‘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.
Rick Derringer recorded the song for his 1973 solo debut album All American Boy. He plays guitar, bass, and tambourine and sings the lead vocal, with Bobby Caldwell on drums and Carl Hall, Lani Groves, and Tasha Thomas providing the backing vocals. The song was recorded at Caribou Ranch near Nederland, Colorado. Edited for release as a single on Winter's Blue Sky Records, it reached number 23 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1974. In Australia, the single reached number 84.
"Hoochie Koo" is short for "Hoochie Koochie," which is sexual slang popularized by Muddy Waters in his song "Hoochie Coochie Man." In this song, Derringer finds a lady who really lights his fuse; he looks forward to a little Hoochie Koo.
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.”
Label – Blue Sky
Songwriter – Rick Derringer
Producers – Bill Szymczyk, Rick Derringer
SONG LYRICS
[Intro]All right!
[Verse 1]
I couldn't stop moving when it first took hold
It was a warm spring night at the old town hall
There was a group called The Jokers, they were layin' it down
'Cha know I'm never gonna lose that funky sound
[Chorus]
Rock and roll, hoochie koo (Rock and roll, hoochie koo)
Lawdy mama, light my fuse (Light my fuse)
Rock and roll, hoochie koo (Rock and roll, hoochie koo)
Truck on out and spread the news
[Verse 2]
The skeeters started buzzin' 'bout this time a year
I'm going 'round back, said she'd meet me there
We were rollin' in the grass that grows behind the barn
When my ears started ringin' like a fire alarm
[Chorus]
Rock and roll, hoochie koo (Rock and roll, hoochie koo)
Lawdy mama, light my fuse (Light my fuse)
Rock and roll, hoochie koo (Rock and roll, hoochie koo)
Truck on out and spread the news
[Interlude 1]
Yeah, did somebody say keep on rockin'?
Ow!
[Guitar Solo]
[Interlude 2]
That's right
Woo!
[Verse 3]
I hope you all know what I'm talkin' about
The way they wiggle that thing really knocks me out
I'm gettin' high all the time, hope you all are too
C'mon little closer, gonna do it to you
[Chorus]
Rock and roll, hoochie koo (Rock and roll, hoochie koo)
Lawdy mama, light my fuse (Light my fuse)
Rock and roll, hoochie koo (Rock and roll, hoochie koo)
Truck on out and spread the news
[Outro]
Woo!
Rock and roll, hoochie koo (Rock and roll, hoochie koo)
Lawdy mama, light my fuse (Rock and roll, hoochie koo)
Rock and roll, hoochie koo (Rock and roll, hoochie koo)
Truck on out and spread the news, yeah (Rock and roll, hoochie koo)
That I'm tired of payin' dues (Rock and roll, hoochie koo)
I done said goodbye to all my blues (Rock and roll, hoochie koo)
Lordy mama, light my fuse
Ow!