The Best Songs From Rock n’ Roll Pioneer Fats Domino

With names such as Chuck Berry, Little Richard, and Buddy Holly at the forefront of rock n’ roll’s development, it’s not hard to see how the genre bloomed to worldwide success. But before these artists and acts could even partake of the fruit that was rock n’ roll, a certain Fats Domino dominated the scene. Taking from the rhythm n’ blues culture which was the foundation of rock n’ roll, Fats Domino quickly caught on to the trend with his signature sound that comprised of a generous orchestration. Domino is often  overlooked due to his humble and coy personality, but has penned eleven hits that made it to the top tens of the charts. Here are some of Fats Domino’s greatest contributions to rock music as a whole.

“Whole Lotta Lovin'” – Fats Domino Swings (1958)

Although brief, Fats Domino’s “Whole Lotta Lovin'” has his musical personality bottled in a compact track. Playfully going through the track is Domino’s childlike penchant for fun, complete with kiss noises included in the chorus. The catchy and upbeat piano progression makes this track one of Domino’s more underrated treasures that deserves more recognition.

“Walking To New Orleans” – (1960)

Written by Bobby Charles for his musical hero Fats Domino, the song’s origins were rather comical, when the two met in Louisiana, and Domino invited him over to New Orleans. When Charles argued that he didn’t the means of transportation to do so, Domino responded with “Well, you’d better start walking.” Taking from the conversation, Charles wrote the track in under 15 minutes, more or less. Featuring a rather odd string implementation, the song reached the top 10’s during its release.

“Blue Monday” – (1956)

Fats Domino rendered a faithful version of the original by Smiley Lewis. Domino’s rendition has an added quality of charm, sounding more youthful and celebratory as the song nears to its close, the story’s protagonist ending the work week with a dose of fun. He was successful in converting the track into a hit, and was documented to have said highly favoring the track among his other works.

“The Fat Man” – (1949)

Fat Domino’s breakout single “Fat Man” became a trademark in rock n’ roll history, taking his home court’s New Orlean sound, into a magnanimous record that was accompanied by a driving beat that was unique to the ears of the crowds at the time. Armed with his trusty piano, Fats Domino reveled on, with his early version of the wah pedal’s effects replicated by his incredible falsetto. Domino was one of the few artists who enjoyed his craft and performances to the last bit.

“Ain’t That A Shame” – Rock and Rollin’ With Fats Domino (1955)

The once-mistitled track became a big hit with Fats Domino’s congregation of rock n’ roll elements into one juicy composition that bore much influence in the genre’s early days. From the straightforward lyrics that moaned of heartbreak, to the heavy progression brought on by Domino’s piano and a driving drum pattern, “Ain’t That A Shame” was a thunderous ode that caught his passion for music making effectively.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xbfMlk1PwGU