Roots of Soul - Remastered

Réf. : FA5829 / FA5692 / FA5807

RAY CHARLES, FATS DOMINO, NINA SIMONE

RAY CHARLES , FATS DOMINO , NINA SIMONE

Réf. : FA5829 / FA5692 / FA5807

Artistic Direction : JOEL DUFOUR , BRUNO BLUM , OLIVIER JULIEN

Label : Frémeaux & Associés

Total duration of the pack : 13 hours 54 minutes

Nbre. CD : 14

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Presentation

Les monuments du Rhythm & Blues et du rock, piliers fondateurs de la soul music en 14 CD.

The ABC - Paramount Years 1959-1962



In 1959-1962, Ray Charles’s career was in the heavens, and this definitive set prepared by Joël Dufour draws on the most intense period of Ray’s recordings. The ability of “The Genius” to produce new things artistically could no longer be judged by the same standards, with Ray showing rare eclecticism. Expressing his talents without reserve, he delivered his greatest hits, from “Georgia on My Mind” to “Hit The Road Jack” and “Unchain My Heart”… The titles here are precious evidence of the period when a very gifted rhythm & blues artist transformed into the eternal idol of pop.
Patrick FRÉMEAUX



CD1 : THEM THAT GOT • WHO YOU GONNA LOVE • MY BABY (I LOVE HER, YES I DO) • GEORGIA ON MY MIND • MOONLIGHT IN VERMONT • MOON OVER MIAMI • BLUE HAWAII • CHATTANOOGA CHOO CHOO • BASIN STREET BLUES • DEEP IN THE HEART OF TEXAS • MISSISSIPPI MUD • ALABAMY BOUND • CALIFORNIA HERE I COME • NEW YORK’S MY HOME • CARRY ME BACK TO OLD VIRGINNY • I WONDER (SINGLE VERSION) • STICKS AND STONES • WORRIED LIFE BLUES • NANCY • RUBY • STELLA BY STARLIGHT • CHERRY • CANDY • DIANE.

CD2 : MARGIE • SWEET GEORGIA BROWN • HARD HEARTED HANNAH • ROSETTA • MARIE • JOSEPHINE • MOANIN’ • STRIKE UP THE BAND • FROM THE HEART • STOMPIN’ ROOM ONLY • MISTER C • I’VE GOT NEWS FOR YOU • THE BIRTH OF THE BLUES • ONE MINT JULEP • I’M GONNA MOVE TO THE OUTSKIRTS OF TOWN • LET’S GO • INTRO: GOODBYE WE’LL BE TOGETHER AGAIN • ALONE TOGETHER • EV’RY TIME WE SAY GOODBYE • FOR ALL WE KNOW • COCKTAILS FOR TWO.

CD3 : YOU AND I • TAKES TWO TO TANGO • SIDE BY SIDE • BABY IT’S COLD OUTSIDE • TOGETHER • PEOPLE WILL SAY WE’RE IN LOVE • JUST YOU JUST ME • UNCHAIN MY HEART (SINGLE & MONO LP VERSION) • HIT THE ROAD JACK • THE DANGER ZONE • BUT ON THE OTHER HAND BABY • BYE BYE LOVE • CARELESS LOVE • HEY GOOD LOOKIN’ • HALF AS MUCH • JUST A LITTLE LOVIN’ • IT MAKES NO DIFFERENCE NOW • AT THE CLUB • HIDE NOR HAIR.

CD4 : I LOVE YOU SO MUCH IT HURTS • YOU DON’T KNOW ME • I CAN’T STOP LOVING YOU • BORN TO LOSE • YOU WIN AGAIN • WORRIED MIND • YOU ARE MY SUNSHINE • MIDNIGHT • SOMEDAY (YOU’LL WANT ME TO WANT YOU) • DON’T TELL ME YOUR TROUBLES • OH LONESOME ME • NO LETTER TODAY • YOUR CHEATING HEART • MAKING BELIEVE • I’LL NEVER STAND IN YOUR WAY • TAKE THESE CHAINS FROM MY HEART • HANG YOUR HEAD IN SHAME • TEARDROPS IN MY HEART • I WONDER (ALTERNATE TAKE: LP VERSION) • UNCHAIN MY HEART (ALTERNATE TAKE: STEREO LP VERSION) *BONUS TRACK (ON CD FOR THE FIRST TIME): GOING TO THE RIVER (ALTERNATE TAKE OF “MISERY IN MY HEART”).

DIRECTION ARTISTIQUE : JOËL DUFOUR

It is out of New Orleans that Fats Domino surged up to become the greatest black star of the 1950s and the first true rock superstar — a giant among giants. His worldwide hits, such as “Blueberry Hill,” became so famous that they overshadowed the best of his excellent output. Yet one should not overlook the great blues performer, the Boogie Woogie piano virtuoso and the fundamental pioneer who let the world first discover the rock genre. Domino managed to cross over to the white, general public, and embodied racial segregation tensions during the early Civil Rights movement. Bruno Blum tells the unthinkable triumph of this simple man who, far from his smiling image, caused riots all over the country. There is no way around these six discs, which are indispensable to any rock or blues lover. This hand-picked selection highlights the cream of often overlooked works by an essential figure. — PATRICK FRÉMEAUX



Her deep voice and the funky sophistication of her piano have made Nina Simone a timeless icon of American music. Her extreme sensitivity as a militant artist in the struggle for civil rights was matched only by her unrivalled talent as a vocalist and instrumentalist: nobody could come close to her when she infused jazz with soul, or classical music with rhythm and blues. Here Olivier Julien has brought together a complete set of Nina Simone’s effervescent recordings from her early period, featuring a great number of her hits including the emblematic “My Baby just Cares for Me”.
Patrick Frémeaux

CD 1 : MOOD INDIGO • DON’T SMOKE IN BED • HE NEEDS ME • LITTLE GIRL BLUE • LOVE ME OR LEAVE ME • MY BABY JUST CARES FOR ME • GOOD BAIT • PLAIN GOLD RINGFREMEAUX264YOU’LL NEVER WALK ALONE • I LOVES YOU PORGY • CENTRAL PARK BLUES • BLUE PRELUDE • CHILDREN GO WHERE I SEND YOU • TOMORROW (WE WILL MEET ONCE MORE) • STOMPIN’ AT THE SAVOY • IT MIGHT AS WELL BE SPRING • YOU’VE BEEN GONE TOO LONG • THAT’S HIM OVER THERE • CHILLY WINDS DON’T BLOW • THEME FROM “MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT” • CAN’T GET OUT OF THIS MOOD • WILLOW WEEP FOR ME • SOLITAIRE.
CD 2 : BLACK IS THE COLOR OF MY TRUE LOVE’S HAIR • EXACTLY LIKE YOU • THE OTHER WOMAN • UNDER THE LOWEST • YOU CAN HAVE HIM • SUMMERTIME • SUMMERTIME (VOCAL) • COTTON EYED JOE • RETURN HOME • WILD IS THE WIND • FINE AND MELLOW • DO NOTHIN’ TILL YOU HEAR FROM ME • I GOT IT BAD • HEY, BUDDY BOLDEN • MERRY MENDING • SOMETHING TO LIVE FOR • YOU BETTER KNOW IT • I LIKE THE SUNRISE • SOLITUDE • THE GAL FROM JOE’S • SATIN DOLL • IT DON’T MEAN A THING.
CD3 : TROUBLE IN MIND • BLUES FOR PORGY • LITTLE LIZA JANE • YOU’D BE SO NICE TO COME HOME TO • FLO ME LA • NINA’S BLUES • IN THE EVENING BY THE MOONLIGHT • RAGS AND OLD IRON • NO GOOD MAN • GIN HOUSE BLUES • I’LL LOOK AROUND • I LOVE TO LOVE • WORK SONG • WHERE CAN I GO WITHOUT YOU • JUST SAY I LOVE HIM (ENGLISH VERSION) • MEMPHIS IN JUNE • FORBIDDEN FRUIT.
CD4 : JUST IN TIME • HE WAS TOO GOOD TO ME • HOUSE OF THE RISING SUN • BYE BYE BLACKBIRD • BROWN BABY • ZUNGO • IF HE CHANGED MY NAME • CHILDREN GO WHERE I SEND YOU • AFRICAN MAILMAN • FOR ALL WE KNOW • HE’S GOT THE WHOLE WORLD IN HIS HANDS • IF ONLY FOR TONIGHT • NOBODY KNOWS YOU • WHEN YOU’RE DOWN AND OUT • COME ON BACK, JACK • I WANT A LITTLE SUGAR IN MY BOWL.
DIRECTION ARTISTIQUE : OLIVIER JULIEN

