HUCKLEBUCK, THE
Created on 24/06/2007Latest update on 08/03/2026
Artist: Paul Williams & his Hucklebuckers
Author: Andy Gibson
Label: Savoy
Year: 1948
Instrumental. N°1 R&B in '49. Andy Gibson was the author op D-Natural Blues, which Savoy outvoted for that similarity with Now's The Time. He kept playing D-Natural in his live shows, saw the effect on a younger public, the way they even gave it its own dance routine. What was the name they gave it and what were the steps? Wriggle like a snake, waddle like a duck, that's what you do when you do the...
Covers:
- 1949:
Roy Milton [first vocal version; lyrics by Roy Alfred who also wrote Rock 'n Roll Waltz (n°1 US for Kay Starr in '55)]
- 1949:
Tito Burns Sextet [second vocal version]
- 1949:
- 1949:
Tommy Dorsey [vocal: Charlie Shavers]
- 1949:
- 1949:
- 1951:
- 1953:
Earl Hooker [instrumental for Sun]
- 1954:
Lou Monte [as Italian Hucklebuck]
- 1959:
- 1960:
- 1963:
- 1964:
- 1965:
Royal Showband Waterford [hit B]
- 1968:
- 1974:
Clifton Chenier [with Elvin Bishop on guitar]
- 1981:
Coast To Coast [hit UK]
- 1982:
Forbans [as La Fille du flipper]
- 1995:
- 1996:
Porky Cohen [as D-Natural Blues; played with Lucky Millinder who cut the original (see footnote)]
Paul Williams recorded his Hucklebuck after hearing Lucky Millinder's D-Natural Blues (another Andy Gibson composition) with Slim Henderson's sax solo. Millinder recorded his D-Natural Blues after Williams cut his Hucklebuck. The Hucklebuck is also influenced by Charlie Parker's riff in Now's The Time, a tune he recorded with his Ree-Boppers for Savoy in '45, his firstg session as leader. Co-Ree-Boppers were Miles Davis, Dizzy Gillespie, Curley Russell and Max Roach. Covers as Now's The Time by by Jimmy Liggins ('47), Art Blakey ('54), Sonny Rollins ('64), Paul Bley Trio ('89) and Keith Jarrett ('94).
