrated.

[goodolarchie]

And does anybody know if this is Rivers on piano too?

[amberola1b]

I know it sounds gay, but damn, what a gorgeous man

[twaggskr]

Does anyone know if Johnny is a Pontiac Dealer? Or Catholic?

[kindagoofy1]

Nice hair!

[hotstuffandicecream]

Got to love these piano songs and the 70's gave it all to us. Want to kiss her but she's way too tall. A classic line from this song. As an old 70's rocker I would be crazy without my old music and you tube giving it to me. Everything in the world can change around me but I still have the memories of these classics and the people I was with and the things we were doing. Thanks for a super nice post!

[DaveWollenberg]

Johnny hit #6 in Billboard, 1-20-73. God bless ya, for postin' it. Thanx!

[fede4avar90]

woooooooooow fantastic

[baldy194859]

hit it johnny ! great song.

[voice940]

Johnny Rivers was the first performer that I ever had the privilege of interviewing. I was about 20 years old, and new to radio... he answered all of my questions, and promptly invited me to watch the show from backstage. A VERY cool experience!

[davilac13]

@voice940 i dont think so

[voice940]

@davilac13 uhm... why do you not think so?

[RTT8001]

Can someone please post his 70s theme show version of the Midnight Special; probably recorded around the same time.

[collin1570]

His site is his name!

[emonster2001]

I need more cowbell......

[mothman1967]

@emonster2001 a cowbell solo WOULD be cool...

[DaveWollenberg]

Johnny hit #6 in Billboard. God bless!

[TheMotherowl]

Thanks,I love this song!

[DianaNov27]

love it

[WaRRunner]

I got the rockin' pneumonia,

I need a shot of rhythm and blues.

[JCANELAKES]

On Thursday, August 20th 2009, Larry Knechtel passed away at the age of 69.

[flyinstew]

ooooh yeah... like this song, Johnny!

[outlander5b5]

Haven't heard this song in awhile

[cotchford1969]

This tune always gets me moving and grooving!

[pokepokemonmon]

41 seconds of instrumentals before the actual song starts.. OYE

[JCANELAKES]

On Thursday, August 20th 2009, Larry Knechtel passed away at the age of 69.

[19881994for2]

Fantastic piano licks!!! Some of the best I've ever heard!!!

[bobnegro1]

@19881994for2 yeah its good! if you like this checkout DR. john,now a lot of people may not have heard of him, ( maybe they have.) this is N.O. music & DR john

IS nnnnnnnnn.ooooooooooooooo. ( NEW ORLEANS) Tipitina!

[iriewaregl]

SImply amazing! Sorry about the post I deleted. It was actually a message to a friend that I posted to the board by mistake -- and well, I had already sent them several Johnny Rivers tunes. Anyway, thanks for posting -- GREAT sound quality - great song!

[gingerbread1231]

great sound quality - thx for this post!

[Snookiebutt]

You are so welcome..enjoy!!!

[skudaarkaat1]

@gingerbread1231 Never knew the keyboard players name before this. He's GREAT!! Thanks, gb1231!

[LarryRickenbacker]

The late Larry Knechtal was a session pro, alright. It's my understanding that he played lead guitar on "Guitar Man" by Bread! Fantastic lead guitar on that track and super-fun Piano on THIS song.

[Aerosmith589]

Man I just love how that piano sounds, that's piano playing at it's best right there.

[starboy288]

This is, without doubt, the greatest spontaneous boogie/rock piano playing ever recorded with a band. Recorded in one take!

Nothing else has touched the fluid playing and choice of tones that Larry Knechtel achieved on piano here.

And the timing of his licks and runs are as natural and hot as lava from the volcano.

Reading of his passing today was sad, because he was said to be a good father, husband, brother and son. Family meant a lot to him. What a musician. He'll be missed.

[Snookiebutt]

You must have confused him with someone else..maybe Gene Pitney, cause a site that tells about death has him still living and there is nothing in the news about him dying.

[Mindermaniac]

@Snookiebutt This comment is referring to the piano player on this track, Larry Knetchel who passed away in 2009 - he was an amazing multi-instrumentalist and was also in the band Bread. He played the guitar solo for the song Guitar Man. His most famous piano work is his 1970 Grammy Award winning contribution to "Bridge over Troubled Water" by Simon and Garfunkel.

[amartin7889]

@Snookiebutt shut up hes dead u kno it.

[davidhalldurham]

@starboy288 Larry K. was probably the greatest session keyboardist EVER. He backed everyone of any importance, and of course he was a member of Bread.

[collin1570]

@starboy288 Don't know where you got your info about Mr. Rivers passing, but he's still alive and kickin! Releasing a new album.

[starboy288]

@collin1570 Was not referring to Johnny Rivers, but to the piano player on Rockin' Pneumonia, Larry Knechtel, who passed away on August 20th, 2009, and who played with some of the greatest artists of his era. Google Larry's career and you'll understand why I paid him the compliments I did in last year's post here.

[destinydreamfinder]

@starboy288 On Thursday, August 20th 2009, Larry Knechtel passed away at the age of 69. It has been determined that Larry died from an undiagnosed heart condition. Apart from being a brilliant musician, Larry was loved by many for his character – honest, humble, hard-working, and charismatic. He was a loving and devoted father and husband.

[tmwilliams54]

@starboy288: I LOVE a boogie piano--that guy was killin' it!

[starboy288]

RIP Larry Knechtel, 1940-2009, who played this incredible piano on this song, which was the best of the best in rock/boogie piano for its time. He said they did this in one take when I spoke to him a little over a year ago.

Couldn't have been any cooler piano playing. It just sweeps you up in its fervor and interestingness. Larry also did the piano intro and playing on Bridge Over Troubled Waters w/Simon & Garfunkel.

He was also a member of the famous LA Wrecking Crew studio musicians.

[quiltbee]

a great one.....alright!...thanks.....­.5*****

[SummerRain368]

Thank you for posting this music! Great tunes for a summer night! Johnny's music is the BEST!

[BooBots]

Brilliant! Period.

[starboy288]

That's some of the best rock/boogie piano playing ever! Larry Knechtel was the piano player and they did this in one take, he said.

[denisedibear]

Love Johnny!!

Hot song!!

[TK572]

Something like this could only come out of America. Nothing beats listining this while driving down the road in a Cadillac.

[reevolution]

HELL YEAH!!!!

[Barb6450]

Very cool...thanks!

[rockguitarrabit]

the good old johnny rivers!!!

[bbudacious]

Thank you dogdigger.  A great one.

[dogdigger50]

great song from my past thanks for the video

[JONROSE44]

One of my favorite Johnny Rivers hits!!!!