Tracklist
  • Piste
    Title
    Main artist
    Autor
    Duration
    Registered in
  • 1
    Them That Got
    Ray Charles
    Harper Ricci
    00:02:54
    1959
  • 2
    Who You Gonna Love
    Ray Charles
    Ray Charles
    00:02:06
    1959
  • 3
    My Baby (I Love Her Yes I Do)
    Ray Charles
    Ray Charles
    00:03:03
    1959
  • 4
    Georgia On My Mind
    Ray Charles
    Hoagy Carmichael
    00:03:35
    1960
  • 5
    Moonlight in Vermont
    Ray Charles
    Blackburn
    00:03:02
    1960
  • 6
    Moon Over Miami
    Ray Charles
    Edgar Leslie
    00:03:20
    1960
  • 7
    Blue Hawaii
    Ray Charles
    Leo Robin
    00:02:58
    1960
  • 8
    Chattanooga Choo Choo
    Ray Charles
    Gordon Mack
    00:03:05
    1960
  • 9
    Basin' Street Blues
    Ray Charles
    Spencer Williams
    00:02:46
    1960
  • 10
    Deep in The Heart of Texas
    Ray Charles
    June Hershey
    00:02:28
    1960
  • 11
    Mississippi Mud
    Ray Charles
    Cavanaugh
    00:03:24
    1960
  • 12
    Alabamy Bound
    Ray Charles
    Buddy Desylva
    00:01:55
    1960
  • 13
    California Here I Come
    Ray Charles
    Buddy Desylva
    00:02:10
    1960
  • 14
    New York's My Home
    Ray Charles
    Gordon Jenkins
    00:03:05
    1960
  • 15
    Carry Me Back To Old Virginny
    Ray Charles
    James Bland
    00:02:02
    1960
  • 16
    I Wonder (Single Version)
    Ray Charles
    Cecil Gant
    00:02:36
    1960
  • 17
    Sticks And Stones
    Ray Charles
    Titus Turner
    00:02:13
    1960
  • 18
    Worried Life Blues
    Ray Charles
    Major Merriweather
    00:03:10
    1960
  • 19
    Nancy
    Ray Charles
    Silvers
    00:03:06
    1960
  • 20
    Ruby
    Ray Charles
    Mitchell Parish
    00:03:54
    1960
  • 21
    Stella by Starlight
    Ray Charles
    Ned Washington
    00:03:50
    1960
  • 22
    Cherry
    Ray Charles
    Gilbert
    00:03:37
    1960
  • 23
    Candy
    Ray Charles
    Mack Davis
    00:04:09
    1960
  • 24
    Diane
    Ray Charles
    Erno Rapee
    00:03:51
    1960
  • Piste
    Title
    Main artist
    Autor
    Duration
    Registered in
  • 1
    Margie
    Ray Charles
    Con Conrad
    00:02:47
    1960
  • 2
    Sweet Georgia Brown
    Ray Charles
    Ben Bernie
    00:03:30
    1960
  • 3
    Hard Hearted Hannah
    Ray Charles
    Yellen
    00:03:18
    1960
  • 4
    Rosetta
    Ray Charles
    Earl Hines
    00:02:33
    1960
  • 5
    Marie
    Ray Charles
    Irving Berlin
    00:02:21
    1960
  • 6
    Josephine
    Ray Charles
    Gus Kahn
    00:02:14
    1960
  • 7
    Moanin'
    Ray Charles
    Bobby Timmons
    00:03:21
    1960
  • 8
    Strike up The Band
    Ray Charles
    Gershwin George & Ira
    00:02:39
    1960
  • 9
    From The Heart
    Ray Charles
    Ray Charles
    00:03:39
    1960
  • 10
    Stompin' Room Only
    Ray Charles
    Howard Marks
    00:03:48
    1960
  • 11
    Mister C
    Ray Charles
    Ray Charles
    00:04:33
    1960
  • 12
    I've Got News For You
    Ray Charles
    Roy Alfred
    00:04:32
    1960
  • 13
    The Birth of The Blues
    Ray Charles
    Desylva
    00:05:16
    1960
  • 14
    One Mint Julep
    Ray Charles
    Rudolph Toombs
    00:03:09
    1960
  • 15
    I'm Gonna Move to The Outskirts of Town
    Ray Charles
    Jacobs
    00:03:46
    1960
  • 16
    Let's Go
    Ray Charles
    Ray Charles
    00:02:43
    1960
  • 17
    Intro: Goodbye We'll Be Together Again
    Ray Charles
    Frankie Laine
    00:03:21
    1961
  • 18
    Alone Together
    Ray Charles
    Howard Dietz
    00:04:47
    1961
  • 19
    Ev'ry Time We Say Goodbye
    Ray Charles
    Cole Porter
    00:04:41
    1961
  • 20
    For All We Know
    Ray Charles
    Lewis
    00:03:45
    1961
  • 21
    Cocktails For Two
    Ray Charles
    Sam Coslow
    00:03:16
    1961
  • Piste
    Title
    Main artist
    Autor
    Duration
    Registered in
  • 1
    You And I
    Ray Charles
    Meredith Wilson
    00:03:29
    1961
  • 2
    Takes Two to Tango
    Ray Charles
    Al Hoffman
    00:03:24
    1961
  • 3
    Side by Side
    Ray Charles
    Harry Woods
    00:02:23
    1961
  • 4
    Baby It's Cold Outside
    Ray Charles
    Frank Loesser
    00:04:12
    1961
  • 5
    Together
    Ray Charles
    Desylva
    00:01:36
    1961
  • 6
    People Will Say We're in Love
    Ray Charles
    Richard Rodgers
    00:02:53
    1961
  • 7
    Just You Just Me
    Ray Charles
    Raymond Klages
    00:02:00
    1961
  • 8
    Unchain My Heart
    Ray Charles
    Bobby Sharp
    00:02:51
    1961
  • 9
    Hit The Road Jack
    Ray Charles
    Percy Mayfield
    00:02:00
    1961
  • 10
    The Danger Zone
    Ray Charles
    Percy Mayfield
    00:02:24
    1961
  • 11
    But on The Other Hand Baby
    Ray Charles
    Percy Mayfield
    00:03:15
    1961
  • 12
    Bye Bye Love
    Ray Charles
    Felice Bryant
    00:02:13
    1962
  • 13
    Careless Love
    Ray Charles
    Ray Charles
    00:03:59
    1962
  • 14
    Hey Good Lookin'
    Ray Charles
    Hank Williams
    00:02:12
    1962
  • 15
    Half as Much
    Ray Charles
    Hank Williams
    00:03:26
    1962
  • 16
    Just a Little Lovin'
    Ray Charles
    Zeke Clements
    00:03:28
    1962
  • 17
    It Makes no Difference Now
    Ray Charles
    Jimmie Davis
    00:03:34
    1962
  • 18
    At The Club
    Ray Charles
    Percy Mayfield
    00:03:01
    1962
  • 19
    Hide Nor Hair
    Ray Charles
    Percy Mayfield
    00:03:12
    1962
  • Piste
    Title
    Main artist
    Autor
    Duration
    Registered in
  • 1
    Love You so Much It Hurts
    Ray Charles
    Floyd Tillman
    00:03:34
    1962
  • 2
    You Don't Know Me
    Ray Charles
    Cindy Walker
    00:03:14
    1962
  • 3
    I Can't Stop Loving You
    Ray Charles
    Don Gibson
    00:04:13
    1962
  • 4
    Born To Lose
    Ray Charles
    Frankie Brown
    00:03:15
    1962
  • 5
    You Win Again
    Ray Charles
    Hank Williams
    00:03:15
    1962
  • 6
    Worried Mind
    Ray Charles
    Jimmie Davis
    00:02:55
    1962
  • 7
    You Are My Sunshine
    Ray Charles
    Jimmie Davis
    00:03:01
    1962
  • 8
    Midnight
    Ray Charles
    Boudleaux Bryant
    00:03:16
    1962
  • 9
    Someday (You'll Want Me to Want You)
    Ray Charles
    Johnny Hodges
    00:02:40
    1962
  • 10
    Don't Tell Me Your Troubles
    Ray Charles
    Don Gibson
    00:02:07
    1962
  • 11
    Oh Lonesome Me
    Ray Charles
    Don Gibson
    00:02:10
    1962
  • 12
    No Letter Today
    Ray Charles
    Frankie Brown
    00:03:00
    1962
  • 13
    Your Cheating Heart
    Ray Charles
    Hank Williams
    00:03:34
    1962
  • 14
    Making Believe
    Ray Charles
    Lilian Schwope
    00:02:53
    1962
  • 15
    I 'll Never Stand in Your Way
    Ray Charles
    Fred Rose
    00:02:19
    1962
  • 16
    Take These Chains From My Heart
    Ray Charles
    Fred Rose
    00:02:56
    1962
  • 17
    Hang Your Head in Shame
    Ray Charles
    Fred Rose
    00:03:16
    1962
  • 18
    Teardrops in My Heart
    Ray Charles
    Vaughn Horton
    00:03:03
    1962
  • 19
    I Wonder (Alternate Take: LP Version)
    Ray Charles
    Cecil Gant
    00:02:31
    1960
  • 20
    Unchain My Heart (Alternate Take: Stereo LP Version)
    Ray Charles
    Bobby Sharp
    00:02:51
    1961
  • 21
    Going to The River (Alternate Take of “Misery in My Heart”)
    Ray Charles
    Boyd
    00:03:02
    1951
  • Piste
    Title
    Main artist
    Autor
    Duration
    Registered in
  • 1
    The Fat Man
    Fats Domino
    Fats Domino
    00:02:37
    1949
  • 2
    Hide Away Blues
    Fats Domino
    Fats Domino
    00:02:24
    1949
  • 3
    She's My Baby
    Fats Domino
    Fats Domino
    00:02:40
    1949
  • 4
    Little Bee
    Fats Domino
    Dave Bartholomew
    00:02:28
    1950
  • 5
    Boogie Woogie Baby
    Fats Domino
    Dave Bartholomew
    00:02:16
    1950
  • 6
    Hey ! Là-Bas Boogie
    Fats Domino
    Dave Bartholomew
    00:02:24
    1950
  • 7
    Careless Love
    Fats Domino
    W.C. Handy
    00:02:15
    1950
  • 8
    Hey! Fat Man
    Fats Domino
    Fats Domino
    00:02:35
    1950
  • 9
    What's The Matter Baby
    Fats Domino
    Fats Domino
    00:02:13
    1951
  • 10
    I'Ve Got Eyes For You
    Fats Domino
    Fats Domino
    00:02:38
    1951
  • 11
    Stay Away
    Fats Domino
    Fats Domino
    00:02:13
    1951
  • 12
    Don'T You Lie To Me
    Fats Domino
    Tampa Red
    00:02:18
    1951
  • 13
    Rockin' Chair
    Fats Domino
    Fats Domino
    00:02:27
    1951
  • 14
    Sometimes I Wonder
    Fats Domino
    Fats Domino
    00:02:21
    1951
  • 15
    Right From Wrong
    Fats Domino
    Fats Domino
    00:02:14
    1951
  • 16
    You Know I Miss You
    Fats Domino
    Fats Domino
    00:02:13
    1951
  • 17
    I'll Be Gone
    Fats Domino
    Fats Domino
    00:02:19
    1951
  • 18
    Reeling And Rocking
    Fats Domino
    Fats Domino
    00:02:19
    1952
  • 19
    Goin' Home
    Fats Domino
    Fats Domino
    00:02:10
    1952
  • 20
    How Long
    Fats Domino
    Fats Domino
    00:02:01
    1952
  • Piste
    Title
    Main artist
    Autor
    Duration
    Registered in
  • 1
    No No Baby
    Fats Domino
    Fats Domino
    00:02:19
    1951
  • 2
    The Fat Man's Hop
    Fats Domino
    Fats Domino
    00:02:25
    1951
  • 3
    Long Lonesome Journey
    Fats Domino
    Fats Domino
    00:02:27
    1952
  • 4
    Trust In Me
    Fats Domino
    Fats Domino
    00:02:48
    1952
  • 5
    Cheatin'
    Fats Domino
    Fats Domino
    00:02:36
    1952
  • 6
    Mardi Gras In New Orleans
    Fats Domino
    Professor Longhair
    00:02:17
    1952
  • 7
    I Guess I'll Be On My Way
    Fats Domino
    Fats Domino
    00:02:17
    1952
  • 8
    Nobody Loves Me
    Fats Domino
    Fats Domino
    00:02:12
    1952
  • 9
    Dreaming
    Fats Domino
    Dave Bartholomew
    00:02:19
    1952
  • 10
    Going To The River
    Fats Domino
    Dave Bartholomew
    00:02:29
    1953
  • 11
    I Love Her
    Fats Domino
    Dave Bartholomew
    00:02:04
    1953
  • 12
    Second Line Jump
    Fats Domino
    Dave Bartholomew
    00:02:32
    1953
  • 13
    Swanee River Hop
    Fats Domino
    Dave Bartholomew
    00:02:46
    1953
  • 14
    Rosemary Version 1
    Fats Domino
    Dave Bartholomew
    00:02:00
    1953
  • 15
    Please Don't Leave Me
    Fats Domino
    Fats Domino
    00:02:34
    1953
  • 16
    Domino Stomp
    Fats Domino
    Fats Domino
    00:01:55
    1953
  • 17
    You Said You Love Me
    Fats Domino
    Fats Domino
    00:02:34
    1953
  • 18
    Rose Mary Version 2
    Fats Domino
    Fats Domino
    00:02:15
    1953
  • 19
    Ain'T It Good
    Fats Domino
    Fats Domino
    00:02:36
    1953
  • 20
    Fats Domino Blues (Instrumental)
    Fats Domino
    Fats Domino
    00:02:25
    1953
  • Piste
    Title
    Main artist
    Autor
    Duration
    Registered in
  • 1
    The Girl I Love
    Fats Domino
    Fats Domino
    00:02:06
    1953
  • 2
    Don'T Leave Me This Way
    Fats Domino
    Fats Domino
    00:02:18
    1953
  • 3
    Something's Wrong
    Fats Domino
    Fats Domino
    00:02:41
    1953
  • 4
    Fat's Frenzy (Instrumental)
    Fats Domino
    Fats Domino
    00:02:23
    1953
  • 5
    Goin' Back Home
    Fats Domino
    Fats Domino
    00:01:55
    1953
  • 6
    You Left Me
    Fats Domino
    Fats Domino
    00:02:03
    1953
  • 7
    “44”
    Fats Domino
    Fats Domino
    00:02:29
    1953
  • 8
    Barrel House
    Fats Domino
    Fats Domino
    00:02:29
    1953
  • 9
    Little School Girl
    Fats Domino
    Fats Domino
    00:02:38
    1953
  • 10
    If You Need Me
    Fats Domino
    Fats Domino
    00:02:03
    1953
  • 11
    You Done Me Wrong
    Fats Domino
    Fats Domino
    00:02:03
    1953
  • 12
    Baby Please
    Fats Domino
    Fats Domino
    00:01:56
    1954
  • 13
    Where Did You Stay
    Fats Domino
    Fats Domino
    00:02:01
    1954
  • 14
    I Lived My Life
    Fats Domino
    Fats Domino
    00:01:59
    1954
  • 15
    Little Mama
    Fats Domino
    Fats Domino
    00:02:39
    1954
  • 16
    I Know
    Fats Domino
    Fats Domino
    00:02:38
    1954
  • 17
    Love Me
    Fats Domino
    Fats Domino
    00:01:55
    1954
  • 18
    Don'T You Hear Me Calling You
    Fats Domino
    Fats Domino
    00:02:07
    1954
  • 19
    Don'T You Now
    Fats Domino
    Fats Domino
    00:02:20
    1955
  • 20
    Helping Hand
    Fats Domino
    Fats Domino
    00:02:06
    1955
  • Piste
    Title
    Main artist
    Autor
    Duration
    Registered in
  • 1
    All By Myself
    Fats Domino
    Fats Domino
    00:02:22
    1955
  • 2
    Ain'T That A Shame
    Fats Domino
    Fats Domino
    00:02:25
    1955
  • 3
    La La
    Fats Domino
    Fats Domino
    00:02:13
    1955
  • 4
    Blue Monday
    Fats Domino
    Fats Domino
    00:02:16
    1955
  • 5
    Troubles Of My Own
    Fats Domino
    Fats Domino
    00:02:13
    1955
  • 6
    I'M In Love Again
    Fats Domino
    Fats Domino
    00:01:54
    1955
  • 7
    Bo Weevil
    Fats Domino
    Fats Domino
    00:02:47
    1955
  • 8
    Don'T Blame It On Me
    Fats Domino
    Fats Domino
    00:02:41
    1955
  • 9
    If You Need Me 2
    Fats Domino
    Fats Domino
    00:02:02
    1955
  • 10
    Howdy Podner
    Fats Domino
    Fats Domino
    00:02:08
    1955
  • 11
    So Long
    Fats Domino
    Fats Domino
    00:02:11
    1955
  • 12
    I Can'T Go On This Way
    Fats Domino
    Terry Hall
    00:02:10
    1955
  • 13
    My Blue Heaven
    Fats Domino
    A. Whiting
    00:02:06
    1955
  • 14
    Ida Jane
    Fats Domino
    Fats Domino
    00:02:09
    1956
  • 15
    When My Dreamboat Comes Home
    Fats Domino
    Cliff Friend
    00:02:19
    1956
  • 16
    What's The Reason Why I'M Not Pleasing You
    Fats Domino
    Earl Hatch
    00:02:01
    1956
  • 17
    The Twist Set Me Free
    Fats Domino
    Fats Domino
    00:02:00
    1956
  • 18
    Blueberry Hill
    Fats Domino
    Vincent Rose
    00:02:19
    1956
  • 19
    Honey Chile
    Fats Domino
    Fats Domino
    00:01:46
    1956
  • 20
    What Will I Tell My Heart
    Fats Domino
    P. Tinturin
    00:02:26
    1957
  • Piste
    Title
    Main artist
    Autor
    Duration
    Registered in
  • 1
    I'M Walkin'
    Fats Domino
    Fats Domino
    00:02:09
    1957
  • 2
    I'M In The Mood For Love
    Fats Domino
    Jimmy McHugh
    00:02:42
    1957
  • 3
    My Happiness
    Fats Domino
    Bergantino Biagio
    00:02:14
    1957
  • 4
    Don'T Deceive Me
    Fats Domino
    Fats Domino
    00:01:52
    1957
  • 5
    The Rooster Song
    Fats Domino
    Fats Domino
    00:02:05
    1957
  • 6
    Oh! Whee
    Fats Domino
    Fats Domino
    00:02:06
    1957
  • 7
    My Love For Her
    Fats Domino
    Fats Domino
    00:02:37
    1957
  • 8
    Don't You Know That I Love You
    Fats Domino
    Fats Domino
    00:02:09
    1958
  • 9
    (I'll Be Glad When You Re Dead) You Rascal You
    Fats Domino
    Theard Sam
    00:02:36
    1958
  • 10
    Young School Girl
    Fats Domino
    Fats Domino
    00:01:54
    1958
  • 11
    Lazy Woman
    Fats Domino
    Fats Domino
    00:01:47
    1958
  • 12
    Whole Lotta Loving
    Fats Domino
    Fats Domino
    00:01:38
    1958
  • 13
    Lil Liza Jane
    Fats Domino
    Dave Bartholomew
    00:01:52
    1958
  • 14
    When The Saints Go Marching In
    Fats Domino
    Inconnu
    00:02:25
    1958
  • 15
    I'M Ready
    Fats Domino
    Fats Domino
    00:02:03
    1959
  • 16
    Want To Walk You Home
    Fats Domino
    Fats Domino
    00:02:19
    1959
  • 17
    Easter Parade
    Fats Domino
    Irving Berlin
    00:02:26
    1959
  • 18
    Be My Guest
    Fats Domino
    Fats Domino
    00:02:15
    1959
  • 19
    Walking To New Orleans
    Fats Domino
    Fats Domino
    00:01:59
    1959
  • 20
    Don'T Come Knockin'
    Fats Domino
    Fats Domino
    00:01:57
    1959
  • Piste
    Title
    Main artist
    Autor
    Duration
    Registered in
  • 1
    La La 2
    Fats Domino
    Fats Domino
    00:02:02
    1959
  • 2
    Shu Rah
    Fats Domino
    Fats Domino
    00:01:40
    1960
  • 3
    My Girl Josephine
    Fats Domino
    Fats Domino
    00:02:02
    1960
  • 4
    It Keeps Rainin'
    Fats Domino
    Fats Domino
    00:02:46
    1960
  • 5
    What A Price
    Fats Domino
    Fats Domino
    00:02:21
    1960
  • 6
    Ain'T That Just Like A Woman
    Fats Domino
    Claude Demetrius
    00:02:43
    1960
  • 7
    Fell In Love On Monday
    Fats Domino
    Fats Domino
    00:01:55
    1960
  • 8
    Trouble In Mind
    Fats Domino
    Marigny Jones Richard
    00:02:30
    1961
  • 9
    Bad Luck And Trouble
    Fats Domino
    Fats Domino
    00:02:40
    1961
  • 10
    I Just Cry
    Fats Domino
    Fats Domino
    00:02:06
    1961
  • 11
    Ain'T Gonna Do It
    Fats Domino
    Fats Domino
    00:02:04
    1961
  • 12
    Won'T You Come On Back
    Fats Domino
    Fats Domino
    00:02:18
    1961
  • 13
    Good Hearted Man
    Fats Domino
    Fats Domino
    00:02:24
    1961
  • 14
    Trouble Blues
    Fats Domino
    Charles Brown
    00:02:41
    1961
  • 15
    Let The Four Winds Blow
    Fats Domino
    Traditionnel
    00:02:17
    1961
  • 16
    What A Party
    Fats Domino
    Fats Domino
    00:01:59
    1961
  • 17
    Jambalaya (On The Bayou)
    Fats Domino
    Hank Williams
    00:02:22
    1961
  • 18
    Stop The Clock
    Fats Domino
    Fats Domino
    00:02:19
    1962
  • 19
    Hum Diddy Doo
    Fats Domino
    Fats Domino
    00:01:54
    1962
  • 20
    Dance With Mr. Domino
    Fats Domino
    Fats Domino
    00:02:04
    1962
  • Piste
    Title
    Main artist
    Autor
    Duration
    Registered in
  • 1
    Mood Indigo
    Nina Simone
    Duke Ellington
    00:04:00
    1959
  • 2
    Don' Smoke In Bed
    Nina Simone
    William Robison
    00:03:10
    1959
  • 3
    He Needs Me
    Nina Simone
    Arthur Hamilton
    00:02:29
    1959
  • 4
    Little Girl Blue
    Nina Simone
    Richard Rodgers
    00:04:16
    1959
  • 5
    Love Me Or Leave Me
    Nina Simone
    Walter Donaldson
    00:03:20
    1959
  • 6
    My Baby Just Cares For Me
    Nina Simone
    Walter Donaldson
    00:03:35
    1959
  • 7
    Good Bait
    Nina Simone
    Tadd Dameron
    00:05:26
    1959
  • 8
    Plain Gold Ring
    Nina Simone
    Earl Burroughs
    00:03:46
    1959
  • 9
    You'll Never Walk Alone
    Nina Simone
    Richard Rodgers
    00:03:44
    1959
  • 10
    Loves You Porgy
    Nina Simone
    Heyward Dubose
    00:04:08
    1959
  • 11
    Central Park Blues
    Nina Simone
    Nina Simone
    00:06:49
    1959
  • 12
    Blue Prelude
    Nina Simone
    Bishop
    00:03:21
    1959
  • 13
    Children Go Where I Send You
    Nina Simone
    Nina Simone
    00:02:52
    1959
  • 14
    Tomorrow (We Will Meet Once More)
    Nina Simone
    Gale
    00:03:01
    1959
  • 15
    Stompin' At The Savoy
    Nina Simone
    Benny Goodman
    00:02:08
    1959
  • 16
    It Might As Well Be Spring
    Nina Simone
    Oscar Hammerstein II
    00:03:55
    1959
  • 17
    You Ve Been Gone Too Long
    Nina Simone
    John Sellers
    00:02:11
    1959
  • 18
    That's Him Over There
    Nina Simone
    Marilyn Keith
    00:02:31
    1959
  • 19
    Chilly Winds Don't Blow
    Nina Simone
    Hecky Krasnox
    00:02:47
    1959
  • 20
    Theme From “Middle Of The Night”
    Nina Simone
    George Bassman
    00:02:30
    1959
  • 21
    Can't Get Out Of This Mood
    Nina Simone
    Frank Loesser
    00:02:33
    1959
  • 22
    Willow Weep For Me
    Nina Simone
    Ronell
    00:03:13
    1959
  • 23
    Solitaire
    Nina Simone
    Renée Borek
    00:03:24
    1959
  • Piste
    Title
    Main artist
    Autor
    Duration
    Registered in
  • 1
    Black Is The Color Of My True Love's Hair
    Nina Simone
    Traditionnel
    00:03:31
    1959
  • 2
    Exactly Like You
    Nina Simone
    Jimmy McHugh
    00:03:14
    1959
  • 3
    The Other Woman
    Nina Simone
    Nina Simone
    00:02:59
    1959
  • 4
    Under The Lowest
    Nina Simone
    Nina Simone
    00:05:33
    1959
  • 5
    You Can Have Him
    Nina Simone
    David Enloe
    00:05:53
    1959
  • 6
    Summertime
    Nina Simone
    George et Ira Gershwin
    00:02:53
    1959
  • 7
    Summertime (Vocal)
    Nina Simone
    George et Ira Gershwin
    00:02:47
    1959
  • 8
    Cotton Eyed Joe
    Nina Simone
    Traditionnel
    00:02:56
    1959
  • 9
    Return Home
    Nina Simone
    Nina Simone
    00:05:27
    1959
  • 10
    Wild Is The Wind
    Nina Simone
    Dimitri Tiomkin
    00:03:37
    1959
  • 11
    Fine And Mellow
    Nina Simone
    Billie Holiday
    00:03:27
    1959
  • 12
    Do Nothin' Till You Hear From Me
    Nina Simone
    Bob Russell
    00:02:49
    1962
  • 13
    Got It Bad
    Nina Simone
    Ben Webster
    00:04:05
    1962
  • 14
    Hey, Buddy Bolden
    Nina Simone
    Duke Ellington
    00:02:26
    1962
  • 15
    Merry Mending
    Nina Simone
    Duke Ellington
    00:02:34
    1962
  • 16
    Something To Live For
    Nina Simone
    Duke Ellington
    00:02:56
    1962
  • 17
    You Better Know It
    Nina Simone
    Duke Ellington
    00:02:24
    1962
  • 18
    I'll Like The Sunrise
    Nina Simone
    Duke Ellington
    00:02:59
    1962
  • 19
    Solitude
    Nina Simone
    Duke Ellington
    00:03:44
    1962
  • 20
    The Gal From Joe's
    Nina Simone
    Duke Ellington
    00:02:12
    1962
  • 21
    Satin Doll
    Nina Simone
    Duke Ellington
    00:03:36
    1962
  • 22
    It Don't Mean A Thing
    Nina Simone
    Duke Ellington
    00:02:33
    1962
  • Piste
    Title
    Main artist
    Autor
    Duration
    Registered in
  • 1
    Trouble In Mind
    Nina Simone
    Richard Jones
    00:05:41
    1960
  • 2
    Blues For Porgy
    Nina Simone
    George Gershwin
    00:05:11
    1960
  • 3
    Little Liza Jane
    Nina Simone
    Traditionnel
    00:04:33
    1960
  • 4
    You'd Be So Nice To Come Home To
    Nina Simone
    Cole Porter
    00:05:23
    1960
  • 5
    Flo Me La
    Nina Simone
    Traditionnel
    00:07:12
    1960
  • 6
    Nina's Blues
    Nina Simone
    Nina Simone
    00:06:11
    1960
  • 7
    In The Evening By The Moonlight
    Nina Simone
    James Bland
    00:06:14
    1960
  • 8
    Rags And Old Iron
    Nina Simone
    Norman Curtis
    00:04:08
    1961
  • 9
    No Good Man
    Nina Simone
    Dan Fisher
    00:03:37
    1961
  • 10
    Gin House Blues
    Nina Simone
    Fletcher Henderson
    00:03:02
    1961
  • 11
    I'll Look Around
    Nina Simone
    Douglass Cross
    00:05:02
    1961
  • 12
    I Love To Love
    Nina Simone
    Herbie Baker
    00:03:22
    1961
  • 13
    Work Song
    Nina Simone
    Oscar Brown
    00:02:33
    1961
  • 14
    Where Can I Go Without You
    Nina Simone
    Lee Peggy
    00:02:50
    1961
  • 15
    Just Say I Love Him (English Version)
    Nina Simone
    Val
    00:06:33
    1961
  • 16
    Memphis In June
    Nina Simone
    Paul Francis Webster
    00:02:37
    1961
  • 17
    Forbidden Fruit
    Nina Simone
    Oscar Brown
    00:03:46
    1961
  • Piste
    Title
    Main artist
    Autor
    Duration
    Registered in
  • 1
    Just In Time
    Nina Simone
    Betty Comden
    00:06:36
    1962
  • 2
    He Was Too Good To Me
    Nina Simone
    Ricahrd Rodgers
    00:05:02
    1962
  • 3
    House Of The Rising Sun
    Nina Simone
    Traditionnel
    00:04:29
    1962
  • 4
    Bye Bye Blackbird
    Nina Simone
    Mort Dixon
    00:08:16
    1962
  • 5
    Brown Baby
    Nina Simone
    Clifford Brown
    00:05:48
    1962
  • 6
    Zungo
    Nina Simone
    Olatunji
    00:03:00
    1962
  • 7
    If He Changed My Name
    Nina Simone
    Macgimsey
    00:03:59
    1962
  • 8
    Children Go Where I Send You 2
    Nina Simone
    Nina Simone
    00:07:47
    1962
  • 9
    African Mailman
    Nina Simone
    Nina Simone
    00:03:09
    1960
  • 10
    For All We Know
    Nina Simone
    John Frederik Coots
    00:04:01
    1960
  • 11
    He's Got The Whole World In His Hands
    Nina Simone
    Traditionnel
    00:02:37
    1960
  • 12
    If Only For Tonight
    Nina Simone
    Aron Schroeder
    00:03:02
    1960
  • 13
    Nobody Knows You When You Re Down And Out
    Nina Simone
    Stu Philips
    00:02:40
    1960
  • 14
    Come On Back Jack
    Nina Simone
    Shumen
    00:02:15
    1961
  • 15
    I Want A Little Sugar In My Bowl
    Nina Simone
    Nina Simone
    00:02:44
    1962
Booklet

The ABC-Paramount Recordings Years 1959-1962

Par Joël Dufour

 

When Ray Charles signed his first contract with the ABC-Paramount record label at the end of 1959, he was 29 years old and he already had a long professional career behind him, during which he had already reinvented himself several times as an artist.

Raised from his early childhood in Florida in the strict observance of the rites of the Baptist Church, Ray Charles (then called “R.C.”) Robinson bathed in gospel songs and actively participated in them.

At the same time, he listened to blues, boogie-woogie and jazz 78s on the jukebox of Wiley Pitman’s local café, and its owner – “Mister Pit” as he was nicknamed – also gave little R.C. his first piano lessons. At night, little Ray also listened to the Grand Ole Opry, the “country music” radio program broadcast by Nashville’s WSM station. He eagerly absorbed all these different kinds of music.

When he left the institution for the blind in St. Augustine (Florida) in 1945, RC Robinson was 15 years old, an orphan, and he was determined to make music his profession. At the institution, he had received a solid musical education (exclusively classical) on the piano, and he, at the same time, had taught himself to play the clarinet.

As a musician, he was therefore already capable of taking on a wide variety of commitments, alone or by joining an orchestra, whether in a jazz context or a variety of popular music styles. His first big revelation was the discovery of the already famous singer and pianist Nat “King” Cole, the ultimate crooner, whom he successfully set himself to imitating. Soon, to this major influence, would be added that of the blues singer and pianist Charles Brown, who expressed himself in a register close to the one of Cole, yet with a stronger accent on the blues.

It is in this style, which constituted only one facet of his talent (he also devoted himself with passion to the be-bop kind of jazz of a Charlie Parker, whose instrument, the alto-saxophone, he had by now adopted) that Ray Charles was discovered, in Seattle in 1948, by the owner of the Swing Time label of Los Angeles, Jack Lauderdale.

Until 1952, Ray recorded mainly in a trio setting, singing and playing the piano in the company of a guitarist and a bass player, in this Nat Cole / Charles Brown style. But Jack Lauderdale having had the insight of makinge Ray Charles the pianist of the small Rhythm & Blues group, featuring brass instruments, which was backing the famous blues singer-guitarist Lowell Fulson on tours, Ray evolved at this contact towards a radically more dynamic and extroverted expression, as evidenced, for example, by his compositions Kissa Me Baby and Hey Now, recorded with the Fulson orchestra.

With the repurchase of Ray Charles’ Swing Time contract by Ahmet Ertegun, the boss of the Atlantic record label of New York, Ray gradually detached himself from the imitations of Nat King Cole and Charles Brown thanks to which he had earned his first successes, moving instead towards a harder R&B style, which he soon dared to infuse with the influence of the religious music he had been imbued with since childhood, and whose evolution he was following assiduously. Dared is the rightful word, because then, in the Afro-American community, the antagonism between gospel audiences and blues audiences often seemed insurmountable. But Ray Charles managed to ignore the often-virulent criticisms addressed to him for his mixing of the sacred with the profane, and he would soon mostly devote himself, without any restraint, to secular adaptations of religious songs, powerfully helped in this respect by the Cookies female vocal group (soon to be renamed the Raelets), led by the stunning soloist Margie Hendrix.

 

It is widely acknowledged that the considerable success that Ray Charles achieved on Atlantic with his hybridization of blues and gospel (I’ve Got a Woman, Hallelujah I Love Her So, What’d I Say…) represents the founding act of the “Soul Music” movement which was to surge in the 1960s.

 

But, from 1959, Ray Charles, who had by then become a hero of his native community and had also conquered many young white Rock & Roll lovers, saw no reasons to confine himself to this kind of music he had created, and which had made him successful. He now aimed at reaching an even larger audience, which meant older and mostly white, by directing his records production towards the interpretation of popular music standards of the time (often coming from Broadway musicals).

His producers at Atlantic, the brothers Ahmet and Nesuhi Ertegun and Jerry Wexler, who had already encouraged Ray to record, also, in the instrumental jazz style he loved (despite the modest commercial potential of this type of music) fully supported him in his new approach to conquering a wider audience. The result was the album The Genius of Ray Charles, with a first side where he was backed by a large jazz band, and, on the second side by a symphony-type string orchestra plus an “angelic” choir – that is orchestrations similar to those used notably by the popular singer of reference of the time, Frank Sinatra.

 

Shortly before Ray Charles’ contract with Atlantic was to expire, in December 1959, he was approached by executives of ABC-Paramount, which was then a very powerful record label, essentially focused on the whitest of white pop music, but which had already begun to take an interest in the secondary market represented by vocalists popular with the black population (as testified by their recruitment, two years earlier, of R&B singer Lloyd Price). Interested in the offer, despite the gratitude he was feeling towards his producers at Atlantic, Ray Charles entered negotiations with the boss of ABC-Paramount, Sam Clark, and ended up snatching a contract unprecedented in the music business, under which he would be his own executive producer, and, upon expiry of the contract, he would remain the sole owner of his recordings.

 

Now having behind him the promotional power of ABC-Paramount, Ray Charles continued with determination in the path he had opened at Atlantic with his ground-breaking album The Genius of Ray Charles to record collections of covers of standards for the general public. Thus, in the sole period considered by this publication, appeared successively in this vein The Genius Hits the Road, Dedicated to You, Ray Charles & Betty Carter, Modern Sounds in Country & Western Music and Modern Sounds in Country & Western Music, Volume Two. As an additional daring move, on these last two albums, Ray Charles applied his 50% big band jazz and 50% violins and female choir formula to a “country” repertoire – that is the “identity music “ of southern white supremacists.

 

While the success won by these albums was unprecedented, the commotion they produced with certain categories of public was no less so. This was naturally the case for many of his “fans” from his home community, whose feelings were particularly well translated by singer Marvin Gaye: “In my opinion, he has gone too far. Ray went off the rails when he started using white backing vocalists instead of the Raelets to sing his country shit. The blacks resented him. They will always love and honor him, but he left them, and they know it. For the rest of his career, Ray will have to sell to Whites” (1). Moreover, this tough judgment was also shared by a portion of his white public (particularly European), and of critics. It is with the same phlegm that he had borne the attacks suffered for his “misappropriations” of religious songs that Ray Charles then faced the accusations of having “sold out”.

