Rock and Roll, Hoochie Koo

"Rock and Roll, Hoochie Koo" is a rock song written by American musician Rick Derringer. It was first recorded in 1970 by Johnny Winter and his band, Johnny Winter And, of which Derringer was a member. In 1973, Derringer recorded a solo version, which was his only Top 40 chart hit as a solo artist in the U.S. It became a staple of 1970s classic rock radio and rock music compilations. Both Winter and Derringer have recorded multiple live versions of the song.

"Rock and Roll, Hoochie Koo"
Song by Johnny Winter And
from the album Johnny Winter And
Released1970 (1970)
Recorded1970
GenreHard rock
Length3:29
LabelColumbia
Songwriter(s)Rick Derringer
Producer(s)Johnny Winter, Rick Derringer

Original version

"Rock and Roll, Hoochie Koo" was initially recorded by Johnny Winter in 1970 with his band "Johnny Winter And", which included Rick Derringer and other former members of the McCoys. According to Derringer:

The first song I wrote for Johnny was 'Rock and Roll, Hoochie Koo'. 'Rock and Roll' to satisfy the rock 'n' roll that I was supposed to be bringing into the picture, and 'Hoochie Koo' to satisfy the king of blues sensibility that Johnny was supposed to maintain. And it worked out great.[1]

However, Winter noted, "The reviewers liked it. I didn't think 'Rock and Roll, Hoochie Koo' would do as well as it did 'cause it was a little corny. Rock and Roll, Hoochie Koo. You don't ever know".[1] The song is included on the Johnny Winter And album, which reached number 154 on the Billboard 200 album chart.[2][3]

In 1970, they recorded the song during the Live Johnny Winter And tour, which was released as Live at the Fillmore East 10/3/70 in 2010. In a review of the album for AllMusic, Thom Jurek commented that "this one blows away the JWA [Johnny Winter And] studio version or Derringer's own hit single take", although he felt it did not measure up to the other songs recorded that night.[4] Winter and Derringer later recorded the song with Winter's brother for Edgar Winter's White Trash live 1972 album Roadwork, described in an album review as a "rousing rendition".[5]

Rick Derringer version
"Rock and Roll, Hoochie Koo"
Single by Rick Derringer
from the album All American Boy
B-side"Time Warp (instrumental)"
Released1973 (1973)
Recorded1973
GenreHard rock
Length
  • 2:55 (single edit)
  • 3:43 (album version)
LabelBlue Sky
Songwriter(s)Rick Derringer
Producer(s)Bill Szymczyk, Rick Derringer
Rick Derringer singles chronology
"Rock and Roll, Hoochie Koo"
(1973)		 "Teenage Love Affair"
(1974)

Rick Derringer recorded the song for his 1973 solo debut album All American Boy.[6] Edited for release as a single on Winter's Blue Sky Records, it reached number 23 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1974.[7] In Australia, the single reached number 84.[8]

In a retrospective song review for AllMusic, Stephen Thomas Erlewine described it as:

a good, fun rock & roll song. It's not a great song, but it does make for a good record ... In the decades since, the song has dated a little bit – it now sounds like the excess of '70s hard rock, impossible to be heard outside of a '70s stadium or classic rock radio – but as that kind of recording, it's pretty fun.[6]

Over the years Derringer recorded several live versions of "Rock and Roll, Hoochie Koo".[6] In 2012, he released a new version of the song with lyrics reflecting his Christian beliefs. Titled "Read the Word and Live It Too", the song also credited a "Big D" for the rapped verses.

References
  1. Sullivan, Mary Lou (2010). Raisin' Cain: The Wild and Raucous Story of Johnny Winter. Backbeat Books. pp. 139–140. ISBN 978-0-87930-973-2.
  2. "Johnny Winter – Billboard 200". Billboard.com. Retrieved November 21, 2020.
  3. A promotional single of "Rock and Roll, Hoochie Koo" b/w "21st Century Man" was also released in 1970 (Columbia 4-45260).
  4. Jurek, Thom. "Johnny Winter / Johnny Winter And: Live at the Fillmore East 10/3/70 – Revie". AllMusic. Retrieved November 21, 2020.
  5. Smith, Michael B. "Edgar Winter's White Trash / Edgar Winter: Roadwork – Review". AllMusic. Retrieved November 21, 2020.
  6. Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Rock and Roll, Hoochie Koo – Song Review". AllMusic. Retrieved March 25, 2011.
  7. "Rick Derringer – Hot 100". Billboard.com. Retrieved November 21, 2020.
  8. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 88. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
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