In a city blessed with beloved songwriter-pianists, Huey “Piano” Smith more than earned his place. During the late 1950s, Smith wrote and recorded a trio of rock ’n’ roll classics: “Rockin’ Pneumonia and the Boogie Woogie Flu,” “Sea Cruise” and “Don’t You Just Know It.”

Like his more famous peers Professor Longhair, Fats Domino, Allen Toussaint and Dr. John, Smith is one of a kind. His distinctive touch at the piano and his contagious grooves and comedic lyrics make his music irresistible fun.

A comprehensive collection of Smith’s 1950s and 1960s recordings for Johnny Vincent’s Ace Records hasn’t been available since a 2009 compilation from Fuel 2000 Records went out print. The latter collection featured 20 hits and highlights. British label Jasmine paints a broader picture with a new 28-song collection that spans Smith’s entire stay at Ace.

After the original recording of “Rockin’ Pneumonia” became a major R&B hit in 1957, hundreds of artists re-recorded it. No one had more success with the song than the Baton Rouge–raised Johnny Rivers. In 1972, the Rivers version reached Number Four on the Billboard pop charts.

Fate made another Smith classic, 1959’s “Sea Cruise,” a hit for Frankie Ford. Ace Records, rather than release the original “Sea Cruise” featuring vocals by Smith and Gerri Hall, issued the Ford recording.

Unfortunately, “Sea Cruise” doesn’t appear in either version on the Jasmine collection. There’s still much to enjoy, including Smith’s 1958 pop hit, the comic, call-and-response “Don’t You Just Know It.” B-side “High Blood Pressure” is just as contagious.

Another exuberant pair of A and B sides, “Everybody’s Whalin’ ” and “Little Liza Jane,” opens the collection. Both songs feature an all- star session band including saxophonist Lee Allen, drummer Earl Palmer, guitarist Earl King and, of course, Smith at the piano. Relatively obscure but worthy songs such as “Little Chickee Wah Wah” (a rare example of Smith singing lead) and the satirical “Beatnik Blues” offer more musical fun.

The Jasmine liner notes and credits contain errors that have been endlessly repeated over decades. Transfers of the 50-plus-year-old recordings, however, are excellent. That sonic quality combined with a large selection of songs make this collection a worthwhile buy for Smith fans and New Orleans music fans in general.