 

In fact, contrary to the perception of many of the “fans” that Ray Charles had conquered when he was devoting himself exclusively to R&B and jazz, he had by no means deserted these styles of music, producing only, in addition, a flow of albums intended for the general public.

Thus, in this same period 1959-1962, he published R&B 45rpm singles at a similar pace to the one of the previous years on Atlantic, as well as a magnificent jazz album with a big band on which he played the Hammond organ, Genius + Soul = Jazz, again with considerable success. Furthermore, throughout that period of time, Ray Charles gave dazzling public performances which eloquently testified that he had not given up any of the components of his music. Fortunately, valuable recorded examples of such concerts have been published in recent years (2).

 

All his life, Ray Charles would refuse to be pigeonholed into a specific type of music, claiming for himself a status of non-specialist, and hammering his credo “this is all music to me”.

J.D.

(1) David Ritz: « Marvin Gaye – Divided Soul » (Grafton, 1985).

(2) from the same sound publisher:

Ray Charles – Live at Newport 1960 (Frémeaux & Associés FA 5643),

Ray Charles in Antibes 1961 (Frémeaux & Associés FA 5733),

Ray Charles – The Complete 1961 Paris Recordings (Frémeaux & Associés FA 5748),

Ray Charles – Live at the Olympia, Paris 1962 (Frémeaux & Associés FA 5811).

 

Notes :

On most of Ray Charles’ original ABC albums of this period, the songs were programmed on the discs so to artificially intersperse the tracks with violins and those with a large jazz orchestra, although they stemmed from different recording sessions. Our chronological approach to this publication offers the bonus of ridding the listener from this tasteless novelty gimmick.

 

As a bonus track, we have added at the end of this compilation the song Misery in My Heart, from 1951, in the version hitherto never reissued on CD which appeared under the title “Going to the River” on the 33-rpm album The Fabulous Artistry of Ray Charles (Hollywood LP 505).

 

Thanks to :

Steve Hoffman, Uroš Peric, Jacques Merle, Michelle Dufour.

© Frémeaux & Associés 2022

Ray Charles – The ABC-Paramount Recordings Years 1959-1962

When applicable, charts peak positions reached in the Billboard magazine charts (R&B, Pop) are indicated under the relevant song title released on single.

 

*CD-1:  1:12:30

01 - Them That Got [Ricci Harper, Ray Charles]   2:54

 * ABC 10141 – R&B: 10 / Pop: 58

02 - Who You Gonna Love [Ray Charles]  2:06

03 - My Baby (I Love Her, Yes I Do) [Ray Charles]          3:03

04 - Georgia on My Mind [Hoagy Carmichael, Stuart Gorrell]     3:35

 * ABC 10135 – R&B: 3 / Pop: 1

05 - Moonlight in Vermont [John Blackburn, Karl Suessdorf]      3:02

06 - Moon Over Miami [Edgar Leslie, Joseph Burke]        3:20

07 - Blue Hawaii [Leo Robin, Ralph Rainger]         2:58

08 - Chattanooga Choo Choo [Mack Gordon, Harry Warren]       3:05

09 - Basin Street Blues [Spencer Williams] 2:46

10 - Deep in the Heart of Texas [June Hershey, Don Swander]    2:28

11 - Mississippi Mud [James Cavanaugh, Harry Barris]     3:24

12 - Alabamy Bound [B. G. DeSylva, Bud Greene, Ray Henderson]        1:55

13 - California Here I Come [Al Jolson, B. G. DeSylva, Joseph Meyer]  2:10

14 - New York’s My Home [Gordon Jenkins]        3:05

15 - Carry Me Back to Old Virginny [James Bland]        2:02

16 - I Wonder [Cecil Gant, Raymond Leveen] (single version)      2:36

17 - Sticks and Stones [Titus Turner]          2:13

 * ABC 10118 – R&B: 2 / Pop: 40

18 - Worried Life Blues [Major Merriweather]      3:10

19 - Nancy [Phil Silvers, Jimmy Van Hausen]         3:06

20 - Ruby [Mitchell Parish, Heinz Roemheld]         3:54

 * ABC 10164 – R&B: 10 / Pop: 28

21 - Stella by Starlight [Ned Washington, Victor Young] 3:50

22 - Cherry [Ray Gilbert, Donald Redman] 3:37

23 - Candy [Mack Davis, Joan Whitney, Alex Kramer]      4:09

24 - Diane [Erno Rapee, Lew Pollack]         3:51

 

*CD-2: 1:13:11 

01 - Margie [Con Conrad, Russel Robinson, Benny Davis]            2:47

02 - Sweet Georgia Brown [Ben Bernie, Maceo Pinkard, Kenneth Casey]           3:30

03 - Hard Hearted Hannah [Jack Yellen, Milton Ager, Charles Bates, Robert Bigelow]           3:18

04 - Rosetta [Earl Hines, William Woode]  2:33

05 - Marie [Irving Berlin]     2:21

06 - Josephine [Wayne King, Gus Kahn, Burke Bivens]     2:14

07 - Moanin’ [Bobby Timmons]       3:21

08 - Strike Up the Band [George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin]           2:39

09 - From the Heart [Ray Charles]  3:39

10 - Stompin’ Room Only [Howard Marks]           3:48

11 - Mister C [Ray Charles]  4:33

12 - I’ve Got News for You [Roy Alfred]   4:32

 * Impulse 202 – R&B: 8 / Pop: 8

13 - The Birth of the Blues [B. G. DeSylva, Lew Brown, Ray Henderson]          5:16

14 - One Mint Julep [Rudolph Toombs]     3:09

 * Impulse 200 – R&B: 1 / Pop: 66

15 - I’m Gonna Move to the Outskirts of Town[Roy Jacobs, Andy Razaf, William Weldon]   3:46

 * Impulse 202 – R&B: 25 / Pop: 84

16 - Let’s Go [Ray Charles]  2:43

17 - Intro: Goodbye [Gordon Jenkins] / We’ll Be Together Again [Frankie Laine, Carl Fischer]         3:21

18 - Alone Together [Howard Dietz, Arthur Schwartz]      4:47

19 - Ev’ry Time We Say Goodbye [Cole Porter]   4:41

20 - For All We Know [Samuel Lewis, Fred Coots]           3:45

21 - Cocktails for Two [Sam Coslow, Arthur Johnston]     3:16

 

*CD-3: 55:46 

01 - You and I [Meredith Wilson]    3:29

02 - Takes Two to Tango [Al Hoffman, Dick Manning]    3:24

03 - Side by Side [Harry Woods]     2:23

04 - Baby It’s Cold Outside [Frank Loesser]          4:12

05 - Together [B. G. DeSylva, Lew Brown, Ray Henderson]         1:36

06 - People Will Say We’re in Love [Richard Rodgers, Oscar Hammerstein]      2:53

07 - Just You Just Me [Raymond Klages, Jesse Greer]      2:00

08 - Unchain My Heart [Bobby Sharp, Teddy Powell] (single & mono LP version)       2:51

 * ABC 10266 – R&B: 1 / Pop: 9

09 - Hit the Road Jack [Percy Mayfield]    2:00

 * ABC 10244 – R&B: 1 / Pop: 1

10 - The Danger Zone [Percy Mayfield]     2:24

11 - But on the Other Hand Baby [Ray Charles,Percy Mayfield] 3:15

 * ABC 10266 – R&B: 10 / Pop: 72

12 - Bye Bye Love [Felice Bryant, Boudleaux Bryant]       2:13

13 - Careless Love [Ray Charles]     3:59

14 - Hey Good Lookin’ [Hank Williams]    2:12

15 - Half as Much [Hank Williams] 3:26

16 - Just a Little Lovin’ [Zeke Clements, Eddie Arnold]   3:28

17 - It Makes No Difference Now [Jimmie Davis, Floyd Tillman]            3:34

18 - At the Club [Percy Mayfield]   3:01

 * ABC 10314 – R&B: 7 / Pop: 44

19 - Hide nor Hair [Percy Mayfield]           3:12

 * ABC 10314 – R&B: 7 / Pop: 20

 

*CD-4  1:03:33 

01 - I Love You So Much It Hurts [Floyd Tillman]           3:34

02 - You Don’t Know Me [Cindy Walker, Eddie Arnold] 3:14

 * ABC 10345 – R&B: 5 / Pop: 2

03 - I Can’t Stop Loving You [Don Gibson]          4:13

 * ABC 10330 – R&B: 1 / Pop: 1

04 - Born to Lose [Frankie Brown]  3:15

05 - You Win Again [Hank Williams]          3:15

06 - Worried Mind [Jimmie Davis, Ted Daffan]    2:55

07 - You Are My Sunshine [Jimmie Davis, Charles Mitchell]       3:01

 * ABC 10375 – R&B: 1 / Pop: 7

08 - Midnight [Boudleaux Bryant, Chet Atkins]     3:16

09 - Someday (You’ll Want Me to Want You) [Jimmy Hodges] 2:40

10 - Don’t Tell Me Your Troubles [Don Gibson]  2:07

11 - Oh Lonesome Me [Don Gibson]          2:10

12 - No Letter Today [Frankie Brown]       3:00

13 - Your Cheating Heart [Hank Williams]            3:34

 * ABC 10375 – R&B: 23 / Pop: 29

14 - Making Believe [Lilian Schwope]        2:53

15 - I’ll Never Stand in Your Way [Fred Rose, Hy Heath]           2:19

16 - Take These Chains from My Heart [Fred Rose, Hy Heath]  2:56

 * ABC 10435 – R&B: 7 / Pop: 8

17 - Hang Your Head in Shame [Fred Rose, Edward G. Nelson, Steve Nelson] 3:16

18 - Teardrops in My Heart [Vaughn Horton]      3:03

19 - I Wonder [Cecil Gant, Raymond Leveen] (alternate take: LP version)         2:31

20 - Unchain My Heart [Bobby Sharp, Teddy Powell] (alternate take: stereo LP version)         2:51

*Bonus track (on CD for the first time):

21 - Going to the River [J. Boyd] (Hollywood LP505 version – alternate take
of “Misery in My Heart”)
      3:02

 

All tracks are in stereo, except CD-1 track 16,
CD-3 track 8 and CD-4 track 21.

 

 

The ABC-Paramount Recordings Years 1959-1962

 

Discography

All original ABC-Paramount long play vinyl albums (LP) have been released in two versions: a mono one and a stereo one – the latter bearing a prefix “S” before the reference number. For each album, the musical content of both versions is the same – except for the album Ray Charles Greatest Hits for which the “take” (version) of “Unchain My Heart” is different on the stereo LP version from the one which is on the 45rpm and mono LP releases (please see below).

 

* Ray Charles Greatest Hits - LP ABC-Paramount ABC(S)415

Ray Charles (vocals, piano); Marcus Belgrave, John Hunt (trumpet); Hank Crawford (alto saxophone); David “Fathead” Newman (tenor saxophone); Leroy Cooper (baritone saxophone); Edgar Willis (bass); Milt Turner (drums). Arranged by Ray Charles. Produced by Sid Feller.

                        United Studios, Hollywood, December 29, 1959

3896    Them That Got (solo: DN)  ABC10141, lpABC415, lpABCS415

same, but add the Raelets including Margie Hendrix (background vocals). Margie Hendrix (2nd lead vocals) on 3898.

3897    Who You Gonna Love         ABC10081

3898    My Baby (I Love Her, Yes I Do)      ABC10081

 

* The Genius Hits the Road - LP ABC-Paramount ABC(S)335

Ray Charles (vocals, piano); Bucky Pizzarelli (guitar); Edgar Willis (bass); Milt Turner (drums). 15 strings and a choir arranged by Ralph Burns. Conducted by Hank Crawford. Produced by Sid Feller.

                        Capitol Studios, New York, March 25, 1960

3962    Georgia on My Mind           ABC10135, lpABC335, lpABC415, lpABCS415

3963    Moonlight in Vermont         lpABC335

3964    Moon Over Miami    lpABC335

3965    Blue Hawaii, Part 1  lpABC335

same, but omit strings and add: Martin Banks, Marcus Belgrave, John Hunt (trumpet); Hank Crawford (alto saxophone); David Newman (tenor saxophone); Leroy Cooper (baritone saxophone); and other horns including Bob Brookmeyer (valve-trombone). Sid Feller (spoken vocal intro) on 3969.

3966    Blue Hawaii, Part 2  lpABC335

3967    Chattanooga Choo Choo     lpABC335

3968    Basin Street Blues (solo: BB)          lpABC335

3969    Deep in the Heart of Texas lpABC335

 

Ray Charles (vocals, piano); Marcus Belgrave, John Hunt (trumpet); Hank Crawford (alto saxophone); David Newman (tenor saxophone); Leroy Cooper (baritone saxophone); other horns including Bob Brookmeyer (valve-trombone); Edgar Willis (bass); Milt Turner (drums). Add one female spoken voice on 3973 (probably Margie Hendrix). Arranged and conducted by Ralph Burns. Produced by Sid Feller.

                        Capitol Studios, New York, March 29, 1960

3970    Mississippi Mud       lpABC335

3971    Alabamy Bound (add bongo) (solo: DN)    lpABC335

3972    California Here I Come       lpABC335

3973    New York’s My Home         lpABC335

same, but omit horns and add the Raelets, including Margie Hendrix, and an organ possibly played by Hank Crawford.

3974    Carry Me Back to Old Virginny    ABC 10135, lpABC335

 

* Ray Charles Greatest Hits - LP ABC-Paramount ABC(S)415

Ray Charles (vocals, electric piano); Martin Banks, John Hunt (trumpet); Hank Crawford (alto saxophone); David Newman (tenor saxophone); Leroy Cooper (baritone saxophone); Edgar Willis (bass); Milt Turner (drums); the Raelets including Margie Hendrix. Arranged by Ray Charles. Produced by Sid Feller.

                        Capitol Studios, New York, April 27, 1960

10014  I Wonder       ABC10141

            I Wonder (alt. take)   lpABC415, lpABCS415

10015  Sticks and Stones      ABC1118, lpABC415, lpABCS415

same, but omit the Raelets, omit all horns except David Newman (alto saxophone solo) and add Sid Feller (spoken vo):

10016  Worried Life Blues   ABC1118

* Dedicated to You - LP ABC-Paramount ABC(S)355

Ray Charles (vocals, piano); Herman Clebanoff, James Getzoff, Alfred Lustgarten, Leonard Malarsky, Amerigo Marino, Lou Raderman, Paul Shure, Joe Stepansky, Darrel Terwilliger (violin); Joseph DiFiore, Alvin Dinkin, Virginia Majewski, Alexander Neiman, Joseph Reilich (viola); Paul Bergstrom, Justin Di Tullio, Armand Kaproff, Raphael Kramer (cello); Stella Castelucci (harp); Bill Pittman (guitar); Edgar Willis (bass); Irving Cottler (drums). Arranged by Marty Paich. Produced by Sid Feller.

                        United Studios, Hollywood, August 23, 1960

10144  Nancy             lpABC355

10145  Ruby   ABC10164, lpABC355, lpABC415, lpABCS415

10146  Stella by Starlight     lpABC355

10147  Cherry           lpABC355

10148  Candy             lpABC355

10149  Diane lpABC355

 

Ray Charles (vocals, piano); Phil Guilbeau, John Hunt, Al Porcino, Raymond Triscari (trumpet); Harry Betts, Pete Carpenter, Francis Fitzpatrick, Kenneth Shroyer (trombone); Hank Crawford, Bud Shank (alto saxophone); Bob Cooper, David Newman (tenor saxophone); Leroy Cooper (baritone saxophone); Bill Pittman (guitar); Edgar Willis (bass); Shelly Manne (drums). Arranged by Marty Paich. Produced by Sid Feller.

                        United Studios, Hollywood, August 24, 1960

10150  Margie           lpABC355

10151  Sweet Georgia Brown (solo: DN, LC)        lpABC355

10152  Hard Hearted Hannah        ABC10164, lpABC355, lpABC415, lpABCS415

10153  Rosetta (solo: DN)    lpABC355

10154  Marie (solo: DN)       lpABC355

same, but Ray Charles (piano):

10155  Josephine       lpABC355

 

* Genius + Soul = Jazz –LP Impulse A-2

Ray Charles (Hammond C3 organ, vocals*); Phil Guilbeau, Thad Jones, Joe Newman, Clark Terry, Snooky Young (trumpet); Henry Coker, Urbie Green, Al Grey, Benny Powell (trombone); Marshall Royal, Frank Wess (alto saxophone); Frank Foster, Billy Mitchell (tenor saxophone); Charlie Fowlkes (baritone saxophone); Freddie Greene (guitar); Eddie Jones (bass); Sonny Payne (drums). Arr.-cond. Ralph Burns. Prod. Creed Taylor.

                        Rudy Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, NJ, December 26, 1960

            Moanin’ (solo: PG)   lpImpulse A-2

            Strike Up the Band (s: PG) lpImpulse A-2

            From the Heart (solo: PG)   lpImpulse A-2

            Stompin’ Room Only (solo: PG)     lpImpulse A-2

            Mister C (solo: BM, PG, UG)          lpImpulse A-2

7865    I’ve Got News for You*       Impulse 202, lpImpulse A-2, lpABC415, lpABCS415

 

Ray Charles (Hammond C3 organ, vocals*); John Frosk, Phil Guilbeau, Jimmy Nottingham, Clark Terry, Joe Wilder (trumpet); Jimmy Cleveland, Urbie Green, Keg Johnson, George Matthews (trombone); George Dorsey, Earl Warren (alto saxophone); Budd Johnson, Seldon Powell (tenor saxophone); Haywood Henry (baritone saxophone); Sam Herman (guitar); Joe Benjamin (bass); Roy Haynes (drums). Arranged and conducted by Ralph Burns [RB] or Quincy Jones [QJ]. Prod. Creed Taylor.

                        Rudy Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, NJ, December 27, 1960

            The Birth of the Blues [RB]            lpImpulse A-2

7431    One Mint Julep* [QJ]          Impulse 200, lpImpulse A-2, lpABC415, lpABCS415

7866    I’m Gonna Move to the Outskirts of Town* [QJ] (solo: CT, PG)           Impulse 202, lpImpulse A-2, lpABC415, lpABCS415

same, but add Frank Foster (tenor saxophone):

            Let’s Go [RB] (solo: FF, PG)           Impulse 200, lpImpulse A-2, Impulse 202, lpImpulse A-2, lpABC415, lpABCS415

 

* Ray Charles and Betty Carter – LP ABC-Paramount ABC(S)385

Ray Charles (vocals, piano); Betty Carter (vocals) with the Jack Halloran Singers; Bill Pittman (guitar); Edgar Willis (bass); Mel Lewis (drums). Arranged by Marty Paich. Produced by Sid Feller.

                        United Studios, Hollywood, June 13, 1961

10386  Goodbye / We’ll Be Together Again          ABC10298, lpABC385

10387  Alone Together         lpABC385

10388  Ev’ry Time We Say Goodbye         lpABC385

10389  For All We Know     lpABC385

10390  Cocktails for Two     lpABC385

 

Ray Charles (vocals, piano); Betty Carter (vocals); Don Fagerquist, Phil Guilbeau, John Hunt, Al Porcino, Ray Triscari (trumpet); Harry Betts, Richard Nash, Frank Rosolino, Kenneth Shroyer (trombone); Hank Crawford (alto saxophone); David Newman (tenor saxophone); Leroy Cooper (baritone saxophone); Bill Pittman (guitar); Edgar Willis (bass); Bruno Carr, Mel Lewis (drums). Arranged by Marty Paich. Produced by Sid Feller.

                        United Studios, Hollywood, June 14, 1961

10391  You and I (solo: DN) lpABC385

10392  It Takes Two to Tango        lpABC385

10393  Side by Side (solo: DN)        lpABC385

10394  Baby It’s Cold Outside        ABC10298, lpABC385

10395  Together        lpABC385

10396  People Will Say We’re in Love       lpABC385

10397  Just You Just Me (solo: DN)           lpABC385

 

* Ray Charles Greatest Hits - LP ABC-Paramount ABC(S)415

Ray Charles (vocals, piano); Phil Guilbeau (trumpet); John Hunt (flugelhorn); Hank Crawford (alto saxophone); David Newman (tenor saxophone); Leroy Cooper (baritone saxophone); Edgar Willis (bass); Bruno Carr (drums); the Raelets: Gwen Berry, Margie Hendrix, Pat Lyles, Darlene McCrea. Arranged by Ray Charles. Produced by Sid Feller.

                        Bell Sound Studio, New York, July 5, 1961

10433  Unchain My Heart (solo: DN)        ABC10266, lpABC415 (this version is on the mono LP)

10433  Unchain My Heart (alt. take) (solo: DN)    lpABCS415 (this version is on the stereo LP only)

10434  Hit the road Jack (solo: MH)          ABC10244, lpABC415, lpABCS415

same, but omit the Raelets:

10435  The Danger Zone      ABC10244, lpABC415, lpABCS415

10436  But on the Other Hand Baby          ABC10266, lpABC415 lpABCS415

 

* Modern Sounds in Country & Western Music (Volume one) – LP ABC-Paramount ABC(S)410

Ray Charles (vocals, piano); Martin Banks, Wallace Davenport, Phil Guilbeau (trumpet); John Hunt (flugelhorn); Jim Harbert, Keg Johnson, George Matthews, Dickie Wells (trombone); Rudy Powell (alto saxophone), Hank Crawford (alto saxophone, band leader); David Newman, Don Wilkerson (tenor saxophone); Leroy Cooper (baritone saxophone); Sonny Forriest (guitar); Edgar Willis (bass); Bruno Carr (drums); the Raelets: Gwen Berry, Margie Hendrix, Pat Lyles, Darlene McCrea. Arranged and conducted by Gerald Wilson. Produced by Sid Feller.

                        Capitol Studios, New York, February 5, 1962

10747  Bye Bye Love lpABC410

same, but omit the Raelets:

10748  Careless Love            ABC10345, lpABC410

10749  Hey Good Lookin’    lpABC410

same, but arranged by Gil Fuller:

10750  Half as Much (solo: DW)     lpABC410

 

Ray Charles (vocals, piano); Martin Banks, Wallace Davenport, Phil Guilbeau (trumpet); John Hunt (flugelhorn); Jim Harbert, Keg Johnson, George Matthews, Dickie Wells (trombone); Rudy Powell (alto saxophone), Hank Crawford (alto saxophone, band leader); David Newman, Don Wilkerson (tenor saxophone); Leroy Cooper (baritone saxophone); Sonny Forriest (guitar); Edgar Willis (bass); Bruno Carr (drums). Arranged and conducted by Gerald Wilson [GW] or Gil Fuller [GF]. Produced by Sid Feller.

