Lyr Req: King of R&R (ain't no boojie-woojie)

Subject: Lyr req: King of R&R (ain't no boojie-woojie)
From: Barbara
Date: 17 Nov 98 - 02:26 AM

My brother just asked me if I could help him find this nifty old R&R song (yes, I know, it isn't folk)(yes, we tried the International Lyric Server) about this guy in England gets hauled up before the magistrate for playing "boojie-woojie" and in the chorus responds: I'm the king of Rock and Roll, don't play no boojie-woojie (just boogie woogie).
Anyone?
And I know, we'll have to come up with some suitable pennance for me for this transgression. Y'all have good imaginations, you'll come up with something.
Blessings,
Barbara

Subject: RE: Lyr req: King of R&R (ain't no boojie-woojie)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 17 Nov 98 - 03:54 AM

Well, Barbara, I found this much on a listserv summary:

So the song goes: Long John playing for pennies in an alley in Soho.
British Bobbie (are there any other types of Bobbies?) arrests him. Next day in court the judge asks the cop why? The cop goes on to explain about disturbing the peace (attracting too big a crowd) and playing this BOOJIE WOOJIE music. "What's this BOOJIE WOOJIE?" asks the judge. cop replies "... indigenous to african americans of the south." or some nonsense. Judge asks what a white guy in Soho is doin playing THAT?
So Long John is let go on recognizance and brings on the hook for the song... "Don't try to lay no boogie woogie on the KING of rock n roll."
This part just rumbles. Truly nice rock n roll. DJ says Ron Wood lends his chops to the rock n roll part.... Outstanding. Great song on so many levels. Tension and release. Humor. Chops. A story. A great hook.

So maybe it was recorded by Ron Wood or Long John Baldry? I remember liking the song, but can't remember who recorded it.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Lyr req: King of R&R (ain't no boojie-woojie)
From: Earl
Date: 17 Nov 98 - 05:41 PM

It was Long John Baldry. The only song of his that got any airplay in America.

Subject: RE: Lyr req: King of R&R (ain't no boojie-woojie)
From: TonyK
Date: 17 Nov 98 - 11:54 PM

I have it on Long John Baldry's 'It Ain't Easy' album on vinyl in a box somewhere around here. I'll dig it out (and the phono to play it on) this week and post the lyrics Thursday unless someelse does it. That one should've been put on CD. Elton John produced and played on one side and Rod Stewart on the other before either became known. I'm a Folkie now but I cut my teeth on good '60's R&B. Thank you in advance for chasing me to the closet to dig that one out. TonyK

Subject: RE: Lyr req: King of R&R (ain't no boojie-woojie)
From: Jamie
Date: 18 Nov 98 - 02:56 AM

Thanks all for your input. This is Barb's brother who started this thread. You nailed the song - great. But is this (Baldry)version THE original version? My (foggy) memory has it that it was recorded pre-Elvis hence his claim to be king of R&R was not in dispute. And also I thought it was done by a black american who made it big in England before his fame(?) at home. But maybe I'm just all mixed up.

Thanks again.

Subject: RE: Lyr req: King of R&R (ain't no boojie-woojie)
From: Earl
Date: 18 Nov 98 - 10:11 AM

The story may be about an American singer but my guess is that Baldry wrote it.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: King of R&R (ain't no boojie-woojie)
From: GUEST,Jeff Thomas
Date: 25 Mar 07 - 06:53 PM

To my gradually fading knowledge, "Don't Try To Lay No Boogie-Woogie On The King Of Rock And Roll" was recorded by Long John Baldry, Crow, Gator Creek (Kenny Loggins), Kenny Rogers and the First Edition, and myself, who also wrote the song.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: King of R&R (ain't no boojie-woojie)
From: GUEST,SampleAndy
Date: 13 Jun 08 - 04:03 PM

I'm happy to have the song identified, but I guess the lyrics aren't forthcoming? :-)

Thanks all!!!

Subject: Lyr Add: DON'T TRY TO LAY NO BOOGIE-WOOGIE ON ...
From: Peace
Date: 13 Jun 08 - 04:10 PM

Don't you tell me n-n-n-no lies woman 'cause all you know I've told
Don't sell me no alibi sister 'cause all you've got I've sold
You better leave that midnight sneakin' to the one who worked it out
I don't wanna hear no back talk speakin' go on and shut yer mouth
And everything's gonna work out tight if you act like you been told
So don't try to lay no boogie woogie on the king of rock and roll.

