His piano playing incorporated the boogie styles of Pete Johnson, Meade Lux Lewis, Albert Ammons; the jazz style of Jelly Roll Morton and the piano playing of Fats Domino. Allmusic journalist, Steve Huey, also noted "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."
Smith was born in New Orleans' Garden District, and was influenced by New Orleans' piano innovator, Professor Longhair. He became known for his shuffling right-handed break on the piano that influenced other Southern players.
Smith wrote his first song on the piano, "Roberson Street Boogie" (named after the street where he lived), when he was only eight years old, and performed the tune with a friend. They billed themselves as Slick and Dark. Smith attended McDowell High and Xavier University of Louisiana in New Orleans. When Smith was fifteen he began working in clubs and recording records with his flamboyant partner, Eddie Jones, who rose to fame as Guitar Slim. When he was eighteen, in 1952, he signed a recording contract with Savoy Records, which released his first known single, "You Made Me Cry". In 1953 Smith recorded with Earl King.
In 1955, Smith turned 21, and became the piano player with Little Richard's first band for Specialty Records. The same year he also played piano on several studio sessions for other artists such as Lloyd Price. Two of the sessions resulted in hits for Earl King ("Those Lonely Lonely Nights"), and Smiley Lewis ("I Hear You Knocking").
In 1957, Smith formed "Huey "Piano" Smith & The Clowns" with blues singer and female impersonator Bobby Marchan, and signed a long term contract with former Specialty record producer, Johnny Vincent at Ace Records. They hit the Billboard charts with several singles in succession, including a breakout Top Five R&B hit entitled "Rockin' Pneumonia and the Boogie Woogie Flu". The song was originally an instrumental, and then Smith decided to do the same song on the B-side, but this time with lyrics. The lyrics were written by John Vincent, and the record sold over one million copies, achieving gold disc status.
In 1958, Vin Records, a subsidiary of Ace Records, released a popular single "Little Chickie Wah Wah" with Clowns singer Gerri Hall, under the billing of Huey and Dewey. Meanwhile, Ace Records released several more singles from 'Huey "Piano" Smith & The Clowns', including "We Like Birdland", "Well I'll Be John Brown", and "Don't You Know Yockomo".
Their most famous single, released in 1958, "Don't You Just Know It" with B-side "High Blood Pressure", hit number 9 on the Billboard Pop chart and number 4 on the Rhythm and Blues chart. It was their second million seller.
In 1959, Ace Records erased Marchan's voice from the now classic single Smith composed, arranged and performed entitled "Sea Cruise", and replaced it with a more energetic vocal track by white singer Frankie Ford. The tune was a huge hit for Ford.
Smith left Ace Records for Imperial Records, to record with Fats Domino's noted producer (and fellow Louisianan) Dave Bartholomew, but the national hits did not follow. Instead, Ace Records again overdubbed new vocals by Gerri Hall, Billy Roosevelt and Johnny Williams on another one of Smith's unreleased tracks, to produce the last hit single credited to Huey "Piano" Smith, entitled "Pop-Eye".
In the years following, he made several comebacks, performing as 'Huey "Piano" Smith and the Clowns', 'The Hueys', 'The Pitter Pats', and as 'Shindig Smith and the Soul Shakers', but he has never attained his former degree of success. Thereafter, Smith joined the Jehovah's Witnesses, and left the music industry permanently.
In 2000, Smith was honored with a Pioneer Award by the Rhythm and Blues Foundation.
Smith's song, "Don't You Just Know It", was used in the 1993 film, A Bronx Tale, and appeared on the soundtrack of the 2001 film, Snatch. Portions of this song were also used in a series of commercials for Familiprix, a chain of pharmacies in Quebec.