                        Capitol Studios, New York, February 7, 1962

10755  Just a Little Lovin’ (Will Go a Long Way) [GW] (solo: DN)        lpABC410

10758  It Makes No Difference Now [GF]  lpABC410

* (non-LP tracks session)

Ray Charles (vocals, piano) with same as above. Arranged by Ray Charles.

                        United Studios, Hollywood, February 12, 1962

10763  At the Club (add one male and one female vo)       ABC10314

10764  Hide nor Hair (solo: DN)     ABC10314

 

* Modern Sounds in Country & Western Music (Volume one) – LP ABC-Paramount ABC(S)410

Ray Charles (vocals, piano); Victor Arno, Arnold Belnick, James Getzoff, Alfred Lustgarten, Leonard Malarsky, Amerigo Marino, Paul Shure, Felix Slatkin, Marshall Sosson, Joe Stepansky, Darrel Terwilliger, Gerald Vinci (violin); Joseph DiFiore, Alvin Dinkin, Allan Harshman, Virginia Majewski, Alexander Neiman, Paul Robyn (viola); Victor Gottlieb, Armand Kaproff, Edgar Lustgarten, Eleanor Slatkin (cello); Stella Castelucci (harp); Alton Hendrickson (guitar); Joe Comfort (bass); Earl Palmer (drums); the Randy Van Horne Singers. Arranged by Marty Paich. Produced by Sid Feller.

                        United Studios, Hollywood, February 15, 1962 [AFMCs.#]

10765  I Love You So Much It Hurts         lpABC410

10766  You Don’t Know Me            lpABC410

10767  I Can’t Stop Loving You     ABC10330, lpABC410

10768  Born to Lose ABC10330, lpABC410

10769  You Win Again         lpABC410

10770  Worried Mind           lpABC410

 

* Modern Sounds in Country & Western Music, Volume Two – LP ABC-Paramount ABC(S)435

Ray Charles (vocals, piano); Marcus Belgrave, Wallace Davenport, Phil Guilbeau (trumpet); John Hunt (flugelhorn); Henderson Chambers, Leon Comegys, Jim Harbert, Keg Johnson (trombone); Hank Crawford, Rudy Powell (alto saxophone); David Newman, Don Wilkerson (tenor saxophone); Leroy Cooper (baritone saxophone); Sonny Forriest (guitar); Edgar Willis (bass); Bruno Carr (drums); the Raelets*: Gwen Berry, Margie Hendrix, Pat Lyles, Darlene McCrea. Arranged by Gerald Wilson. Produced by Sid Feller.

                        Capitol Studios, New York, September 5, 1962

11061  You Are My Sunshine* (solo: MH) ABC10375, lpABC435

11062  Midnight        lpABC435

11063  Someday (You’ll Want Me to Want You)   lpABC435

11064  Don’t Tell Me Your Troubles* (solo: DN) lpABC435

 

Ray Charles (vocals, piano); Marcus Belgrave, Wallace Davenport, Phil Guilbeau (trumpet); John Hunt (flugelhorn); Henderson Chambers, Leon Comegys, Jim Harbert, Keg Johnson (trombone); Hank Crawford, Rudy Powell (alto saxophone); David Newman, Don Wilkerson (tenor saxophone); Leroy Cooper (baritone saxophone); Sonny Forriest (guitar); Edgar Willis (bass); Bruno Carr (drums). Arranged by Gerald Wilson. Produced by Sid Feller.

                        Capitol Studios, New York, September 6, 1962

11065  Oh Lonesome Me (solo: DN)          lpABC435

11066  No Letter Today       ABC10435, lpABC435

 

Ray Charles (vocals, piano) with the Jack Halloran Singers and strings Arranged and conducted by Marty Paich. Produced by Sid Feller.

                        Capitol Studios, New York, September 7, 1962

11067  Your Cheating Heart           ABC10375, lpABC435

11068  Making Believe         ABC10481, lpABC435

11069  I’ll Never Stand in Your Way        lpABC435

11070  Take These Chains from My Heart           ABC10435, lpABC435

11071  Hang Your Head in Shame             lpABC435

11072  Teardrops in My Heart       lpABC435

 

* Bonus track, from The Fabulous Artistry of Ray Charles – LP Hollywood 505:

Ray Charles (vocals, piano); Fleming Askew, Billy Brooks (trumpet); Earl Brown, Marshall Royal (alto saxophone); Maurice Simon, Stanley Turrentine (tenor saxophone); Charles Waller (baritone saxophone); Eddie Lang (guitar); Frank “Naim Ahmad” McClure (bass); Eddie Piper (drums). Arranged by Ray Charles. Produced by Lloyd Glenn.

                        Universal Studios, Los Angeles, May 1951

“Going to the River” [Misery in My Heart alternate take]       lpHollywood 505



FA5692 Fats Domino



THE INDISPENSABLE
Fats
Domino
1949-1962
The Fat Man
Blueberry Hill
I’m Walkin’
Mardi-Gras
in New Orleans
Goin’ Home
Rockin’ Chair
Blue Monday
Whole Lotta Loving
Shu Rah
My Blue Heaven
The Indispensable Fats Domino 1949-1962
par Bruno Blum
Il n’y a pas de précurseurs, il n’y a que des retardataires.
— Jean Cocteau
Fats Domino fut rien moins que la première véritable superstar du rock ­– des années avant Little Richard, Bill Haley1 et Elvis Presley2.
On dirait que beaucoup pensent que j’ai lancé cette affaire. Mais le rock ‘n’ roll était là bien
avant que j’arrive. Il faut regarder les choses en face: Je ne peux pas chanter comme Fats Domino. Je le sais.
— Elvis Presley
Fats Domino fut l’un des plus gros vendeurs de disques des années 1950. Au point que ses énormes succès comme Blueberry Hill ou I’m Walkin’ ont fait beaucoup d’ombre au reste de sa discographie, qui est d’une grande qualité et d’une grande variété. Qui se souvient de son piano boogie virtuose, de ses blues très sentis, de ses charmantes balades candides ou de ses rocks au tempo rapide ?
Dans un contexte de ségrégation raciale sévère, il fut de loin l’artiste noir le plus célèbre des années rock originelles, devançant très largement Little Richard et Chuck Berry en popularité. Ses douze ans avec les disques Imperial ont rendu possible l’inimaginable triomphe du rock originel, authentique, et ce dès 1950. Avec naturel, simplicité et gentillesse, cet artiste consensuel était capable d’alterner des blues et de vieilles chansons populaires avec des rocks nerveux qui ont fait fredonner et danser toute une génération. C’est en partenariat avec son brillant producteur et arrangeur Dave Bartholomew que Fats Domino a séduit l’Amérique avec son éternel sourire, ses chansons gaies, aux rimes directes et efficaces. Little Richard reprenait ses chansons sur scène et emprunta bientôt son équipe, avec laquelle il enregistra à son tour une série de grands succès essentiels3.
Il était tout pour moi. Je me suis senti honoré de lui serrer la main. Je ressens toujours cela pour Fats Domino.
— Little Richard
Modeste, bon enfant et père de famille, avec l’aide des meilleurs musiciens de la Nouvelle-Orléans Fats Domino a créé un style original extrêmement influent qui marqua profondément Little Richard, Elvis Presley, jusqu’aux Beatles, aux artistes de soul et aux musiciens de reggae jamaïcains (sa partie de piano à contretemps sur It Keeps Rainin’ en 1960 est étrangement annonciatrice du reggae). Solide pianiste au style personnel, avec ses très influents triolets comme marque de fabrique, utilisant un rythme personnel bien à lui, chanteur à la voix douce, sincère et touchante, cet homme simple et sans façons était issu d’une famille nombreuse pauvre. C’est tout naturellement qu’il a accompli la synthèse de l’héritage créole et afro-caribéen des musiques populaires de la Nouvelle-Orléans, ville-clé et ville source des musiques afro-américaines au XXe siècle4. Le brillant Fats Domino s’est révélé capable de propulser son héritage créole français au sommet et de séduire le grand public blanc, comme le grand pionnier de l’intégration Louis Armstrong l’avait fait un quart de siècle plus tôt, toujours à partir de la Nouvelle-Orléans. Sous la pression du succès, à partir de 1957 après sept ans d’un prolifique et lucratif âge d’or, il fut amené à enregistrer de plus en plus de chansons commerciales éloignées de son vrai style — elles ont été écartées ici —, ce qui annonça sa chute. Après plus de cinquante impensables et énormes succès de blues et de rock dans son pays, Fats Domino, héros populaire d’une génération, sombra presque dans l’oubli après ses dernières séances pour Imperial en 1962. Ce coffret met en valeur ses meilleurs enregistrements, dont un grand nombre de morceaux négligés auxquels ses grands succès ont fait beaucoup d’ombre. Ils ont été sélectionnés parmi plus de deux cents titres pour la plupart gravés pour Imperial avec Dave Bartholomew et son équipe. Détestant de plus en plus les tournées, le chanteur refusa finalement de quitter sa ville (il bouda même une invitation à jouer à la Maison Blanche) et vécut le reste de sa vie en famille dans une jolie maison construite dans son quartier populaire, qu’il n’a jamais quitté — et où il se déplaçait dans sa Cadillac Eldorado rose.
Vacherie
Plusieurs générations de la famille Domino ont vécu et travaillé en tant qu’esclaves dans les immenses plantations de canne à sucre de Vacherie, au bord du Mississippi, à une cinquantaine de kilomètres à l’ouest de la ville. Le premier Domino recensé dans la région était un mulâtre répondant lui aussi au nom d’Antoine Domino, né à Vacherie en 1824. Il faisait vraisemblablement partie d’une famille déjà substantielle. Émeline, la mère de Carmelite (grand-mère de Fats Domino), avait été séparée de son mari et vendue en 1860; Carmelite vécut en domestique sur la plantation Gold Star où elle eut quatre enfants, dont le dernier fut le père de Fats Domino. Elle était une sage-femme respectée, une experte en herboristerie et prêtresse animiste héritière de traditions africaines mystérieuses, capable de faire le bien comme le mal selon la tradition hoodoo qui imprègne la culture et la musique de la Louisiane5. Avant de décéder âgée en 1944, elle put admirer son petit-fils de seize ans maîtriser le piano. Mais jamais cette fille d’esclave n’aurait pu imaginer ce qui allait suivre6.
C’est en 1682 que l’explorateur René-Robert Cavelier de la Salle donna son nom à la Louisiane en l’honneur du roi de France, Louis XIV. La France céda la Louisiane à l’Espagne lors du traité de Paris en 1763 (elle sera restituée à la France en 1800 puis vendue aux États-Unis le 3 mai 1803), mais la langue française perdura chez les colons français et leurs esclaves, qui étaient de toute façon isolés du reste du monde. Ce fut le cas dans la gigantesque plantation Laura à Vacherie. Vers 1800 la révolution haïtienne mit en fuite des planteurs francophones qui s’installèrent dans la région avec des milliers d’esclaves. En 1811, plus de cinq cents esclaves haïtiens se révoltèrent et furent massacrés. Certains rejoinrent des camps de marrons et quelques-uns trouvèrent la liberté; comme les nombreux esclaves cubains exilés à la Nouvelle-Orléans, ils ont beaucoup contribué à l’identité afro-caribéenne de la Louisiane, mise en évidence ici sur des titres comme Mardi-Gras in New Orleans ou Don’t You Hear Me Calling You7. À la suite de cette insurrection, l’oppression et les conditions de vie des esclaves devinrent plus terribles encore. Leur souffrance inspira des chants de travail et des spirituals visant à élever l’âme qui sont à la racine de nombre de musiques afro-américaines, dont celle de Fats Domino8.
Creole Love Call
La ségrégation raciale était impitoyable et divisait jusqu’aux Afro-américains eux-mêmes9. Néanmoins les francophones à peau claire (qui jouissaient de privilèges) comme de peau foncée s’appelaient eux-mêmes «créoles» pour se distinguer des Africains fraîchement débarqués ou des esclaves en provenance du nord. Les French Creoles parlaient le patois, s’entraidaient, s’efforçaient de préserver leur identité afro-américaine (musique, langues, religions). Ils ne se mélangeaient pas avec les esclaves anglophones dont les velléités de résistance avaient été brisées par des manipulations psychologiques et des mauvais traitements; Les Créoles francophones étaient à part. Calice et Donatile Domino étaient de fiers Créoles qui élevèrent leurs sept enfants sur la plantation Webre-Streib à Vacherie (une section de l’immense plantation Laura) où Calice était laboureur. Catholiques, ils vivaient sur un continent très majoritairement protestant. Ils travaillaient très dur et produisaient en outre leurs propres fruits et légumes pour subvenir à leur alimentation. La famille nombreuse organisait des fêtes le samedi soir où Gustave, le frère de Calice, dirigeait un orchestre. Toute la famille chantait et participait dans la tradition africaine où la musique est l’expression même de la vie. Le dimanche après la messe, ils faisaient à nouveau la fête, ce qui ne se faisait pas chez les protestants.
Nouvelle-Orléans
Vers 1926, Gustave et Calice, Donatile et leurs enfants se sont installés dans les marais récemment asséchés du Lower Ninth Ward, un quartier noir de la Nouvelle-Orléans où n’existaient encore que des chemins de terre, sans réverbères, ni électricité ni téléphone. En tentant leur chance à la ville, à une heure de route de Vacherie, ils espéraient travailler moins dur. Ils laissèrent derrière eux une grande famille et au moins un siècle d’habitudes familiales. Ils apportèrent au cœur de la Nouvelle-Orléans une culture créole rurale et sa musique particulière, héritée de l’esclavage, riche en chants de travail, nourrie de negro spirituals, de blues rural et de chansons des campagnes comme celle qui inspira The Rooster Song (Bo-Weevil est par ailleurs une chanson évoquant le nom d’un parasite du coton, l’anthonome)10.
Antoine Dominique Domino, Jr. dit Fats Domino naquit le 26 février 1928 au 1937 Jourdan Avenue sur la rive du grand canal Industrial, dans le sud de la neuvième circonscription de la Nouvelle-Orléans. Il restera vivre dans ce quartier pauvre jusqu’à la destruction de sa maison par l’ouragan Katrina, qui faillit lui coûter la vie le 29 août 2005. Antoine Junior était le huitième et dernier enfant d’Antoine Domino dit Calice et de son épouse Donatile (née Gros), une femme noire de petite taille, aux ancêtres haïtiens, dont les cheveux raides trahissaient un métissage indien. Les indiens Choctaws sont les indigènes de la région; des Apaches Lipan, déplacés et réduits en esclavage par les Français, s’étaient en outre mélangés aux Choctaws. Le gamin était un peu timide, solitaire et plutôt mince. Il allait à l’école Macarty sur l’avenue Caffin où il déménagerait pour de bon en 1950, et jouait au baseball avec ses frères sur la digue voisine; admirateur de Joe Louis, il pratiquait la boxe. Comme toute la famille il aimait la musique et chantait le week-end dans les soirées entre voisins où son père jouait du violon, ses frères Aristile et John de la batterie et de la trompette. Le jeune Antoine avait dix ans quand ses parents acquirent un piano d’occasion très usé. C’est son beau-frère le banjoïste Harrison Verrett (mari de sa sœur Philonese) qui lui enseigna les accords et inscrit les notes sur le clavier. L’enfant se passionna aussitôt pour le piano, au point que l’instrument fut installé dans le garage pour qu’il puisse mieux s’y consacrer. La musique devint son obsession. Il s’y plongea totalement, apprenant les chansons entendues à la radio, jouant du boogie sur le piano de l’école pour ses copains. Les artistes noirs radiodiffusés étaient très rares, et il adorait «A Ticket a Tasket» (1938), le premier succès d’Ella Fitzgerald qui passait parfois sur les ondes. Accaparé par le piano, Antoine ne faisait pas ses devoirs, et fut même recalé au catéchisme. À l’âge de dix ans, après seulement quatre ans dans une école élémentaire très pauvre, il arrêta ses études pour travailler et devint l’assistant d’un livreur de glace (il n’y avait ni électricité ni réfrigérateurs dans le quartier). Palefrenier dans une écurie, il tondit le gazon de l’hippodrome et de la maison des Blancs où Philonese travaillait comme domestique. Puis ce fut une boulangerie et une usine de café. En ces temps incertains Antoine aimait beaucoup manger et adorait les belles voitures.
Boogie Woogie
Il apprit bientôt le difficile et très influent «Pine Top’s Boogie Woogie» (1928) de Clarence «Pinetop» Smith, en quelque sorte le morceau fondateur du rock, entendu sur le juke-boxe du bar voisin de l’atelier de mécanique de son cousin Joe Cousin où il lavait des voitures et aidait aux réparations. C’est aussi là qu’il découvrit le géant Louis Jordan, «Low Down Dog» de Big Joe Turner, les pianistes de boogie Meade Lux Lewis et les pianistes chanteurs Albert Ammons, Amos Milburn (il copiait son style de chant), Charles Brown et Nat «King» Cole, qui ont formé son style.
Au début des années 1940 Antoine et ses frères sont allés voir le spectacle de vaudeville de Big Alma, qui était suivi de plusieurs films. Il ne ratait pas un film des chanteurs de country Gene Autry et Roy Rogers qui marqueraient son style pour toujours — un métissage qui contribuerait à son succès. Mais les spectacles étaient chers et Antoine se produisait surtout dans les fêtes de famille avec ses beaux-frères Harrison Verrett à la guitare et Stevens à la batterie. Philomena, une autre de ses sœurs, avait transformé le garage en bar et vendait de la bière aux participants — le premier public du futur Fats Domino. Verrett l’emmena travailler en Californie, puis à l’un de ses concerts avec le Tuxedo Jazz Band (avec Oscar «Papa» Celestin) où il le présenta au patron du restaurant The Court of Two Sisters dans le quartier français. En quelques minutes, son boogie au piano lui rapporta huit ou neuf dollars et il décida de devenir professionnel. En 1946 le jeune homme forma un duo avec le saxophoniste ténor Robert «Buddy» Hagans, un adepte d’Illinois Jacquet, Gene Ammons, Chu Berry, Coleman Hawkins et de la grande idole noire de la Louisiane, Louis Armstrong. Ils furent rejoints par le batteur Victor Leonard et le guitariste Rupert Robertson. Après quelques bars, un premier avant-goût de célébrité vint à l’été 1947 quand Paul Gayten, la nouvelle star locale du blues, invita l’adolescent à jouer son morceau de bravoure, le difficile «Swanee River Boogie» d’Albert Ammons où il brillait au piano (il le gravera plus tard sous le nom de Swanee River Hop). Domino joua son premier grand concert dans l’orchestre de Billy Diamond au Rockfort Pavilion peu après avec Harrison Verrett à la guitare. Rosemary Hall, dix-sept ans, a enfin accepté de venir applaudir le pianiste. Ils se marièrent peu après le 6 août 1947 chez les parents de Rosemary (chez qui Fats s’installa), devant le révérend Harzell de l’African Methodist Episcopal Church, le premier temple afro-américain, fondée en 1816 en signe de protestation contre l’esclavage et les discriminations envers les Noirs. Domino aimait la vie de famille et ne quittera jamais Rosemary. Peu après il trouva un travail dans une fabrique de lits où il posait les sommiers sur les montants; Buddy Hagans y fabriquait les ressorts.

Rock and Roll

Le pianiste rencontra alors Dave Bartholomew, un ambitieux trompettiste de jazz «swing» devenu chanteur, compositeur, arrangeur et directeur d’une formation orientée vers ce que l’on appelait alors le blues — et, quand joué à un tempo plus rapide, le jump blues apprécié par les danseurs acrobatiques du lindy hop11. Mais selon leur définition musicologique, ces musiques étaient déjà ce que l’on appellerait bientôt du rock and roll, un genre dynamique plébiscité par les jeunes danseurs des circuits noirs. À cette époque où le jazz moderne de Dizzy Gillespie, Thelonious Monk et Charlie Parker surgissait avec une sophistication et une ambition artistique inédites, de plus en plus de formations de swing démodées — comme celle de Bartholomew — se tournaient vers ce blues accéléré, très dansant, simple et efficace. La guitare électrique, un instrument encore nouveau, apportait un vent de fraîcheur au son vents-piano des formations de jazz traditionnelles12. En 1947 dans le magazine Billboard les musiques noires étaient toujours classées à part, sans distinction de style, sous le titre de «Race Records» : un terme ouvertement raciste dans un contexte de ségrégation raciale radicale, imposée par la loi et une répression sans pitié13. Les premiers disques de rock venaient des studios de Californie et incluaient «Rock Woogie» (Jim Wynn’s Bobalibans, 1945), «Rockin’ the House» (Memphis Slim and the House Rockers, 1946), «We’re Gonna Rock», «Rock and Roll» (Wild Bill Moore, 1947 et 1948). Notre coffret Race Records, Black Rock Music Forbidden on U.S. Radio 1942-1955 (FA 5600) replace ces essentiels titres oubliés dans leur contexte et retrace en détail l’histoire de cette période où les artistes afro-américains passaient encore très rarement à la radio : ils se faisaient connaître par des concerts dans le chitlin’ circuit noir et les juke-boxes des ghettos14.
1947 fut l’année où la première émission de radio diffusant de la musique noire à la Nouvelle-Orléans, The Poppa Stoppa Show, apparut sur WMJR (avec un animateur blanc formé au «jive» et encadré par le disc jockey noir Vernon Winslow). Calquant sa programmation sur les disques les plus populaires entendus dans les juke-boxes des établissements noirs, Winslow décupla le succès de «Good Rockin’ Tonight», un morceau à la gloire de la fête et du sexe interprété par Roy Brown, un natif de la Nouvelle-Orléans qui avait débuté en chantant du gospel. Avec ce titre essentiel, un concentré de la tradition de la ville, l’histoire du rock tenait son premier hymne. Il fallait faire vite : la radio permettait maintenant de promouvoir le rock qui, après avoir été étiqueté «jump blues» un temps, commençait à être présenté sous la nouvelle étiquette «rhythm and blues». L’orchestre de Dave Bartholomew avait un son original, d’actualité; il était déjà l’archétype et le modèle à suivre du rock and roll qui se cherchait. Avec le génial Earl Palmer à la batterie sa formation était l’une des meilleures de la ville —surpassant même celle de Paul Gayten. Elle était en train de devenir l’une des plus populaires de la région. C’est contre l’avis de Bartholomew qu’Earl Palmer invita Domino à jouer quelques morceaux pendant la pause de l’orchestre. Le public apprécia le pianiste, mais Palmer a été réprimandé par son patron pour avoir invité le jeune homme sur scène. Ce fut le premier contact entre les trois hommes, qui allaient bientôt devenir ensemble une machine à succès.

