Best Of Fats Domino, The - Fats Domino

I cannot find a fault with this artist or cd as how can a man as successful as Fats Domino have any dis-advantages.

This man has done so much for music, coloured musicians what a talented artist, he rates right up there with Elvis, Big Bopper, Richie Valens, Jerry Lee Lewis, Buddy Holly, some of his songs on this cd are better than the artists i have listed above.

This man made more than 20 rthymn and blues records that each sold more than a million copies, his total records sales was just over one hundred million.

His real name was Antoine Fats Domino and born in New Orleans on 26th Feb 1928.
His first ever record was made in 1949 "The Fat Man" and became a gold record in 1953.

He played the piano for Lloyd Price's hit "Lawdy Mrs Clawdy" and stared in 4 films "The Girl Can't Help It" // "Shake Rattle N Roll" // "Jamboree" // "The Big Beat" //. all of these were Rockin'roll films.

Anyway back to the cd:-

1. " Blueberry Hill "
This is his most well known song with an excellent baseline beat to it slow almost swing type, obviously a love song about a breakup , sit back and hear the tones and lyrics its a song you can get lost in when the slightly muffled sax burst into the background.
A million seller released Sept 1956.

2. "Ain't That A Shame"
That voice bursts out "you made me cry" in an almost stating type way again with sax and depth, again a true 50's love song with a blaming type meaning, with an awsome sax solo for chorus.
Again a swing feel is put in there with hi hat drums slightly muted rattling away in the background.
Another million seller released in April 1955.

3. " Goin To The River "
A million seller released in Mar 1953.

4. " Please Don't Leave Me "
Again a million seller released June 1953.

5. " Blue Monday "
A real Fats classic thats been used in various films right through the years again a swing type with excellent sax tones and deep Fats voice, a real happy type feel, though the title is leading us towards thinking its a sad song but it actually depicts a hang over from a long good weekend.
Again a million sales released Dec 1956.

6. " The Fat Man "
A million sales released Feb 1950.

7. " So Long "
Released July 1956.

8. " I'm In Love Again "
A true happy love song, giving you a picture of a guy who's just realised he loves her and walking down a street singing this to himself.
The lyrics are all trying to get across how much he is in love, the sax in the solo adds real depth and tone to the song his piano tones are just hidden the occassional note rings out.
A million seller released Mar 1956.

9. " When My Dreamboat Comes Home "
Released July 1956.

10. " I'm Walkin "
This really is a Fats classic with a rapid beat with hand clapping just noticiable in the background again for the chorus the sax becomes forefront. and then fades out with a sax to finish..Classic a real Classic.
A true early New Orleans style to this track
A million sales again released Feb 1957.

11. " I'm Ready "
A fast piano start with clapping hands keeping the beat with Fats powerful yet distant vocals, almost a gospel type feeling to this one. Though it was released in 1959 one can't help but think he may have had a steer towards his roots. A happy beat and lyrics of someone looking foreward to Rockin Rollin all night.
Released April 1959.

12. " Wait And See" Released Sept 1957.

13. " I'm Gonna Be A Wheel Someday "
Released July 1959.

14. " I Want To Walk You Home "
A classic slow moving Fats style 50's song, about a guy wanting to walk his ideal girl home, " Please Let Me Walk You Home " he says in almost a pleading way, its got a real ching--ching-- type feel as if you were actually walking down the road singing this with a walking type beat.
A classic that is and contains everything that Fats is famous for.brilliant.(my personal Favourite).
Released July 1959.

15. " Whole Lotta Loving "
A million seller released Oct 1958.

16. " Be My Guest "
A million sales again released Oct 1959.

17. " My Girl Josephine "
A song with a neat drum sound in the background setting the rythmn for the whole song, obviously about a girl from his past ( the person he's pretending to be in the song) about different memories he has of her. Again he uses a sax to good effect with a fade in and out type beat and tones ending the song.
Released Oct 1960.

18. " Walking To New Orleans "
A real Fats song that just rings out Fats Domino that again got that walking type beat and feel to it.
About a guy going to New Orleans leaving heartbreak behind and looking forward to getting home to New Orleans.
This is a master at work with this song his vocals are strong and purposefull.
Million seller released June 1960.

19. " Let The Four Winds Blow "
A song again about love for a girl, with some thoughtful lyrics,
Released July 1961.

20. " Jambalaya (On The Bayou) "
This song was done with Fats, Ray Charles and Jerry Lee Lewis. Also covered by many different artists throughout the years ranging from Country, Cajun, right upto modern country stars of today.
Released Nov 1961.The other songs i cannot coment on as this is the first time i have heard them and my breakdown of them could be wrong or misleading as i only got the cd a few weeks ago and not nowing them would mean i could give a wrong review as i like to listen and listen and listen to songs before i feel i can make a true and honest review, i will update at a later date when i get 5 minutes to sit quietly and do it properly.

To finish, the singer will never be beaten and we are all glad that he survived the hurricane Katrina and turned up safe and sound, but also remembering the people who did not our thoughts go out to them all and their families.

The only reason i did not give this album a top notch score is because in my view it would have been better to put other more known and liked tracks like " My Blue Heaven " & " I Hear You Knocking " etc.