PHP Warning: mysql_connect(): Access denied for user: 'xxx@localhost' (Using password: YES)

php and mysql are working fine. (tested for user id pword connectivity)
The "front page" of drupal works fine. Running clean_url.
However, when going to a node the error (from the log) occurs:
File does not exist: /usr/local/etc/httpd/htdocs/drupal/node/view/7
/usr/local/etc/httpd/htdocs/includes/database.mysql.inc on line 12.
I did some tweaking to httpd.conf prior to this problem being discovered in the

allowoveride none

but have restored it to the above.
This is a production site. Please, help if you have the time.

Thank you!

Joe