Hide Away Blues

L’ouverture du Club Desire nouvellement agrandi eut lieu dans la neuvième circonscription nord avec Dave Bartholomew en tête d’affiche lors du Mardi Gras 1948. Le groupe de Billy Diamond devint ensuite l’orchestre maison et Domino commença à se faire connaître avec lui au Desire. Le 15 mai 1948 Buddy Hagans et Antoine Domino prirent leur carte de membre au syndicat des musiciens noirs de la Nouvelle-Orléans. Cette adhésion payante leur donnait accès aux lieux du centre ville comme le Robin Hood sur Jackson, où ils se produirent en duo à la même affiche qu’Annie Laurie, Paul Gayten et Billy Diamond, qui le présenta sur scène sous le nom de Fats («gras») Domino. Rendu furieux par ce sobriquet péjoratif, le jeune homme faisait déjà quatre-vingts kilos et n’a jamais pu se débarrasser de ce nom disgracieux mais facile à retenir, qui rappelait celui du grand pianiste «stride» Fats Waller. Et puis l’épouse de Fats était experte en cuisine créole française, si spéciale, et il ne cessait de grossir. Fats accompagna même Roy Brown avec le groupe de Diamond, mais perdit cet engagement parce que bien qu’invité à le faire, il avait osé chanter du Roy Brown pendant l’intermède instrumental.
Puis le pianiste fut engagé à jouer — et chanter — tous les week-ends au Hideaway Club, deux rues plus loin. Il forma son propre groupe pour répondre à cette proposition. Mal habillé, proche du peuple, timide, souriant, simple, placide, le talentueux Fats appréciait ce lieu populaire où il donnait toute sa mesure. En quelques semaines, ses reprises virtuoses de «Flying Home», «Swanee River Boogie» et le jeu de scène très dynamique de ses musiciens ont rendu les danseurs extatiques. Fats reprenait la chanson traditionnelle «Junker’s Blues» (un succès de 1941 par Champion Jack Dupree, un pianiste de la Nouvelle-Orléans). Il en fit un rock très dansant qui, une fois les paroles modifiées, deviendrait l’année suivante son premier succès, The Fat Man15.
Au cours de la campagne pour l’élection présidentielle de 1948, le président par intérim Harry Truman (Democrat, gauche américaine) lança une série de mesures contre la ségrégation raciale, notamment dans l’armée, ce qui permit à un grand nombre d’afro-américains de s’inscrire sur les listes électorales dont ils étaient jusque-là évincés par les forces racistes du pays. L’élection de Truman à la présidence le 2 novembre fut fêtée par un concert de charité au profit de la NAACP, organisation «pour la promotion des gens de couleur» de W. E. B. Du Bois, où Roy Brown et Albert Ammons se produirent. Peu après, Louis Jordan annonça qu’il ne jouerait plus dans des salles où les Afro-américains étaient relégués au seul balcon. Il fut suivi par les vedettes Nat «King» Cole et Dizzy Gillespie tandis que des arrestations de dizaines de Noirs avaient lieu à la Nouvelle-Orléans pour non respect de la ségrégation. Louis Armstrong fit la couverture de Time Magazine au Mardi Gras 1949 après que le maire de la Nouvelle-Orléans lui ait publiquement offert une clé géante — les clés de la ville. Alors que Professor Longhair gravait son premier disque, que Mao prenait le pouvoir en Chine et que commençait la guerre de Corée repoussant les communistes venus du nord, beaucoup de choses commençaient à changer : le milieu du XXe siècle était là.

Imperial Records

En mai 1949, Vernon Winslow devint le premier animateur de radio noir de la ville sur WWEZ. Il était capable de créer des succès régionaux en quelques jours. L’influence de Roy Brown touchait toute la Louisiane. En juin, les classements de musiques «noires» changèrent d’étiquette. Les «race records» disparurent : ils seraient désormais classés sur une page «R&B», acronyme de «rhythm and blues», le nouveau nom (tout aussi raciste) de la musique populaire noire. Un an ou deux plus tard, ce sont les premiers disc jockeys du nord à diffuser ces musiques du sud à la radio qui estimeront que les termes «race records» et «R&B» étaient trop racistes. Ils leur préfèreraient bientôt le nom de «rock ‘n’ roll», et ce en dépit de la connotation ouvertement sexuelle du terme «rock». Le DJ Blanc Duke «Poppa Stoppa» Thiele continuait son émission «R&B» sans le Noir Winslow, viré parce qu’il avait osé dire un mot à l’antenne. Des musiciens de toute la ville affluaient pour découvrir Fats, qui bondait le Hideaway et faisait sensation. Fin novembre 1949, c’est Dave Bartholomew en personne qui entra au Hideaway pour découvrir le spectacle bien rodé de Fats Domino. Il était accompagné de Lew Chudd (né Louis Chudnofsky), un homme d’affaires blanc né de parents juifs qui avaient fui la Russie tsariste. Chudd avait été naturalisé américain six ans plus tôt. Fondateur des disques Imperial, producteur osant financer des musiques latines et d’autres musiques du monde, il comprenait à la fois l’importance, la qualité et le potentiel commercial des musiques afro-américaines, qui étaient encore largement discriminées et négligées. Comme tant de producteurs juifs à cette époque, il n’avait pas (ou moins) de préjugés racistes (elle aussi victime de discrimination, la petite minorité juive vivait souvent dans les quartiers populaires peuplés par des Noirs). Un nombre significatif de Juifs investissait dans les cruciales musiques afro-américaines que Chudd appréciait, parmi lesquels Alfred Lion (Blue Note), les frères Bihari (Meteor, Modern, Crown), Art Rupe (Specialty) et à la Nouvelle-Orléans les frères Braun (De Luxe, qui publiaient les succès de Roy Brown).
Lew Chudd arrivait tout droit de son bureau d’Hollywood. Homme de radio, attaché de presse et agent d’orchestres de swing, il avait engagé Dave Bartholomew en 1947 pour repérer les nouveaux talents de la Nouvelle-Orléans. Comme Louis Armstrong, Bartholomew avait étudié la trompette avec Peter Davis. Sa famille était originaire d’Edgard, dans la région des plantations, pas loin de Vacherie d’où les Domino étaient venus. Bien qu’issu d’une famille pauvre, il avait appris à écrire la musique à l’armée et avait déjà derrière lui une belle carrière. Bartholomew avait obtenu un gros succès «R&B», «Country Boy», et avait un style d’arrangement de vents bien à lui. Il réalisa sa première séance d’enregistrement pour Lew Chudd/Imperial dans le seul studio de la ville, J&M. Le patron de J&M était lui aussi issu d’une minorité. D’origine italienne, le jeune Cosimo Matassa, dix neuf ans, vendait du matériel électrique, des disques, et avait installé un minuscule studio à gravure directe sur disque en acétate dans son arrière boutique. Le DJ Duke Thiele invita Chudd et Bartholomew au Hideaway pour y découvrir le pianiste de «boogie» qui bondait la salle. Quand Fats Domino joua son grand succès «Junker’s Blues», Chudd lui proposa un contrat sur le champ. Bartholomew lui proposa d’en réécrire les paroles : The Fat Man était le titre d’un feuilleton radio populaire (basé sur une nouvelle de Dashiell Hammett) - et le surnom de Fats. La chanson revisitée fait allusion aux créoles, descendants des métissages du temps des Français et, prophétiquement, au seul quartier de la ville où Noirs et Blancs se mélangeaient. Le 10 décembre, ils gravaient le morceau avec Earl Palmer à la batterie, Frank Fields à la basse, Ernest McLean à la guitare — et les vents dirigés par Bartholomew. Une semaine plus tôt, le président Truman avait interdit la discrimination raciale dans l’attribution des logements publics.
Rockin’ Chair
Lew Chudd demanda à ce que le disque — au son trop brut — soit réenregistré. Mais son associé Al Young avait déjà apporté des acétates aux DJ (Thiele et Winslow) des radios. The Fat Man fut un succès instantané et Chudd dut aussitôt en fabriquer des milliers d’exemplaires. Au cours des fêtes de Noël 1949, toute la ville entendit des gravures en acétate de la chanson à la radio. Avec son premier chèque d’Imperial, Fats s’est offert un modeste piano droit. Au printemps il fut contraint d’accepter une tournée du sud. Les conditions étaient très dures; la ségrégation, la promiscuité, la pauvreté et la faim y régnaient. Il emportait avec lui une valise pleine de victuailles car tout était fermé la nuit. Ils étaient inconnus et eurent peu de succès mais The Fat Man était connu à San Francisco et la foule leur fit un triomphe inattendu. À leur retour, la chanson avait conquis un nombre énorme de gens, de la Californie à New York et jusqu’en Jamaïque où les premiers sound systems diffuseraient bientôt son premier shuffle Little Bee : son Barrel House et d’autres titres américains sur ce même rythme ont contribué à former le goût des danseurs de toute l’île, annonçant le ska de la décennie suivante16. La première station de radio 100% noire de la Nouvelle-Orléans, WMRY, ouvrit en mai 1950. Elle promouvait aussi les autres productions de Bartholomew, qui enregistra bientôt Big Joe Turner et Lloyd Price, Shirley and Lee17… des titres légendaires et influents comme «Rocket 88» (au même riff de vents que «Fat Man») et «Lawdy Miss Clawdy» (avec Fats au piano) étaient influencés par The Fat Man et devinrent d’autres classiques du rock (encore étiqueté «rhythm and blues») après ceux de Domino. Ce qui donne le ton de ce qui suivit. Après la sortie de Little Bee, aux paroles trop suggestives pour la radio, Fats Domino forma un groupe autour de son saxophoniste Buddy Hagans (voir discographie) et le jeune héroïnomane Papoose Nelson (le guitariste de Professor Longhair, qui était aussi prof de guitare du futur Dr. John). Fats devint la tête d’affiche du club Desire et acheta la maison du 1723 Caffin Avenue. Il s’offrit une bague de diamant qui lui coûta tout son argent. Les succès et les tournées (avec Professor Longhair, Lee Allen, Bartholomew…) se multiplièrent et il signa un nouveau contrat avec Imperial en 1951. Sa revanche sur la pauvreté était en marche. Il avait deux enfants, bientôt trois, et une Studebaker Champion neuve. Mal payé, Dave Bartholomew quitta Imperial fin 1950 et Fats enregistra son premier énorme succès national sans lui, Rockin’ Chair, avec en face B un autre succès, Careless Love, qui annonçait l’arrangement original du futur Blueberry Hill. Fats prit pour avocat Charles Levy, Jr., qui devint son fondé de pouvoirs et pourrait signer les contrats à sa place pendant trente ans. Il acquit alors sa première Cadillac noire. Bill Haley, un chanteur de country blanc de Philadelphie, avait enregistré en juin 1951 son premier rock, une reprise de Jackie Brenston («Rocket 88»), mais sans succès. En avril 1952, il recommença avec une reprise d’un autre titre noir, «Rock the Joint», qui se vendit un peu et contribua à orienter son style vers le rock18.
Rock ‘n’ Roll
Le rock ‘n’ roll rabaisse le Blanc au niveau du Nègre.
— Asa Carter, animateur de radio, politicien, fondateur de The North Alabama White Citizen’s Council et fondateur d’une cellule du Ku Klux Klan.
Dans le nord du pays, des DJ blancs clés, dont Bill Randle et Alan Freed, deux rebelles antiracistes basés à Cleveland, suivaient maintenant leurs collègues du sud comme Gene Nobles à Nashville ou Poppa Stoppa à la Nouvelle-Orléans. Le terme «rock ‘n’ roll» était maintenant de plus en plus largement utilisé par les disc jockeys du nord. En mai 1952, de retour dans sa ville après une tournée, Fats subit une émeute qui fit des dizaines de blessés lors d’un grand concert de bienvenue. En juin, malgré un son laissant à désirer et des imperfections (le saxophone est faux !), Goin’ Home fut son premier numéro un «R&B» et un rare succès noir dans les classements blancs «pop». Les efforts promotionnels de l’intrépide Lew Chudd (qui harcelait les radios) payaient au-delà de leurs espérances.
D’autres succès suivirent, chaque fois d’une meilleure qualité — et toujours plus gros. Dave Bartholomew était revenu, cette fois salarié par Imperial et cosignait tous les morceaux. Il s’occupa désormais de tout mettre en forme tandis que Fats proposait le plus souvent la base des chansons : simples, touchantes, ancrées dans la réalité, évoquant des sentiments partagés par tous. Fats Domino était devenu un phénomène. Sa popularité dépassait celle des rares vedettes noires de son temps qui étaient parvenues à passer la barrière raciale et placer quelques disques dans les classements «pop» : Louis Armstrong, Count Basie, Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Jordan, Nat «King» Cole… mais en dépit de cette gloire inespérée, la ségrégation forçait toujours l’équipe à cuisiner dans leurs chambres misérables en tournée. Lors d’un concert dans le nord, le chanteur de première partie Jimmy Gilchrist mourut d’une dose trop forte d’héroïne (remplacé un temps par Screamin’ Jay Hawkins) tandis que le guitariste Papoose était arrêté pour détention d’héroïne. Fats, lui, abusait de l’alcool (légal) mais d’aucun produit illégal.
En 1953 leur musique inspirait des aspirants rockers comme Buddy Holly, Bobby Charles, Frogman Henry (qui a basé son «Ain’t Got No Home» sur les «woo woo woo woo» de Please Don’t Leave Me19) et Little Richard20. Après plus de deux millions de disques vendus, Fats signa pour neuf ans de plus avec Imperial. Il faudrait encore un an pour qu’Alan Freed refuse de parler de «R&B» ou de «rhythm and blues» à la radio et préfère utiliser systématiquement le terme «rock ‘n’ roll». En 1954 Fats Domino était devenu l’incontestée vedette noire numéro un du pays — mais ses meilleurs et plus énormes succès étaient à venir, comme le montre le remarquable disque n°4 de ce coffret (1955-1957). Son style de rock et de chanson populaire étaient imprégnés d’accents blues dans le chant comme dans les instruments. Les arrangements de Bartholomew étaient copiés un peu partout ; Tout en renouvelant la tradition des instruments à vent de la période swing/jump blues/rhythm and blues, Fats Domino et son équipe avaient, les premiers, défini, gravé dans le marbre et rendu célèbre pour l’éternité le son de la nouvelle musique rock. En 1955 Little Richard leur emprunta leur son, leur style, musiciens et studio avec succès. En 1955-1957 une chanson à succès sur deux avait le son du nouveau studio de Cosimo Matassa, le son de la Nouvelle-Orléans — le son de Fats Domino, qui avait défini le son du rock ‘n’ roll.
Ray Charles, Clyde McPhatter, Little Richard et même son héros de jeunesse Charles Brown tournèrent en première partie de Fats. À partir de 1955 un nombre très important de jeunes blancs affluait aux concerts sans hésiter. Ils défiaient leurs parents, qui approuvaient souvent la ségrégation. Fats Domino dominait le marché du rock et plus que tout autre jusque là, faisait reculer la ségrégation raciale. Il chantait maintenant dans des salles «blanches» en plus des autres. La corde séparant les publics noir et blanc dans les salles était parfois physiquement piétinées, réunissant les jeunes sans discrimination et déchaînant la répression policière. Ses dizaines de succès figuraient parfois dans les classements «pop» — c’est à dire blancs — en plus des meilleures ventes «R&B». Des artistes blancs comme Pat Boone, Ricky Nelson, The Fontana Sisters, Bill Haley, Teresa Brewer ou Gale Storm obtinrent une ribambelle de succès «pop» bien plus importants que les siens en reprenant ses compositions (ce qui était un symbole de discrimination), souvent de façon édulcorée. Les droits d’auteur revenaient en partie à Domino et Bartholomew. La tendance était à donner la nouvelle étiquette vendeuse de «rock ‘n’ roll» aux Blancs qui copiaient le «rhythm and blues», et à réserver cette appellation «R&B» racialement connotée aux seuls Noirs. Mais la ségrégation raciale commençait à chanceler. Après une longue bataille politique, elle était maintenant déclarée «inconstitutionnelle» dans les écoles. Le succès de Fats était une locomotive. Plus que tout autre artiste noir il contribua avec son succès inter racial à lancer le grand Mouvement des Droits Civiques qui, en décembre 1955 exigea la fin de la ségrégation raciale avec à sa tête Martin Luther King21.

Superstar

Je préférais le temps de la ségrégation. On s’amusait bien plus.
— Dave Bartholomew
«Heartbreak Hotel» et «Blue Suede Shoes» avaient une intro qui rappelait beaucoup celle de Ain’t That a Shame, un succès immense — et la première chanson apprise par John Lennon. L’irruption d’Elvis Presley à l’été 1954 avait apporté au rock un interprète blanc, un séducteur, un roi. Et une couleur musicale différente, teintée de guitares country et de sobriété instrumentale22. Après le succès de «Rock Around the Clock» en 1955, Bill Haley et Elvis furent présentés comme les pionniers du rock alors que des dizaines de chanteurs noirs les avaient précédés, Fats en tête23. Pendant la mode nationale du rock très controversée de 1955 à 1958, et alors qu’Elvis atteint une notoriété invraisemblable en 1956, le succès de Fats Domino redoubla. Il resta au sommet des ventes R&B du printemps 1956 à l’été 1957 et deviendrait le n°2 des champions des ventes de la décennie, juste derrière son ami, concurrent et soutien Elvis Presley. En mars, il avait pas moins quatre titres dans le Top 100 du Billboard, un record.
Les péripéties liées à sa condition de superstar du rock ne lui ont pas été épargnées : émeutes à répétition, bagarres générales, concerts à guichets fermés, scandales, répression, drogues dans son entourage, alcoolisme, groupies, hystérie médiatique, provocations racistes, intimidations mais aussi disques d’or, popularité, pluie de dollars qui fait perdre la tête, succès en Angleterre, télévision à l’Ed Sullivan Show (avec ses musiciens cachés derrière un rideau car noirs), sans oublier le film The Girl Can’t Help It… à Houston la police voulut interdire aux Noirs de danser : Fats refusa de continuer à jouer et la police arrêta le spectacle. Dans la plupart des villes du sud, dont la Nouvelle-Orléans, les concerts integrated où des artistes noirs et blancs alternaient restaient strictement interdits.
À la fin de l’été 1957 Fats Domino avait vendu vingt-cinq millions de disques dont le chef-d’œuvre Blue Monday et ses chansons étaient écoutées dans le monde entier. Son influence reste incalculable. Les plus grands noms de la décennie suivante adoraient sa musique. Pour les Noirs, son exemple était une véritable catharsis. Alors qu’en 1958 Elvis allait disparaître à l’armée puis sur les plateaux de cinéma d’Hollywood, Fats Domino fut aussi l’un des rares à résister à l’offensive américaine anti-rock de 1957-1962 avec des morceaux vigoureux comme I’m Walkin’, Don’t You Know I Love You, Lazy Woman, Whole Lotta Loving, I’m Ready, Shu Rah, Ain’t That Just Like a Woman, Ain’t Gonna Do It ou Be my Guest — tous des succès rock substantiels. Néanmoins comme tous les artistes de la fin des années 1950, il n’a pas pu battre la vague conservatrice qui considérait la popularité du rock subversive24. Tout en continuant dans la veine rock, il avait dès 1955 enregistré le vieux succès My Blue Heaven à la suggestion des disques Imperial, qui voulaient toucher les vieux en plus des jeunes — et plaire au grand public blanc. Dès cette période, Domino, qui appelait sa femme tous les jours, arrivait de plus en plus en retard aux concerts (quand il ne refusait pas de venir) et ne supportait plus la vie harassante sur la route (340 jours par an). Comme plusieurs chansons le suggèrent, il rêvait de rentrer vivre avec ses six enfants. Il fut encouragé à enregistrer d’autres chansons de variété, aux arrangements chargés, parfois même avec des violons. Déjà gravée par Louis Armstrong, sa splendide reprise de Blueberry Hill fut son plus gigantesque succès «pop» jusqu’en Europe, et jusque dans les classements «country». Ses titres les plus «commerciaux», qui ne se vendaient pas bien et furent vite oubliés, n’ont pas effacé les énormes succès de grande qualité qui ont nourri la musique populaire américaine et du monde jusqu’à la fin de son contrat avec Imperial en 1962 — quand les Beatles ont pris le relais.
Bruno Blum, septembre 2016.
Merci à Rick Coleman, Stéphane Colin et Baptiste Manet.