Don't you feed me no TV dinners when you know I'm used to steak
I don't need no rank beginners when it's time to shake that shake
You better pull your Thing together, reach in and dust it out
And if ya feel that yer ass can't dig it then I guess you know the route
It ain't a matter of pork 'n beans gonna justify your soul
Just don't try to lay no boogie woogie on the king of rock and roll.

You weren't alive when I started to drive, so don't put none on me
You didn't arrive 'til late '45 but your head's in '53.
You got what it takes to keep the heads a-spinnin' down by the old rim shack
And you come across just like a fool grinnin' in the back of a red Cadillac.
You can't come across the [inaudible] bridge until you pay the toll
So don't try to lay no boogie woogie on the king of rock and roll.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: King of R&R (ain't no boojie-woojie)
From: Peace
Date: 13 Jun 08 - 04:11 PM

From a google of

boogie woogie with the king of rock and roll, lyrics

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: King of R&R (ain't no boojie-woojie)
From: PoppaGator
Date: 13 Jun 08 - 04:43 PM

Is GUEST Jeff Thomas claim of authorship corrent?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: King of R&R (ain't no boojie-woojie)
From: Peace
Date: 13 Jun 08 - 04:55 PM

I would tend to think so because

1) Jeff Thomas IS a songwriter

2) He would not say he was the author if he wasn't

However, because it's a guest post, it could have been made by anyone saying he/she's Jeff Thomas.


(I haven't searched the 'net for 'who' wrote the song, PG.)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: King of R&R (ain't no boojie-woojie)
From: Peace
Date: 13 Jun 08 - 05:42 PM

You can't come across the [inaudible] bridge until you pay the toll


The 'inaudible' word is astral.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: King of R&R (ain't no boojie-woojie)
From: fat B****rd
Date: 13 Jun 08 - 05:50 PM

Try Googling Prentiss Riddle: Music. A whole debate about the song.
Good evening Brucie. Hi Poppa gator!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: King of R&R (ain't no boojie-woojie)
From: fat B****rd
Date: 13 Jun 08 - 05:55 PM

Whoops! I meant google Don't try to lay no boogie; if Prentiss Riddle Music comes up there's stuff there.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: King of R&R (ain't no boojie-woojie)
From: Peace
Date: 13 Jun 08 - 05:58 PM

I also notice on a site that gave the track list for a remastered work of LJC's, that the author credit for that one song has been left blank (on the www). FYI

Yo, FB. Good to see you.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: King of R&R (ain't no boojie-woojie)
From: Journey Bear
Date: 25 Aug 08 - 05:32 PM

I've done a LOT of research on this - OK, a couple of hours, but it was intense - and have determined the following:

Jeff Thomas did indeed write this song. I am 95% sure - the other 5% is due to my not holding the vinyl in my hand. But the Stan Getz Media Center and Library of the Berklee College of Music has it listed in their collection, complete with an exhaustive list of credits. I see no reason to dispute this, as all their other attributions appear correct. Indeed, I believe it is safe to say that any organization which includes authorship of all songs on a collection, even "Morning, Morning" by Tuli Kupferberg (of The Fugs), meets my criterion for accuracy. Here's the link:

http://catalog.berklee.edu/ipac20/ipac.jsp?session=1QW727318T921.18383&profile=main&uri=link=3100008~!440483~!3100001~!3100025&menu=search&submenu=basic_search&source=~!horizon#focus

This seems to be a compilation, rather than the original alnum, "It Ain't Easy," but that's irrelevant if the information is correct, as it appears to be. By the way, it is currently checked in.

I admit to being surprised by this, as I had always thought this was written by Baldry. Perhaps I am being swayed by the spoken-word intro (entitled "Conditional Discharge") describing a court appearance.

It took a while but I found some pertinent media files:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XfbKIOexLDc&feature=related

gives you the original recording

and http://www.yamelo.com/clip/long-john-baldry/35053_long-john-baldry-don39t-try-to-lay-no-boogie-woogie-on-the-king-of-rock-and-roll.html

brings you to a rough live version of the song in question from later in Baldry's career, with him playing acoustic guitar, but it does include the intro, which for me is the best part anyway. Also at this site is an appearance by Derek & The Dominoes on the Johnny Cash Show featuring a rendition of Chuck Willis' "It's Not Too Late" (not Baldry's "It's Too Late Now," as the site asserts), followed by the host and Carl Perkins jamming with the band on "Matchbox." This is a gem. The url for this is

http://www.yamelo.com/clip/long-john-baldry/15361_long-john-baldry-its-too-late-now.html