Rock And Roll, Hoochie Koo – Rick Derringer | Top 40 Chart Performance, Story and Song Meaning
Chart Performance: Pop (#23); 1974
Story Behind The Song By Ed Osborne
After producing four albums for Johnny Winter and three for brother Edgar, Rick Derringer replaced Ronnie Montrose as lead guitar ace for the Edgar Winter Group’s 1974 LP, Shock Treatment.
Rick went on the road with Winter, co-billed as a featured performer, and carved out some time to record his own solo effort, as well.
On his debut, All American Boy, he included Rock And Roll, Hoochie Koo, a rousing Rick-penned rocker previously waxed by both Johnny (on 1970’s Johnny Winter And) and Edgar Winter (on 1972’s Roadwork.
Based on the enthusiastic in-concert crowd response to Hoochie Koo it seemed a surefire hit even though neither Winter brother had tagged it for single release.
So Rick recorded his own version and released it on manager Steve Paul’s Blue Sky Records. The earlier Winter waxings were quickly forgotten as Hoochie Koo became Derringer’s signature single.
This content and all Song Meaning articles were created and written by Top 40 Contributing Editor Ed Osborne. © 2024 Ed Osborne. All Rights Reserved. In addition to these song meaning articles, Ed has written our “Year in Music 1960s-1990s” articles.
Produced by:
- Bill Szymczyk
- Rick Derringer
Lyrics Written by:
- Rick Derringer
Ed Osborne
Hi. I got my first record at age two and never looked back, spending a decades-long career in radio and the music business. Even after years of reading about and listening to all types of music, I am still fascinated by it. Apart from that, I’m endlessly intrigued by art, nature, and the inner lives of people (and dogs).