© FRÉMEAUX & ASSOCIÉS 2017

1. Lire le livret et écouter The Indispensable Bill Haley 1948-1961 (FA 5465) dans cette collection.
2. Lire les livrets et écouter Elvis Presley face à l’histoire de la musique américaine, volume 1 1954-1956 (FA 5361) et vol. 2 1956-1957 (FA 5607) dans cette collection.
3. Lire le livret et écouter The Indispensable Little Richard 1951-1962 (FA 5607) dans cette collection.
4. Lire le livret et écouter New Orleans Roots of Soul 1941- 1962 (FA 5633) dans cette collection.
5. Lire le livret et écouter Voodoo in America 1926-1961 (FA 5375) dans cette collection.
6. Lire la biographie de Rick Coleman Blue Monday - Fats Domino and the Lost Dawn of Rock ‘n’ Roll (Da Capo Press, Cambridge, Massachusets, 2006).
7. Lire les livrets et écouter Haiti Vodou - Folk Trance Possession 1937-1962 (FA 5626) et Haiti - Meringue & Konpa 1952-1962 (FA 5615) dans cette collection.
8. Lire le livret et écouter Slavery in America - Redemption Songs 1914-1972-Musiques issues de l’esclavage aux Amériques (FA 5467) en coédition avec le musée du Quai Branly dans cette collection.
9. Lire le livret et écouter The Color Line 1916-1962 Les artistes africains-américains et la ségrégation raciale (FA 5654) en coédition avec le musée du Quai Branly dans cette collection.
10. Bo-Weevil ne doit pas être confondu avec «Boll Weevil», une chanson traditionnelle dont un enregistrement est inclus sur The Indispensable Eddie Cochran 1955-1960 (FA 5425) dans cette collection.
11. Écouter Dave Bartholomew chanter son remarquable «Another Mule» sur New Orleans Roots of Soul 1941-1962 (FA 5633) dans cette collection.
12. Lire le livret et écouter Electric Guitar Story 1935-1962 (FA 5421) dans cette collection.
13. Lire le livret et écouter The Color Line, Les artistes africains-américains et la ségrégation 1916-1962 (FA 5654) en coédition avec le musée du Quai Branly-Jacques Chirac dans cette collection.
14. Race Records contient un titre de Fats Domino de 1951, No No Baby.
15. La version à succès de «Junker’s Blues» enregistrée en 1941 par Champion Jack Dupree est disponible sur New Orleans Roots of Soul 1941-1962 (FA 5633) dans cette collection.
16. Lire le livret et écouter d’autres titres aux racines du ska dans Roots of Ska - USA Jamaica 1942-1962 (FA 5396) dans cette collection.
17. Produits par Bartholomew, les premiers succès de Shirley and Lee et Lloyd Price sont disponibles sur New Orleans Roots of Soul 1941-1962 (FA 5633) dans cette collection.
18. Lire le livret et écouter The Indispensable Bill Haley 1948-1961 (FA 5465) dans cette collection.
19. «Ain’t Got No Home» par Clarence «Frogman» Henry est disponible dans New Orleans Roots of Soul 1941-1962 (FA 5633) dans cette collection.
20. Lire le livret et écouter The Indispensable Little Richard 1951-1962 (FA 5607) dans cette collection.
21. Lire le livret et écouter Slavery in America - Redemption Songs 1914-1972 Musiques issues de l’esclavage aux Amériques (FA 5467) et The Color Line 1916-1962 Les artistes africains-américains et la ségrégation raciale (FA 5654) en coédition avec le musée du Quai Branly dans cette collection.
22. Lire le livret et écouter Rockabilly 1951-1960 (FA 5423) dans cette collection.
23. Lire le livret et écouter Elvis Presley face à l’histoire de la musique populaire américaine vol. 1 1954-1956 (FA5361) dans cette collection.
24. Lire le livret et écouter Elvis Presley face à l’histoire de la musique populaire américaine vol. 2 1956-1957 (FA 5383) dans cette collection.

The Indispensable Fats Domino 1949-1962
by Bruno Blum

There are no precursors, only latecomers.
— Jean Cocteau
Fats Domino was no less than the first true rock superstar — years before Little Richard, Bill Haley1 and Elvis Presley2.
A lot of people seem to think that I started this business. But rock ‘n’ roll was here a long time before I came along… Let’s face it: I can’t sing like Fats Domino can. I know that. — Elvis Presley
Fats Domino was one of the biggest record sellers of the 1950s. To the point that some of his enormous hit records, such as Blueberry Hill or I’m Walkin’ overshadowed much of his impressive, wide-ranging discography. Who can remember his virtuoso boogie woogie piano, his heartfelt blues, his charming, candid balads or his fast tempo rock? In a severe racial segregation context, he was by far the most famous black artist of the original rock ‘n’ roll years, way more popular than Little Richard and Chuck Berry.
From as early as 1950, his twelve years with Imperial Records made possible the unimaginable triumph of the original, authentic rock music. In his own natural, simple and kind way, this consensual artist was able to alternate blues and old pop songs, as well as create a vigorous rock output that made a whole generation hum and dance. In partnership with his producer and arranger, Dave Bartholomew, Fats Domino seduced America, using his eternal smile and his happy songs, which were full of bold, efficient rhymes. In turn, Little Richard covered his songs and soon borrowed his team, with whom he recorded a series of great, essential hit records3.
He was everything to me. I felt honored just to shake his hand. I still feel that way about Fats Domino.
— Little Richard
A modest, good-natured man and the father of a large family, with the help of some of New Orleans’ best musicians Fats Domino created a very influential musical style that left a deep mark on Little Richard, Elvis Presley, as well as The Beatles, soul artists and Jamaican reggae musicians (his 1960 upbeat piano rhythm on It Keeps Rainin’ was an odd forewarning of reggae music). A solid, original piano player, he made the best out of his influential, trademark triplets and his own rhythms.
This sincere, charming, soft-voiced singer and down-to-earth man came from a large, poor family. It was quite natural that he should accomplish the synthesis of New Orleans’ afro-caribbean and Creole legacy — the source of much of the twentieth century’s popular music4. The brilliant Fats Domino was able to propel his French Creole heritage to the top and appeal to a wide, white audience, as had done a quarter of a century earlier the great pioneer of integration Louis Armstrong — who was also from New Orleans.
Under the pressure of stardom, and after seven years of a prolific and lucrative golden age, from 1957 he was driven to record more and more commercial songs that took him away from his true style — all of these recordings were put aside here —, which heralded his fall. Following more than fifty huge blues and rock hits in his country, Fats Domino, the popular hero of a generation almost sank into oblivion after his last sessions for Imperial in 1962. This set showcases his best recordings, including many overlooked tunes which his big hits eclipsed. They were selected out of more than two hundred titles cut for Imperial, mostly with Dave Bartholomew and his team. As Domino increasingly detested touring, the singer eventually refused to leave his city (even staying away from a show at the White House) and lived for the rest of his life as a family man in a nice house he had built in his working class neighbourhood, which he never left — and where he cruised around in his pink Cadillac Eldorado.

Vacherie

Several generations of the Domino family had lived and worked as slaves on the immense Vacherie sugarcane plantations by the Mississippi’s edge, some thirty miles outside the city. The earliest Domino traced back to the area was also named Antoine, a mulatto born in Vacherie in 1824. It is likely that he was a member of an already substantial family. Émeline, the mother of Carmelite (Fats Domino’s grandmother), was separated from her husband, and sold in 1860. Carmelite lived as a house servant on the Gold Star plantation where she bore four children, the last of which was Fats Domino’s father. She was a respected midwife, a herbal medicine expert and an animist priestess in the local hoodoo tradition, which pervades the culture and music of Louisiana5. Before she deceased in 1944, the old lady had been able to enjoy her grandson’s skills at the piano. But, being the daughter of a slave, she could never have imagined what was to follow6.
It was back in 1682 that explorer René-Robert Cavelier de la Salle gave Louisiana its name, as a tribute to Louis XIV, the King of France at that time. France sold Louisiana to Spain at the Paris treaty in 1763 (it was later returned to France in 1800, then sold to the United States in 1803), but the French language endured through French colonists and their slaves, which were isolated from the rest of the world anyway. This was the case on the gigantic Laura plantation in Vacherie. Around 1800, as a result of the Haitian revolution, many French-speaking planters moved to Louisiana with thousands of slaves. In 1811, five hundred haitian slaves rose up and were massacred. Some managed to join maroon camps and a few found freedom. As did many Cuban slaves exiled in New Orleans, they had a big input on Louisiana’s afro-caribbean identity, as evidenced on titles such as Mardi-Gras in New Orleans or Don’t You Hear Me Calling You7. Following this insurrection, the situation and oppression of slaves got even harsher. Their sufferings inspired many work songs and spirituals aiming to uplift the soul, all of which lay at the root of so many African-American musics, including Fats Domino’s8.


Creole Love Call
Racial segregation was merciless, and it divided even African-Americans9. However, the French-speaking light skinned (who enjoyed some privileges) as well as the dark skinned all called themselves creoles to differentiate themselves from recently disembarked Africans, or slaves deported from the North. French Creoles spoke patois, helped each other, and strived to maintain their African-American identity through music, language and religion. They did not mix with English-speaking slaves, whose resistance leanings had been broken by psychological manipulation and mistreatment. The French Creoles set themselves apart.
Calice and Donatile Domino were proud Creoles who raised seven children on the Webre-Streib plantation in Vacherie (which was a section of the huge Laura plantation), where Calice worked as a ploughman. They were Catholics in a vastly protestant land. They worked very hard and, on top of that, grew their own fruits and vegetables to sustain themselves. The large family partied on Saturday nights, when Calice’s brother, Gustave, lead a band. The whole family joined in and sang in the spirit of African tradition, where music is the very expression of life. On Sundays, after Mass, they partied again, which protestants would not do.


New Orleans
Around 1926, Gustave and Calice, Donatile and their children moved to the latest drained-out swamps that became the Lower Ninth Ward, a black New Orleans neighbourhood linked only by muddy paths, with no street lights, electricity or telephone.
Hoping to work less hard, they tried their luck in the city, about an hour away from Vacherie. They left a large family behind, and at least one century of family customs. They brought to the heart of New Orleans a rural, Creole culture and its particular music, which was inherited from the days of slavery and nourished with work songs, negro spirituals, country blues and country songs, like the one that inspired The Rooster Song (and Bo-Weevil is a song alluding to a cotton parasite insect)10.
Antoine Dominique Domino, Jr. aka Fats Domino was born on February 26,1928 at 1937 Jourdan Avenue, on the edge of the great Industrial Canal, in the Southern part of New Orleans’ Ninth Ward. He would live all of his life in this poor area, until hurricane Katrina destroyed his house and nearly drowned him on August 29, 2005. Antoine Junior was the eighth and last child of Antoine Domino, aka Calice, and his spouse Donatile (née Gros), a petite black woman of Haitian descent. Her straight hair gave her part-Indian blood away. Choctaw Indians were indigenous to the area; Lipan Apaches were displaced and made slaves by the French, and they mixed with Choctaws.
The boy was a bit shy, solitary and rather slim. He went to Macarty School on Caffin Avenue, where he would move for good in 1950, and played baseball with his brothers on the nearby levee. He admired Joe Louis and practiced boxing. He liked music, just as all of his family did, and sang at evening parties, where his father played the violin and his brothers, Aristile and John, played drums and trumpet.
The young Antoine was ten when his parents bought an old, beat-up piano. His brother-in-law, banjoist Harrison Verrett (who’d married his sister Philonese) taught him chords and wrote down the notes on the keys. The child got so passionate about the piano that the instrument was moved to the garage so that he could better devote himself to it. Music became his obsession. He buried himself in it, learning tunes heard over the radio, and playing some boogie woogie on the school’s piano for his mates. Black music was seldom heard on the radio, and he loved “A Ticket a Tasket” (1938), Ella Fitzgerald’s first hit record, which sometimes made it to the airwaves. Monopolised by his piano, Antoine did not do his homework, and even failed at Sunday school. After only four years in a very poor elementary school, he dropped out and became the assistant of an ice delivery man (there was no electricity or fridges around in those days). He then groomed horses, mowed the whole Hippodrome and the white people’s lawn where his sister Philonese worked as a servant. Next he worked in a bakery and a coffee factory. In those unpredictable days, Antoine loved eating and was very fond of fancy cars.


Boogie Woogie
He soon learnt Clarence “Pinetop” Smith’s difficult and very influential “Pine Top’s Boogie Woogie” (1928), which was pretty much rock’s founding number. He heard it on the juke-box in the bar next door to his cousin Joe Cousin’s mechanic’s workshop, where he washed cars and helped in repairing them. This is also where he first heard the giant Louis Jordan, Big Joe Turner’s “Low Down Dog,” boogie pianist Meade Lux Lewis and singer-piano players Albert Ammons, Amos Milburn (he also copied Milburn’s singing style), Charles Brown and Nat “King” Cole, who all helped to shape his music.
In the early 1940s Antoine and his brothers went to see Big Alma’s vaudeville show, which was followed by several films. He never missed films with country music singers Gene Autry and Roy Rodgers, which forever left a deep mark on his style — a mix that would later contribute to his success. But shows were expensive and Antoine mostly performed in family parties with his brothers-in-law Stevens on the drums and Harrison Verrett on the guitar. Philomena — another of his sisters — had transformed the garage into a bar and sold beer to participants — Fats Domino’s first audience. Verrett took him to work in California, then to one of his own gigs backing Oscar “Papa” Celestin in the Tuxedo Jazz Band. This is where he introduced him to the owner of The Court of Two Sisters restaurant in the French Quarter. Domino made eight or nine dollars in a few minutes, playing some boogie woogie piano, and decided to go professional.
 
In 1946 the young man teamed up with tenor saxophone player Robert “Buddy” Hagans, an Illinois Jacquet fan who also loved Gene Ammons, Chu Berry, Coleman Hawkins and Louisiana’s great black idol, Louis Armstrong. They were soon joined by drummer Victor Leonard and guitar player Rupert Robertson. After playing a few joints, an early taste of fame came in 1947 when Paul Gayten, a new local blues star, invited the teenager along to play his best tune, Albert Ammons’ hard-to-play “Swanee River Boogie” (he later cut it under the name Swanee River Hop). Soon, Domino played his first big stage show, in Billy Diamond’s orchestra at Rockfort Pavilion, with Harrison Verrett on the guitar. That is where his seventeen-year-old date, Rosemary Hall, finally agreed to come and applaud him. They married soon after, on August 6, 1947, in Rosemary’s parents home. The ceremony was led by Reverend Harzell of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, the first African-American church ever founded in the USA, created back in 1816 as a protest against discrimination towards Black people. Domino loved family life and would never leave Rosemary. A little later he found a job in a bed handicraft factory, where he would fit springs onto frames; Buddy Hagans bent and made the springs.
Rock and Roll
The pianist then met Dave Bartholomew, an ambitious “swing” jazz trumpet player turned singer, composer, arranger and bandleader, in what was then called a blues group — a music that, when played at a fast tempo, was then dubbed “jump blues” and favoured by lindy hop dancers11. However, according to strict musicological definition, these musics were already what would soon be called ‘rock and roll’, a dynamic genre loved by young dancers in the black network.
Modern jazz by artists such as Dizzy Gillespie, Thelonious Monk and Charlie Parker was breaking through at the time, displaying sophistication and an artistic ambition unheard of before then. As a result, more and more outdated swing orchestras — such as Bartholomew’s — turned to the more efficient, simple, sped up, danceable blues.
The electric guitar was still quite a new instrument at the time. It updated and brought some freshness to the wind, brass and piano sound of established jazz groups12. In 1947, Billboard magazine still charted black musics on a separate page, with no distinction between styles, under the title “Race Records”. This openly racist term was common in a radical, segregated context enforced by law — and merciless repression13.
The earliest rock records came from California studios and included “Rock Woogie” (Jim Wynn’s Bobalibans, 1945), “Rockin’ the House” (Memphis Slim and the House Rockers, 1946), “We’re Gonna Rock” and “Rock and Roll” (Wild Bill Moore, 1947 and 1948), as compiled on our Race Records, Black Rock Music Forbidden on U.S. Radio 1942-1955 (FA 5600) set in this series, which displays overlooked, essential recordings back in their context and depicts in detail the history of a time when African-American artists still very rarely obtained airplay: they got well-known through concerts on the chitlin’ circuit and ghetto juke-boxes14.
1947 was the year when the first ever radio show broadcasting black music in New Orleans, The Poppa Stoppa Show, appeared on WMJR (it featured a white speaker coached to speak some jive by a black DJ, Vernon Winslow). Winslow used the top songs heard in black joints’ juke-boxes as a blueprint for his selection, soon multiplying the success of Roy Brown’s “Good Rockin’ Tonight,” a rocker glorifying parties and sex. Roy Brown was born and raised in New Orleans. He had started his career singing gospel. This essential recording was the epitomy of the Crescent City’s tradition, and rock music now had its first hymn. There was no time to lose: radio could now promote rock music which, after getting sold under the “jump blues” tag for a while, was now catching on as “rhythm and blues.”
Dave Bartholomew’s orchestra had an original, topical sound; it was already the archetype and the model to follow for rock and roll, which was still trying to find itself. Using the genius drummer Earl Palmer, he lead one of the best bands in the city — an even stronger one than Paul Gayten’s. The group was on its way to becoming the most popular in the area. It was against Bartholomew’s advice that Earl Palmer invited Domino to play a few songs during the band’s pause. The audience liked it, but Palmer was told off by his boss for inviting the young man onstage. This was the first encounter between the three men, who would soon become a winning team — a money machine.
Hide Away Blues
The new, refurbished Desire Club’s opening took place in the northern part of the Ninth Ward on Mardi Gras Day, 1948. Dave Bartholomew headlined the show. Billy Diamond’s group soon became the house band and Domino, who backed him, first made himself known there. On May 15, 1948, Buddy Hagans and Antoine Domino payed their fee to join the union for New Orleans Black musicians. Their membership allowed them to play downtown clubs such as The Robin Hood on Jackson, where they played a duet on the same bill as Annie Laurie, Paul Gayten and Billy Diamond, who introduced him as “Fats” Domino.
This infuriated the young man, who already weighed a hundred and sixty pounds, but he could never get rid of this ungraceful, easy to remember nickname that reminded people of Fats Waller, the great stride piano master. Also Fats’ spouse was an expert in cooking the fine, special, Creole cuisine, and he kept putting on weight. Fats even backed Roy Brown in Diamond’s band but he lost the gig because, although he was asked to do so, he dared to sing a Roy Brown song during the instrumental pause.
This is when the pianist was invited to play — and sing — every weekend at the Hideaway Club, a couple of blocks up the road. He immediately formed a band to fulfil this demand. Dressed like a scarecrow, close to the people, shy, ever smiling, the simple, placid and talented Fats appreciated this popular club where he could realise his full potential. In a few weeks, his virtuoso renditions of “Flying Home,” “Swanee River Boogie” and his musicians’ very dynamic stage act drove the dancers ecstatic. Fats covered the traditional song “Junker’s Blues”, a 1941 hit record by New Orleans pianist Champion Jack Dupree. He turned it into a very danceable rock song. With modified lyrics, it would eventually become his first hit song the following year, as The Fat Man15.
During the 1948 presidential election campaign, interim Democrat president Harry Truman launched a series of measures against racial segregation, most notably in the U.S. Army. This enabled a great number of African-Americans to register to vote, which had been so far nearly impossible for them, as they had been viciously excluded from their right to vote by the racist forces of the country. Truman’s election as President, on November 2nd, was celebrated by a benefit show for W. E. B. Du Bois’ organisation ‘promoting the people of color,’ The NAACP.
Roy Brown and Albert Ammons played there and a few days later Louis Jordan stated publicly that he would not play any more shows where Black people’s access was limited to the balcony. Celebrities such as Nat “King” Cole and Dizzy Gillespie did the same, as many Blacks were arrested in New Orleans for violation of segregation laws. Louis Armstrong made the cover of Time Magazine on Mardi Gras Day, 1949, after the New Orleans Mayor handed him a giant, symbolic City Key. And, as Professor Longhair recorded his first song, Mao Zedong seized power in China and the Korean war started as Communists invading from the North were repelled. Much was happening as the mid-twentieth century hit its stride.
Imperial Records
In the month of May, 1949, Vernon Winslow became the first black radio speaker in the city. He could turn a local record into a hit in just a few days on his WWEZ show. By then Roy Brown’s influence had reached all of Louisiana. In June, the “Black” music charts changed their name. “Race Records” were replaced by “R&B” (as in ‘rhythm and blues’), a new (just as racist) name for Black popular music. A year or two later, taking into consideration the implicit racist contents of the “Race Records” and “R&B” tags, disc jockeys in the Northern states began using another label. They were among the first to air these Southern Black musics, but started using the term ‘rock ‘n’ roll’ instead — in spite of the sexual overtones implicit in that phrase. White DJ Duke “Poppa Stoppa” Thiele carried on his ‘R&B’ show after his black coach, Winslow, was fired for daring to speak a few words on the air. Musicians were now coming from all around the city to check out Fats, who filled the Hideaway to the rafters and caused a bit of a sensation. In late November, 1949, Dave Bartholomew himself walked in to enjoy Fats’ funky, up and running show.
Also, in walked his partner, Lew Chudd (born Louis Chudnofsky), a white businessman born to Jewish parents who’d fled tsarist Russia. Chudd had become a naturalized American citizen just six years previously. He had founded Imperial Records, and dared to produce latin and world music. He also understood the importance, quality and potential of African-American music, which was still widely discriminated and overlooked. As so many Jewish producers did at the time, he did not have any (or at least, had less) racial prejudice (also the victims of discrimination, the small U. S. Jewish minorities often lived in working-class neighborhoods where Blacks also dwelled). A significant number of Jews were investing in the crucial African-American music Chudd appreciated, including Alfred Lion (Blue Note), the Bihari brothers (Meteor, Modern, Crown), Art Rupe (Specialty) and, in New Orleans, the Braun brothers (De Luxe, who issued Roy Brown’s records).
Lew Chudd came straight from his Hollywood office. A radio man, press officer and swing orchestras’ agent, he had hired Dave Bartholomew as his New Orleans talent scout. Just like Louis Armstrong had done before him, Bartholomew had studied the trumpet with Peter Davis. His family was from Edgard in the plantations area near Vacherie, where the Dominos had come from. Although he had come from a poor family, he had learned to read music in the army and already had a very good career. He had just had a major “R&B” hit named “Country Boy” and possessed a style of wind instrument arrangement that was distinctly his own.
He produced his first recording session for Lew Chudd/Imperial at J&M’s, the only studio in the city. J&M’s boss had also sprung from a minority group. The young Cosimo Matassa (who was nineteen then) was of Italian descent. He sold electrical hardware and records and had built a tiny, acetate, direct-to-disc studio in the back of his shop. DJ Duke Thiele invited Chudd and Bartholomew down to the Hideaway to discover the “boogie” pianist who packed the house. The minute Fats Domino played his big tune, “Junker’s Blues,” Chudd pulled out a contract and offered it to him. Bartholomew offered to help rewrite the lyrics as The Fat Man, which was the name of a popular radio series based on a Dashiell Hammett novel — as well as Fats’ nickname. Once revisited, the song alluded to Creole people, who were descended from mixed-race people back in French colonial times, and, rather prophetically, to the only neighbourhood where Blacks and Whites actually mixed. On December 10th, 1949, they cut the record with Earl Palmer on drums, Frank Fields on bass, Ernest McLean on guitar — and with the wind instruments conducted by Bartholomew. Just a week before, President Truman had outlawed, at least on principle, racial discrimination in public housing awarding.
Rockin’ Chair
Lew Chudd found the sound too rough and asked them to record the song again. But his partner, Al Young, had already taken it to the radio deejays (Thiele and Winslow). The Fat Man was an overnight hit and Chudd had to order thousands of copies right away. Around Christmas, 1949, all of the city could hear acetate dubs of the song played over the radio. With his first royalties check, Fats bought a modest, upright piano.
The following spring he was compelled to tour the South. The conditions were harsh: segregation, promiscuity, poverty and, because every store was closed at night, hunger ruled. So Fats carried a suitcase full of food around. They were virtually unknown and had little success, but The Fat Man had hit a hip San Francisco crowd and they roared — an unexpected triumph for them. By the time they got back, the song had conquered many people, all the way from California to New York - and even Jamaica, where the first sound systems would soon play Fats’ first shuffle tune, Little Bee. Fats’ Barrel House and other records of his with that same shuffle beat contributed to shaping the future taste of Jamaican dance halls.
Along with many other shuffle recordings made in America, they were forerunners of the ska genre, which surfaced in the following decade16. WMRY, the first 100% Black radio station in New Orleans, was born in May, 1950. It promoted Bartholomew’s productions, soon including Big Joe Turner, Lloyd Price and Shirley and Lee17. Legendary and influential songs such as “Rocket 88” (which used the same horn riff as “Fat Man”) and “Lawdy Miss Clawdy” (with Fats on the piano) were influenced by The Fat Man and also became rock classics (at a time when it was still tagged “rhythm and blues”) following Domino’s hit.
This set the tone for what was to follow. Shortly after the release of Little Bee — which had slightly suggestive lyrics that had it banned from the radio — Fats formed a band around his sax player, Buddy Hagans (see discography), and a young heroin addict named Papoose (who at that time played the guitar with Professor Longhair and was teaching it to a young Dr. John). Fats now headlined the Desire Club and bought the 1723 Caffin Avenue house. He got himself a diamond ring that cost him all of the money to his name. Fame and tours (with Professor Longhair, Lee Allen, Bartholomew…) multiplied and he renewed his contract with Imperial in 1951.
His revenge on poverty and racism was underway. He had two children, soon three, and owned a brand new Studebaker Champion. Following a disagreement over money, Bartholomew had left Imperial in late 1950, but Fats recorded his first enormous, national hit without him. On the flipside of the Rockin’ Chair single was another smash, Careless Love, which set the stage for the later, similar arrangement on Blueberry Hill. Fats hired Charles Levy, Jr., who became his personal attorney and authorised signatory for the next thirty years. He then bought a black Cadillac. Bill Haley, a white country and western singer from Philadelphia, had unsuccessfully recorded his first rock song, a Jackie Brenston cover (“Rocket 88”). In April of 1952, he did it again with a cover of another black song, “Rock the Joint,” which sold a bit and comforted him in heading his style towards rock music18.
Rock ‘n’ Roll
Rock ‘n’ roll reduces teenagers to the level of the nigger.
— Asa Carter, radio speaker, politician, founder of The North Alabama White Citizen’s Council and founder of a Ku Klux Klan branch.
In the Northern parts of the USA, key white deejays such as Bill Randle and Alan Freed, two anti-racist rebels based in Cleveland, now followed closely their more Southern colleagues, such as Gene Nobles in Nashville or Poppa Stoppa in New Orleans. The ‘rock ‘n’ roll’ term was also gaining ground with Northern disc jockeys. In the month of May, 1952, at a ‘welcome home’ show after a tour, Fats had to go through a riot that injured dozens. In June, in spite of a sound that left a lot to be desired and some defects (the saxophone is not in tune!), Goin’ Home was his first “R&B” number one and a rare black hit in the otherwise white “pop” charts. Lew Chudd’s promotional efforts (he harassed the radio stations) were paying off.
More hits followed, getting better and bigger every time. Dave Bartholomew was now back, earning wages with Imperial and co-signing all the songs. He took care of putting everything into shape, while, more often than not, Fats came up with the rough basis of the songs: simple, touching, they were anchored in reality, sharing feelings felt by all. Fats Domino had turned into a phenomenon. By then his popularity had gone beyond that of the very few other black stars of his time who had also managed to cross over the race barrier and place a few records in the “pop” charts, among which were Louis Armstrong, Count Basie, Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Jordan and Nat “King” Cole. But in spite of this unhoped-for glory, segregation still forced the team to cook in crummy hotel rooms on tour. After a show up North, opening act singer Jimmy Gilchrist died of a heroin overdose. He was replaced by Screamin’ Jay Hawkins for a time. Meanwhile, their guitar player Papoose was arrested for heroin possession. Fats drunk (legal) alcohol to excess, but did not bother with illegal stuff.
By 1953 their music had inspired would-be rockers such as Buddy Holly, Bobby Charles, Frogman Henry (who based his “Ain’t Got No Home” ‘woo woo woo woos’19 on Please Don’t Leave Me) and Little Richard20. After more than two million records sold, Fats signed with Imperial for nine more years. It would take another year for Alan Freed to 100% refuse talking about “R&B” and “rhythm and blues” over the radio, and boldly choose to popularise the expression “rock ‘n’ roll.”
By 1954 Fats had become the indisputed number one black star in the country — but his best and most enormous hits were yet to come, as shown by the remarkable disc four in this set (1955-1957). In his kind of rock music and popular songs, the blues pervaded his singing as well as the musical instruments. Bartholomew’s arrangements were copied all over the place. While reinventing the wind instruments tradition heard in swing/jump blues/rhythm and blues, Fats Domino and his team were the prime movers in defining, setting in stone and making forever famous the sound of the new rock music. In 1955 Little Richard successfully borrowed their sound, musicians, studio, and style. In 1955-1957, one hit song out of two had the sound of Cosimo Matassa’s new studio, the sound of New Orleans — the sound of Fats Domino, who had defined the sound of rock ‘n’ roll.
Ray Charles, Clyde McPhatter, Little Richard, and even his teenage idol, Charles Brown, opened for Fats. As from 1955, a huge number of white teenagers flocked to his concerts without a second thought. They challenged their parents, who often supported segregation. Fats Domino dominated the rock market and, more than anyone else so far, he pushed back segregation. He was now singing in “white” theaters in addition to others. The ropes separating Blacks and Whites in theaters were sometimes physically stamped on, reuniting the youth without discrimination, and unleashing police repression.
Some of his dozens of hits made it into the “pop” — meaning white — charts, on top of topping the “R&B” sales. White artists including Pat Boone, Ricky Nelson, The Fontana Sisters, Bill Haley, Teresa Brewer and Gale Storm obtained a flock of “pop” hits that often outsold his original versions (which in itself was a symbol of discrimination) in a bowdlerised, toned-down way. Some of the songwriting royalties went to Domino and Bartholomew. The trend was to give the fresh “rock ‘n’ roll” tag to Whites who copied “rhythm and blues” and to save the racially-overtoned “R&B” designation for black artists alone. However, racial segregation was now beginning to stagger. After a long political battle, it was now declared “unconstitutional” in schools. Fats’ success was like a locomotive. More than for any other black artist perhaps, his interracial success contributed to supporting the great Civil Rights movement which, lead by Martin Luther King, demanded the end of racial segregation as from December of 195521.