High Blood Pressure
Huey "Piano" Smith Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
(Smith/Vincent)
Huey 'Piano' Smith & The Clowns
Bobby Marchan lead vocal, Bob Isbell - vocal bass
Musicians: Huey - piano, Lee Allen - sax
Earl King - guitar, Charles Williams - drums
Red Tyler - sax. Ace Records #545 1958
Album: This Is Huey 'Piano' Smith
I get a-high (oh yes) blood pressure (oh yes)
When you call my name (oh yes)
Uh-uh-huh (oh yes)
I get a high (oh yes) blood pressure (oh yes)
When you call my name
(Oh, yes, oh yes)
I get a high blood pressure
Well, baby when you're by my side
Yes (yes) I get a-high (oh yes)
Blood pressure (oh yes) when you're by side (oh yes)
Uh-huh-huh (oh yes)
I get a-high (oh yes) blood pressure
When you speak to me (oh yes)
Uh-huh-huh (oh yes)
I get a-high blood pressure I can hardly see (oh yes)
Oh-ooh (oh yes)
I get a high blood pressure
Yes, baby when you get in my arms
Yes, get a high (oh yes) blood pressure
When you're in my arms (oh yes)
Uh-huh-huh (oh yes)
My eyes get to jumpin'
Up and down in a ring
My heart gets to jumpin'
Up and down as a spring
Chills run up and down my spine, it's true
My face startin' to sweatin, an it's
(All because a-you)
I get-a high (oh yes) blood pressure (oh yes)
'Cause my eyes go mad (oh yes) for you (oh yes)
My eyes start to jumpin'
It's a terrible strain
My heart gets to thumpin'
Up and down in pain
Chills run up and down my spine, it's true
My face startin' to sweatin' an it's
(All because a-you)
I get a high blood pressure
'Cause a I'm your man (oh yes) oh yes
(Oh yes)
(Oh yes)
(Oh yes)
(Uh-huh)
(Oh yes)
(Uh-huh)
(Oh yes)
(Uh-huh)
Fades -
(Ooooh)
(Ooooh-ooooh)
(It happens like that).
~
The lyrics of Huey "Piano" Smith's song High Blood Pressure can be interpreted as a humorous take on the physical effects of infatuation. The singer describes how their blood pressure rises and their eyes start jumping when their love interest calls their name or speaks to them. They also experience chills and their heart starts thumping in pain, but they still claim that they get high blood pressure because they are the person's man. The catchy and upbeat rhythm of the song creates a contrast with the potential seriousness of high blood pressure as a medical condition, turning it into a comic motif.
Overall, the song can be seen as an example of the evolution of rhythm and blues music into rock and roll, which often used humor and playful lyrics to explore themes related to love, teenage rebellion, and social issues. Moreover, High Blood Pressure showcases the talent of Huey "Piano" Smith and The Clowns, who were known for their energetic live performances and their contribution to the development of the New Orleans sound.
Line by Line Meaning
I get a-high (oh yes) blood pressure (oh yes)
When you call my name (oh yes)
Uh-uh-huh (oh yes)
Hearing you call my name causes my blood pressure to rise and my excitement to increase.
I get a high (oh yes) blood pressure (oh yes)
When you call my name
(Oh, yes, oh yes)
I get a high blood pressure
Just hearing your voice is enough to raise my blood pressure because I'm so into you.
Well, baby when you're by my side
Yes (yes) I get a-high (oh yes)
Blood pressure (oh yes) when you're by side (oh yes)
Uh-huh-huh (oh yes)
Being close to you and in your presence makes me feel nervous and excited, causing my blood pressure to rise.
I get a-high (oh yes) blood pressure
When you speak to me (oh yes)
Uh-huh-huh (oh yes)
I get a-high blood pressure I can hardly see (oh yes)
Oh-ooh (oh yes)
Just the sound of your voice when you speak to me makes me feel overwhelmed, and sometimes I can't even focus properly because of the physical reaction I have to you.
Yes, baby when you get in my arms
Yes, get a high (oh yes) blood pressure
When you're in my arms (oh yes)
Uh-huh-huh (oh yes)
When I hold you close to me, my excitement and anticipation intensify, making my blood pressure rise even more.
My eyes start to jumpin'
It's a terrible strain
My heart gets to thumpin'
Up and down in pain
Chills run up and down my spine, it's true
My face startin' to sweatin' an it's
(All because a-you)
I get-a high (oh yes) blood pressure (oh yes)
'Cause my eyes go mad (oh yes) for you (oh yes)
Being near you causes me so much excitement and nervousness that it manifests in physical symptoms like my eyes jumping, my heart pounding, and chills. All of this is happening because I'm so into you.
I get a high blood pressure
'Cause a I'm your man (oh yes) oh yes
Being in love with you and being your man is the reason for all the physical symptoms I experience around you, including my high blood pressure.
Contributed by Mackenzie E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.