Superstar

I preferred the segregation times. We had a lot more fun.
— Dave Bartholomew
“Heartbreak Hotel” and “Blue Suede Shoes” had intros reminiscent of Ain’t That a Shame, which was a huge hit — and the first song ever learned by John Lennon. Elvis Presley’s upsurge in the summer of 1954 had brought to rock a white singer, a seducer, a king. And a different musical colour, tainted by country music guitars and a more sober, combo orchestration22. Following the success of “Rock Around the Clock” in 1955, Bill Haley and Elvis were routinely presented as the pioneers of rock, in spite of the dozens of black singers having preceded them, with Fats at the top of the list23.
During the national, controversial rock trend of 1955-1958, as Elvis’s unbelievable fame reached a peak, Fats Domino’s success redoubled. He stayed a the top of the R&B sales steadily from the spring of 1956 to the summer of 1957 and would turn out to be the second best-selling artist of the decade, just behind his supportive friend and competitor Elvis Presley. In March, he had no less than a record-breaking four tracks in the Billboard Top 100.
The twists and turns of his superstar social status were not spared to him: repeated riots, crowd fights, sold out shows, scandals, repression, drugs in his entourage, alcoholism, groupies, media hysteria, racist provocations, intimidations… but also gold records, success in England, television — on the usually segregated Ed Sullivan Show (where his band was hidden behind a curtain because it was black), popularity and an outpouring of dollars, causing him to lose his mind, not forgetting the classic film The Girl Can’t Help It. In Houston the police tried to stop Blacks from dancing: Fats refused to keep playing and the police ended the show. In most Southern cities including New Orleans, “integrated” concerts where black and white artists alternated remained strictly forbidden.
At the end of the summer of 1957 Fats Domino had sold twenty-five million records, including the masterpiece Blue Monday. His songs were played in the whole wide world and his influence remains incalculable. The greatest names of the following decade adored his music. To Blacks, his example was like a catharsis. Whereas Elvis would vanish into the army, then onto the Hollywood movie sets, Fats Domino was one of the few to resist the anti-rock offensive of 1957-1962.
He kept rocking with uptempo, vigorous numbers, including I’m Walkin’, Don’t You Know I Love You, Lazy Woman, Whole Lotta Loving, I’m Ready, Shu Rah, Ain’t That Just Like a Woman, Ain’t Gonna Do It and Be my Guest — all substantial hits. Nevertheless, like all of the late 1950s artists, he could not beat the overwhelming, conservative wave that considered rock a subversive music24. He carried on in the rock vein but, at the same time, as early as 1955 he had recorded the old hit My Blue Heaven at the suggestion of Imperial Records, who wanted to reach the old as well as the young — and sell to the white, general public.
Domino, who called his wife every day, was increasingly showing up late at shows (when he turned up at all) and could not bear the exhausting life on the road some 340 days a year anymore. As several of his songs suggest, he dreamt of going home and living with his six children. He was encouraged to record more variety, commercial songs, with busy, loud horn arrangements, sometimes even with strings. Blueberry Hill had already been recorded by Louis Armstrong, and it became his most gigantic “pop” hit, all the way to Europe, and even in the “country & western” charts. His more “commercial” recordings were not selling well and were soon forgotten. But they have not erased the huge, fine hits that nourished American and the wider world’s pop music until the end of his Imperial contract in 1962 — when The Beatles took over.
Bruno Blum, September, 2016.
Thanks to Rick Coleman, Stéphane Colin and Baptiste Manet.
© FRÉMEAUX & ASSOCIÉS 2017
1. Read the booklet and listen to The Indispensable Bill Haley 1948-1961 (FA 5465) in this series.
2. Read the booklets and listen to Elvis Presley & the American Music Heritage 1954-1956 (FA 5361) and Vol. 2 1956-1958 (FA 5607) in this series.
3. Read the booklet and listen to The Indispensable Little Richard 1951-1962 (FA 5607) in this series.
4. Read the booklet and listen to New Orleans Roots of Soul 1941- 1962 (FA 5633) in this series.
5. Read the booklet and listen to Voodoo in America 1926-1961 (FA 5375) in this series.
6. Cf. Rick Coleman’s biography Blue Monday - Fats Domino and the Lost Dawn of Rock ‘n’ Roll (Da Capo Press, Cambridge, Massachusets, 2006).
7. Read the booklet and listen to Haiti Vodou - Folk Trance Possession 1937-1962 (FA 5626) as well Haiti - Meringue & Konpa 1952-1962 (FA 5615) in this series.
8. Read the booklet and listen to Slavery in America - Redemption Songs 1914-1972 (FA 5467) which was co-published by Paris’ Musée du Quai Branly in this series.
9. Read the booklet and listen to The Color Line 1916-1962 (FA 5654) which was co-published by the Paris Musée du Quai Branly in this series.
10. Bo-Weevil should not be mistaken for “Boll Weevil,” a traditional song included on The Indispensable Eddie Cochran 1955-1960 (FA 5425) in this series.
11. Hear Dave Bartholomew sing the remarkable “Another Mule” on New Orleans Roots of Soul 1941-1962 (FA 5633) in this series.
12. Read the booklet and listen to Electric Guitar Story 1935-1962 (FA 5421) in this series.
13. Read the booklet and listen to The Color Line 1916-1962 (FA 5654), which was co-published by Paris’ Musée du Quai Branly in this series.
14. Race Records includes a 1951 title by Fats Domino, No No Baby.
15. The 1941 “Junker’s Blues” hit version recorded by Champion Jack Dupree is available on New Orleans Roots of Soul 1941-1962 (FA5633) in this series.
16. Read the booklet and listen to more recordings at the root of ska in Roots of Ska - USA Jamaica 1942-1962 (FA 5396) in this series.
17. Shirley and Lee and Lloyd Price’s first Bartholomew-produced hit records are available on New Orleans Roots of Soul 1941-1962 (FA 5633) in this series.
18. Read the booklet and listen to The Indispensable Bill Haley 1948-1961 (FA 5465) in this series.
19. Clarence “Frogman” Henry’s “Ain’t Got No Home” is available on New Orleans Roots of Soul 1941-1962 (FA 5633) in this series.
20. Read the booklet and listen to The Indispensable Little Richard 1951-1962 (FA 5607) in this series.
21. Read the booklet and listen to Slavery in America - Redemption Songs 1914-1972 (FA 5467) and The Color Line 1916-1962 (FA 5654) both co-published by the Paris Musée du Quai Branly in this series.
22. Read the booklet and listen to Rockabilly 1951-1960 (FA 5423) in this series.
23. Read the booklet and listen to Elvis Presley and the American Music Heritage Vol. 1 1954-1956 (FA5361) in this series.
24. Read the booklet and listen to Elvis Presley and the American Music Heritage Vol. 2 1956-1957 (FA 5383) in this series.

Discographie - The Indispensable Fats Domino 1949-1962


"Any innovation goes through three phases.
First it is ridiculed, then it is violently fought before it is finally considered as having always been obvious."
 - Arthur Schopenhauer
All compositions by Antoine Dominique Domino, Jr. aka Fats Domino
and David Louis Bartholomew aka Dave Bartholomew except when mentioned.


DISC 1 • 1949-1950 Acetate disc recordings
Antoine Dominique Domino, Jr. aka Fats Domino-v, p; Ernest McLean-g; Frank Fields-b; Earl Palmer-d; David Louis Bartholomew aka Dave Bartholomew-tp; Joe Harris-as; Herbert Hardesty as Herb-ts; Clarence Hall-ts; Alvin Tyler as Red-bs. J&M Studio, 838 North Rampart Street, New Orleans, December 10, 1949.
1. THE FAT MAN
2. HIDE AWAY BLUES
3. SHE’S MY BABY
Same as track 1. Vocal chorus on 6 by band members. Early January, 1950.
4. LITTLE BEE
(David Louis Bartholomew aka Dave Bartholomew)
5. BOOGIE WOOGIE BABY
(David Louis Bartholomew aka Dave Bartholomew)
6. HEY! LÀ-BAS BOOGIE
(based on a traditional composition by an unknown writer, attributed to David Louis Bartholomew aka Dave Bartholomew)
Note: The traditional song “Eh, Là Bas” was recorded by Kid Ory in October, 1946, and by Papa Célestin in 1947 featuring Harrison Verrett (Fats Domino’s brother-in-law) on guitar.
Same as track 1. Early September, 1950.
7. CARELESS LOVE
(William Christopher Handy aka W. C. Handy, Martha E. Koenig, Spencer Williams)
8. HEY! FAT MAN
(Antoine Dominique Domino, Jr. aka Fats Domino)
1951-1952 Magnetic tape recordings
Antoine Dominique Domino, Jr. aka Fats Domino-v, p; Walter Nelson aka Papoose-g; William Diamond aka Billy-b; Cornelius Coleman aka Tenoo-d;
Emmett Fortner as Wendell Duconge-as; Robert Hagans aka Buddy-ts. J&M Studio, 838 North Rampart Street, New Orleans, January, 1951.
9. WHAT’S THE MATTER BABY
(Antoine Dominique Domino, Jr. aka Fats Domino)
10. I’VE GOT EYES FOR YOU
(Antoine Dominique Domino, Jr. aka Fats Domino)
11. STAY AWAY
(Antoine Dominique Domino, Jr. aka Fats Domino)
Same as 9. February, 1951.
12. DON’T YOU LIE TO ME [as “Don’t Lie to Me”]
 (Hudson Woodbridge aka Hudson Whittaker aka Tampa Red)
13. ROCKIN’ CHAIR
(Antoine Dominique Domino, Jr. aka Fats Domino, Alvin E. Young aka Al Young)
14. SOMETIMES I WONDER
(Antoine Dominique Domino, Jr. aka Fats Domino, Alvin E. Young aka Al Young)
Same as 9. Band members-vocal chorus. June, 1951.
15. RIGHT FROM WRONG
(Antoine Dominique Domino, Jr. aka Fats Domino, Alvin E. Young aka Al Young)
16. YOU KNOW I MISS YOU
(Antoine Dominique Domino, Jr. aka Fats Domino, Alvin E. Young aka Al Young)
17. I’LL BE GONE
(Antoine Dominique Domino, Jr. aka Fats Domino, Alvin E. Young aka Al Young)
Same as 9. December, 1951 or January, 1952.
18. REELING AND ROCKING
(Antoine Dominique Domino, Jr. aka Fats Domino, Alvin E. Young aka Al Young)
19. GOIN’ HOME
(Antoine Dominique Domino, Jr. aka Fats Domino, Alvin E. Young aka Al Young)
20. HOW LONG
(Antoine Dominique Domino, Jr. aka Fats Domino, Alvin E. Young aka Al Young)

DISC 2 • 1951-1953

Antoine Dominique Domino, Jr. aka Fats Domino-v, p; Walter Nelson aka Papoose-g; William Diamond aka Billy-b; Cornelius Coleman aka Tenoo-d;
Emmett Fortner as Wendell Duconge-as; Robert Hagans aka Buddy-ts. J&M Studio, 838 North Rampart Street, New Orleans, June, 1951.
1. NO, NO BABY
(Antoine Dominique Domino, Jr. aka Fats Domino, Alvin E. Young aka Al Young)
2. THE FAT MAN’S HOP [instrumental]
(Antoine Dominique Domino, Jr. aka Fats Domino, Alvin E. Young aka Al Young)
Same as 1. Add David Louis Bartholomew aka Dave Bartholomew-tp; Herbert Hardesty as Herb-ts. April 26, 1952.
3. LONG LONESOME JOURNEY
(Antoine Dominique Domino, Jr. aka Fats Domino, Ted Jarrett)
4. TRUST IN ME
(Antoine Dominique Domino, Jr. aka Fats Domino, Ted Jarrett)
5. CHEATIN’
(Antoine Dominique Domino, Jr. aka Fats Domino)
Antoine Dominique Domino, Jr. aka Fats Domino-v, p; Walter Nelson aka Papoose-g; Frank Fields-b; Cornelius Coleman aka Tenoo-d; Emmett Fortner as Wendell Duconge-as; Herbert Hardesty as Herb-ts. J&M Studio, 838 North Rampart Street, New Orleans, September 10, 1952.
6. MARDI GRAS IN NEW ORLEANS
(Henry Roeland Byrd aka Roy Byrd aka Professor Longhair)
7. I GUESS I’LL BE ON MY WAY
(Antoine Dominique Domino, Jr. aka Fats Domino)
8. NOBODY LOVES ME
(Antoine Dominique Domino, Jr. aka Fats Domino)
9. DREAMING [instrumental]
(David Louis Bartholomew aka Dave Bartholomew)
Same as 6. Add Samuel Lee-ts. December, 1952 or January, 1953.
10. GOING TO THE RIVER
11. I LOVE HER
12. SECOND LINE JUMP [instrumental]
Same as 6. February, 1953.
13. SWANEE RIVER HOP [instrumental]
(aka “Swan River Boogie”, arranged by Antoine Dominique Domino, Jr. aka Fats Domino, David Louis Bartholomew aka Dave Bartholomew)
Same line up as 6. William Diamond aka Billy Diamond replaces Frank Fields, Robert Hagans aka Buddy replaces Herbert Hardesty. Radio Recorders, 7000 Santa Monica Boulevard, Hollywood, California. April 18, 1953.
14. ROSEMARY [version 1]
15. PLEASE DON’T LEAVE ME
(Antoine Dominique Domino, Jr. aka Fats Domino)
16. DOMINO STOMP [aka Twistin’ the Stomp] [instrumental]
(Antoine Dominique Domino, Jr. aka Fats Domino)
17. YOU SAID YOU LOVE ME
Same as 6. Herbert Hardesty or Lee Allen-ts; Add Robert Hagans-ts. June 1, 1953.
18. ROSE MARY [version 2]
19. AIN’T IT GOOD
20. FATS DOMINO BLUES [instrumental]

DISC 3 • 1953-1955

Antoine Dominique Domino, Jr. aka Fats Domino-v, p; Walter Nelson aka Papoose-g; Frank Fields-b; Cornelius Coleman aka Tenoo-d; Emmett Fortner as Wendell Duconge-as; Lee Allen or Herbert Hardesty as Herb-ts; Robert Hagans aka Buddy-ts. J&M Studio, 838 North Rampart Street, New Orleans, June 1, 1953.
1. THE GIRL I LOVE
Same as 1. September 2, 1953.
2. DON’T LEAVE ME THIS WAY
3. SOMETHING’S WRONG
4. FAT’S FRENZY [instrumental]
Same as 1, Hardesty/Lee Allen out. September 19, 1953.
5. GOIN’ BACK HOME
6. YOU LEFT ME
7. “44”
Same as 1, Hardesty/Lee Allen out. October 27, 1953.
8. BARREL HOUSE [instrumental]
9. LITTLE SCHOOL GIRL
10. IF YOU NEED ME
Antoine Dominique Domino, Jr. aka Fats Domino-v, p; Walter Nelson aka Papoose-g; Frank Fields-b; Cornelius Coleman aka Tenoo-d; David Louis Bartholomew aka Dave Bartholomew-tp; Lee Allen-ts; Herbert Hardesty as Herb-ts. J&M Studio, 838 North Rampart Street, New Orleans, December 14, 1953.
11. YOU DONE ME WRONG
(Antoine Dominique Domino, Jr. aka Fats Domino)
Same as 11. March 14, 1954.
12. BABY PLEASE
13. WHERE DID YOU STAY
Antoine Dominique Domino, Jr. aka Fats Domino-v, p; Walter Nelson aka Papoose-g; William Diamond aka Billy Diamond-b; Cornelius Coleman aka Tenoo-d; Emmett Fortner aka Wendell DuConge-as; Robert Hagans aka Buddy-ts. Master Recorders, 535 North Fairfax Avenue, Hollywood, California, July 10, 1954.
14. I LIVED MY LIFE
15. LITTLE MAMA
16. I KNOW
Antoine Dominique Domino, Jr. aka Fats Domino-v, p; Walter Nelson aka Papoose-g; Frank Fields-b; Cornelius Coleman aka Tenoo-d; possibly David Louis Bartholomew aka Dave Bartholomew-tp; Lee Allen-ts; Herbert Hardesty as Herb-ts; unknown-bs. J&M Studio, 838 North Rampart Street, New Orleans, August 13, 1954.
17. LOVE ME
18. DON’T YOU HEAR ME CALLING YOU
Same as 17, except no baritone sax (bs). January 27, 1955.
19. DON’T YOU NOW
20. HELPING HAND [aka A Long Way From Home]

DISC 4 • 1955-1957

Antoine Dominique Domino, Jr. aka Fats Domino-v, p; Walter Nelson aka Papoose-g; William Diamond aka Billy Diamond-b; Cornelius Coleman aka Tenoo-d; Samuel Lee-sax; Herbert Hardesty as Herb-ts; Robert Hagans aka Buddy-ts. Master Recorders, 535 North Fairfax Avenue, Hollywood, California, March, 1955.
1. ALL BY MYSELF
2. AIN’T THAT A SHAME [as “Ain’t it a Shame”]
Same as 1 except Hardesty on both tenor and baritone saxophone.
3. LA-LA
4. BLUE MONDAY
Antoine Dominique Domino, Jr. aka Fats Domino-v, p; Walter Nelson aka Papoose-g; Frank Fields-b; Cornelius Coleman aka Tenoo-d; Herbert Hardesty as Herb-ts. J&M Studio, 838 North Rampart Street, New Orleans, May, 1955.
5. TROUBLES OF MY OWN
Same as 5 except Ernest McLean replaces Papoose, add Clarence Ford on alto saxophone. October 15, 1955.
6. I’M IN LOVE AGAIN
7. BO WEEVIL
“Bo Weevil” was inspired by an old black folk song. It should not be confused with the Eddie Cochran song of the same name.
Same as 1 except Emmet Fortner aka Wendell Duconge replaces Hardesty, Samuel Lee out. November 7, 1955.
8. DON’T BLAME IT ON ME
9. IF YOU NEED ME
Same as 1 except Emmet Fortner aka Wendell Duconge replaces Hardesty, Samuel Lee out. November 30, 1955.
10. HOWDY PODNER
11. SO LONG
Antoine Dominique Domino, Jr. aka Fats Domino-v, p; Ernest McLean-g; Frank Fields-b; Cornelius Coleman aka Tenoo-d; possibly Clarence Ford-as; Lee Allen-ts; Herbert Hardesty as Herb-ts. Master Recorders, 535 North Fairfax Avenue, Hollywood, California, October 15, 1955.
12. I CAN’T GO ON THIS WAY
(Terry Hall)
13. MY BLUE HEAVEN
(George A. Whiting, Walter Donaldson)
Antoine Dominique Domino, Jr. aka Fats Domino-v, p; Justin Adams-g; Ernest McLean-g; Frank Fields-b; Charles Williams aka Hungry-d; David Louis Bartholomew aka Dave Bartholomew-tp; Lee Allen-ts; Herbert Hardesty as Herb-ts. Possibly Cosimo Recording Studio, 523 Governor Nicholls Street, New Orleans. May 25, 1956.
14. IDA JANE
15. WHEN MY DREAMBOAT COMES HOME
(Clifford Friend, David Franklin)
Antoine Dominique Domino, Jr. aka Fats Domino-v, p; Walter Nelson aka Papoose-g; Lawrence Guyton-b; Cornelius Coleman aka Tenoo-d; Eddie Sylvas-ts. Master Recorders, 535 North Fairfax Avenue, Hollywood, California, June 21, 1956.
16. WHAT’S THE REASON WHY I’M NOT PLEASING YOU
(Earl Hatch, Pinky Tomlin, Coy Poe, Jimmy Grier)
17. THE TWIST SET ME FREE
(Antoine Dominique Domino, Jr. aka Fats Domino)
Antoine Dominique Domino, Jr. aka Fats Domino-v, p; Walter Nelson aka Papoose-g; Lawrence Guyton-b; Cornelius Coleman aka Tenoo-d; Emmett Fortner aka Wendell Duconge-as; Robert Hagans aka Buddy-ts; Eddie Sylvas-ts. Master Recorders, 535 North Fairfax Avenue, Hollywood, California, June 27, 1956.
18. BLUEBERRY HILL
(Vincent Rose, Al Lewis, Larry Stock)
19. HONEY CHILE
Antoine Dominique Domino, Jr. aka Fats Domino-v, p; Walter Nelson aka Papoose-g; Frank Fields-b; Earl Palmer-d; Lee Allen-ts; Herbert Hardesty as Herb-ts. Cosimo Recording Studio, 523 Governor Nicholls Street, New Orleans. January 3, 1957.
20. WHAT WILL I TELL MY HEART
(Peter Tinturin, Jack Lawrence)

DISC 5 • 1957-1959

Antoine Dominique Domino, Jr. aka Fats Domino-v, p; Walter Nelson aka Papoose-g; Frank Fields-b; Earl Palmer-d; Lee Allen-ts; Herbert Hardesty as Herb-ts. Cosimo Recording Studio, 523 Governor Nicholls Street, New Orleans, January 3, 1957.
1. I’M WALKIN’
Same as 1. January 4, 1957.
2. I’M IN THE MOOD FOR LOVE
(James Francis McHugh aka Jimmy McHugh, Dorothy Fields)
3. MY HAPPINESS
(Biagio Bergantino aka Borney Bergantine, Betty Peterson)
Same as 1. Possibly Lee Allen on tenor sax. Add Clarence Ford on baritone sax. January 25, 1957.
4. DON’T DECEIVE ME
5. THE ROOSTER SONG
Note: “The Rooster Song” was inspired by an old black folk song.
Antoine Dominique Domino, Jr. aka Fats Domino-v (overdubbed on May 25, 1958), p; Ernest McLean-g; Frank Fields-b; possibly Earl Palmer-d; Herbert Hardesty as Herb-ts; Clarence Ford-bs; unknown-bass saxophone. Cosimo Recording Studio, 523 Governor Nicholls Street, New Orleans, August 3, 1957.
6. OH WHEE
7. MY LOVE FOR HER
Antoine Dominique Domino, Jr. aka Fats Domino-v, (overdubbed on unknown date); Edward Frank or Allen Toussaint-p; Walter Nelson aka Papoose-g; Frank Fields-b; Cornelius Coleman aka Tenoo-d; Cosimo Recording Studio, 523 Governor Nicholls Street, New Orleans, January 28, 1958.
8. DON’T YOU KNOW THAT I LOVE YOU
Antoine Dominique Domino, Jr. aka Fats Domino-v, p; Ernest McLean-g; Frank Fields-b; Cornelius Coleman aka Tenoo-d; Emmett Fortner as Wendell Duconge-as, bs; Herbert Hardesty as Herb-ts; Clarence Ford-ts. Cosimo Recording Studio, 523 Governor Nicholls Street, New Orleans, April 17, 1958.
9. (I’LL BE GLAD WHEN YOU’RE DEAD) YOU RASCAL YOU
(Samuel Allen theard aka Sam Theard)
Antoine Dominique Domino, Jr. aka Fats Domino-v (overdubbed at unknown date); Allen Toussaint-p; Ernest McLean-g; Frank Fields-b; Cornelius Coleman aka Tenoo-d; Emmett Fortner as Wendell Duconge-as; Herbert Hardesty as Herb-ts; Clarence Ford-ts; Robert Hagans aka Buddy-ts. Cosimo Recording Studio, 523 Governor Nicholls Street, New Orleans, June 14, 1958.
10. YOUNG SCHOOL GIRL
Antoine Dominique Domino, Jr. aka Fats Domino-v (overdubbed at unknown date); Allen Toussaint-p; unknown g, b, d. Cosimo Recording Studio, 523 Governor Nicholls Street, New Orleans, July 25, 1958.
11. LAZY WOMAN
Antoine Dominique Domino, Jr. aka Fats Domino-v, p; Walter Nelson aka Papoose-g; Frank Fields-b; Charles Williams aka Hungry-d; David Louis Bartholomew aka Dave Bartholomew-tp; Warren Bell-ts; Clarence Ford-as, ts. Cosimo Recording Studio, 523 Governor Nicholls Street, New Orleans, September 23, 1958.
12. WHOLE LOTTA LOVING
Antoine Dominique Domino, Jr. aka Fats Domino-v, p; Walter Nelson aka Papoose-g; Adolphus Alsbrook, Jr.-b; Earl Palmer-d; Herbert Hardesty as Herb-ts; Plas Johnson-bs. Master Recorders, 535 North Fairfax Avenue, Hollywood, California, November 4, 1958.
13. LIL’ LIZA JANE
(Ada de Lachau, later attributed to David Louis Bartholomew aka Dave Bartholomew)
Note: this song is based on a 19th century negro spiritual later used in minstrel shows. Its melody has roots in a traditional welcome song from Liberia, “Fanga Alafia”.
14. WHEN THE SAINTS GO MARCHING IN
(unknown, arranged by David Louis Bartholomew aka Dave Bartholomew)
Note: this song is a Christian hymn created around 1900. It has since turned into a jazz standard.
Antoine Dominique Domino, Jr. aka Fats Domino-v, p; Walter Nelson aka Papoose-g; unknown-b; Cornelius Coleman aka Tenoo-d; Herbert Hardesty as Herb-ts; Robert Hagans aka Buddy-ts; Clarence Ford-bs. Cosimo Recording Studio, 523 Governor Nicholls Street, New Orleans, January 29, 1959.
15. I’M READY
(Antoine Dominique Domino, Jr. aka Fats Domino, David Louis Bartholomew aka Dave Bartholomew, Sylvester Bradford)
Antoine Dominique Domino, Jr. aka Fats Domino-v, p; Walter Nelson aka Papoose-g; unknown-b; Cornelius Coleman aka Tenoo-d; Herbert Hardesty as Herb-ts; Robert Hagans aka Buddy-ts; Clarence Ford-ts, bs. Cosimo Recording Studio, 523 Governor Nicholls Street, New Orleans, June 18, 1959.
16. I WANT TO WALK YOU HOME
(Antoine Dominique Domino, Jr. aka Fats Domino)
17. EASTER PARADE
(Israel Isidore Baline aka Irving Berlin)
Antoine Dominique Domino, Jr. aka Fats Domino-v, p; Roy Montrell-g; unknown-b; Cornelius Coleman aka Tenoo-d; David Louis Bartholomew aka Dave Bartholomew-tp; Herbert Hardesty as Herb-ts; Robert Hagans aka Buddy-ts; Clarence Ford-bs. Cosimo Recording Studio, 523 Governor Nicholls Street, New Orleans, September 26, 1959.
18. BE MY GUEST
(Antoine Dominique Domino, Jr. aka Fats Domino, Sidney Thomas Boyce aka Tommy Boyce, John S. Marascalso aka John Marascalco)
Antoine Dominique Domino, Jr. aka Fats Domino-v, p; Roy Montrell-g; unknown-b; Cornelius Coleman aka Tenoo-d; Robert Hagans aka Buddy-ts; Clarence Ford-bs. Cosimo Recording Studio, 523 Governor Nicholls Street, New Orleans, April 23 or 30, 1959.
19. WALKING TO NEW ORLEANS
(Antoine Dominique Domino, Jr. aka Fats Domino, David Louis Bartholomew aka Dave Bartholomew, Robert Charles Guidry aka Bobby Charles)
20. DON’T COME KNOCKIN’
(Antoine Dominique Domino, Jr. aka Fats Domino)
DISC 6 • 1959-1962
Antoine Dominique Domino, Jr. aka Fats Domino-v, p; Roy Montrell-g; unknown-b; Cornelius Coleman aka Tenoo-d; Robert Hagans aka Buddy-ts; Clarence Ford-bs. Cosimo Recording Studio, 523 Governor Nicholls Street, New Orleans, April 23 or 30, 1959.
1. LA LA
(Antoine Dominique Domino, Jr. aka Fats Domino)
Same as 1. Add David Louis Bartholomew aka Dave Bartholomew on trumpet and Lee Allen on tenor saxophone. Possibly Cosimo’s Studio, July, 1960.
2. SHU RAH
Antoine Dominique Domino, Jr. aka Fats Domino-v, p; possibly Roy Montrell-g; unknown-b; Cornelius Coleman aka Tenoo-d; possibly Robert Hagans aka Buddy-ts; Clarence Ford-bs. Cosimo Recording Studio, 523 Governor Nicholls Street, New Orleans, July 18, 1960.
3. MY GIRL JOSEPHINE
Same as 3. December 28, 1960.
4. IT KEEPS RAININ’
(Antoine Dominique Domino, Jr. aka Fats Domino, David Louis Bartholomew aka Dave Bartholomew, Robert Charles Guidry aka Bobby Charles)
5. WHAT A PRICE
(Antoine Dominique Domino, Jr. aka Fats Domino, Murphy Maddox, Jr., Jack C. Jessup)
6. AIN’T THAT JUST LIKE A WOMAN (THEY’LL DO IT EVERY TIME)
(Claude DeMetrius, Fleecie Moore)
7. FELL IN LOVE ON MONDAY
(Antoine Dominique Domino, Jr. aka Fats Domino)
Same as 3. Add Lee Allen and Hagans on tenor saxophone and Bartholomew on trumpet. March 23, 1961.
8. TROUBLE IN MIND
(Richard Marigny Jones)
9. BAD LUCK AND TROUBLE
(Antoine Dominique Domino, Jr. aka Fats Domino, Murphy Monroe Maddux, Jr. aka Pee Wee Maddox, James Kenneth Donley aka Kenny James aka Jimmy Donley)
Same as 3. Add Lee Allen and Hagans on tenor saxophone and Bartholomew on trumpet. March 28, 1961.
10. I JUST CRY
11. AIN’T GONNA DO IT
(Antoine Dominique Domino, Jr. aka Fats Domino, David Louis Bartholomew aka Dave Bartholomew, Earl Silas Johnson IV aka Earl King aka Pearl King)
Same as 3. Add Lee Allen and Hagans on tenor and baritone saxophone and Bartholomew on trumpet. Ford out. June 6, 1961.
12. WON’T YOU COME BACK
(Antoine Dominique Domino, Jr. aka Fats Domino, Marion Carpenter, Tim Gillis)
13. GOOD HEARTED MAN
Same as 3. Add Lee Allen and Hagans on tenor saxophone and Bartholomew on trumpet. June 20, 1961.
14. TROUBLE BLUES
(Tony Russell Brown aka Charles Brown)
15. LET THE FOUR WINDS BLOW
Note: this melody is based on the traditional song “Midnight Special”
Same as 3. Add Lee Allen and Hagans on tenor saxophone and Bartholomew on trumpet. Jimmy Donley and Murphy Monroe Maddux aka Pee Wee-vocal chorus. September 11, 1961.
16. WHAT A PARTY
(Antoine Dominique Domino, Jr. aka Fats Domino, David Louis Bartholomew aka Dave Bartholomew, Earl Silas Johnson IV aka Earl King aka Pearl King)
Same as 3. Add Lee Allen and Hagans on tenor saxophone and Bartholomew on trumpet. November, 1961.
17. JAMBALAYA (ON THE BAYOU)
(Hiram King Williams aka Hank Williams)
Same as 3. Add Hardesty on tenor saxophone. January 5, 1962.
18. STOP THE CLOCK
(Domino, James, Maddux)
(Antoine Dominique Domino, Jr. aka Fats Domino, James Kenneth Donley aka Kenny James aka Jimmy Donley, Murphy Monroe Maddux, Jr. aka Pee Wee Maddox)
Same as 3. Add Lee Allen, Hardesty and Hagans on tenor saxophone and Bartholomew on trumpet. April 14, 1962.
19. HUM DIDDY DOO
(Antoine Dominique Domino, Jr. aka Fats Domino, Earl Silas Johnson IV aka Earl King aka Pearl King)
20. DANCE WITH MR. DOMINO
“He was everything to me. I felt honored just to shake his hand. I still feel that way about Fats Domino.”     Little Richard
Surgi de la Nouvelle-Orléans en pleine ségrégation raciale, Fats Domino fut la plus grande vedette noire des années 1950 et la première superstar du rock — un géant parmi les géants. Ses succès planétaires comme « Blueberry Hill » sont tellement célèbres qu’ils ont fait de l’ombre au meilleur de son excellente production. Pourtant ils ne devraient pas faire oublier le grand interprète de blues, le virtuose du piano boogie et le pionnier fondamental qui a fait connaître au monde le style rock. Il parvint à séduire le public blanc et incarna le recul de la ségrégation raciale pendant la lutte pour les Droits Civiques. Bruno Blum raconte l’inimaginable triomphe de cet homme simple qui, loin de son image souriante, provoquait des émeutes dans tout le pays. En six disques indispensables à tout amateur de rock et de blues, cette sélection triée sur le volet met en valeur la crème de l’œuvre incontournable, souvent méconnue, de cette figure essentielle.    PATRICK FRÉMEAUX
It is out of New Orleans that Fats Domino surged up to become the greatest black star of the 1950s and the first true rock superstar — a giant among giants. His worldwide hits, such as “Blueberry Hill,” became so famous that they overshadowed the best of his excellent output. Yet one should not overlook the great blues performer, the boogie woogie piano virtuoso and the fundamental pioneer who let the world first discover the rock genre. Domino managed to cross over to the white, general public, and embodied racial segregation tensions during the early Civil Rights movement. Bruno Blum tells the unthinkable triumph of this simple man who, far from his smiling image, caused riots all over the country. There is no way around these six discs, which are indispensable to any rock or blues lover. This hand-picked selection highlights the cream of often overlooked works by an essential figure.    — PATRICK FRÉMEAUX
DISC 1 • 1949-1950 Acetate disc recordings : 1. THE FAT MAN 2’37 • 2. HIDE AWAY BLUES 2’24 • 3. SHE’S MY BABY 2’40 • 4. LITTLE BEE 2’28 • 5. BOOGIE WOOGIE BABY 2’16 • 6. HEY! LÀ-BAS BOOGIE 2’24 • 7. CARELESS LOVE 2’15 • 8. HEY! FAT MAN 2’35. 1951-1952 Magnetic tape recordings : 9. WHAT’S THE MATTER BABY 2’13 • 10. I’VE GOT EYES FOR YOU 2’38 • 11. STAY AWAY 2’13 • 12. DON’T YOU LIE TO ME 2’18 • 13. ROCKIN’ CHAIR 2’27 • 14. SOMETIMES I WONDER 2’21 • 15. RIGHT FROM WRONG 2’14 • 16. YOU KNOW I MISS YOU 2’13 • 17. I’LL BE GONE 2’19 • 18. REELING AND ROCKING 2’19 • 19. GOIN’ HOME 2’10 • 20. HOW LONG 2’01.
DISC 2 • 1951-1953 : 1. NO, NO BABY 2’19 • 2. THE FAT MAN’S HOP 2’25 • 3. LONG LONESOME JOURNEY 2’27 • 4. TRUST IN ME 2’48 • 5. CHEATIN’ 2’36 • 6. MARDI GRAS IN NEW ORLEANS 2’17 • 7. I GUESS I’LL BE ON MY WAY 2’17 • 8. NOBODY LOVES ME 2’12 • 9. DREAMING 2’19 • 10. GOING TO THE RIVER 2’29 • 11. I LOVE HER 2’04 • 12. SECOND LINE JUMP 2’32 • 13. SWANEE RIVER HOP 2’46 • 14. ROSEMARY [version 1] 2’00 • 15. PLEASE DON’T LEAVE ME 2’34 • 16. DOMINO STOMP 1’55 • 17. YOU SAID YOU LOVE ME 2’34 • 18. ROSE MARY [version 2] 2’15 • 19. AIN’T IT GOOD 2’36 • 20. FATS DOMINO BLUES 2’25.
DISC 3 • 1953-1955 : 1. THE GIRL I LOVE 2’06 • 2. DON’T LEAVE ME THIS WAY 2’18 • 3. SOMETHING’S WRONG 2’41 • 4. FAT’S FRENZY 2’23 • 5. GOIN’ BACK HOME 1’55 • 6. YOU LEFT ME 2’03 • 7. “44” 2’29 • 8. BARREL HOUSE 2’29 • 9. LITTLE SCHOOL GIRL 2’38 • 10. IF YOU NEED ME 2’03 • 11. YOU DONE ME WRONG 2’03 • 12. BABY PLEASE 1’56 • 13. WHERE DID YOU STAY 2’01 • 14. I LIVED MY LIFE 1’59 • 15. LITTLE MAMA 2’39 • 16. I KNOW 2’38 • 17. LOVE ME 1’55 • 18. DON’T YOU HEAR ME CALLING YOU 2’07 • 19. DON’T YOU NOW 2’20 • 20. HELPING HAND 2’06.
DISC 4 • 1955-1957 : 1. ALL BY MYSELF 2’22 • 2. AIN’T THAT A SHAME 2’25 • 3. LA-LA 2’13 • 4. BLUE MONDAY 2’16 • 5. TROUBLES OF MY OWN 2’13 • 6. I’M IN LOVE AGAIN 1’54 • 7. BO WEEVIL 2’47 • 8. DON’T BLAME IT ON ME 2’41 • 9. IF YOU NEED ME 2’02 • 10. HOWDY PODNER 2’08 • 11. SO LONG 2’11 • 12. I CAN’T GO ON THIS WAY 2’10 • 13. MY BLUE HEAVEN 2’06 • 14. IDA JANE 2’09 • 15. WHEN MY DREAMBOAT COMES HOME 2’19 • 16. WHAT’S THE REASON WHY I’M NOT PLEASING YOU 2’01 • 17. THE TWIST SET ME FREE 2’00 • 18. BLUEBERRY HILL 2’19 • 19. HONEY CHILE 1’46 • 20. WHAT WILL I TELL MY HEART 2’26.
DISC 5 • 1957-1959 : 1. I’M WALKIN’ 2’09 • 2. I’M IN THE MOOD FOR LOVE 2’42 • 3. MY HAPPINESS 2’14 • 4. DON’T DECEIVE ME 1’52 • 5. THE ROOSTER SONG 2’05 • 6. OH WHEE 2’06 • 7. MY LOVE FOR HER 2’37 • 8. DON’T YOU KNOW THAT I LOVE YOU 2’09 • 9. (I’LL BE GLAD WHEN YOU’RE DEAD) YOU RASCAL YOU 2’36 • 10. YOUNG SCHOOL GIRL 1’54 • 11. LAZY WOMAN 1’47 • 12. WHOLE LOTTA LOVING 1’38 • 13. LIL’ LIZA JANE 1’52 • 14. WHEN THE SAINTS GO MARCHING IN 2’25 • 15. I’M READY 2’03 • 16. I WANT TO WALK YOU HOME 2’19 • 17. EASTER PARADE 2’26 • 18. BE MY GUEST 2’15 • 19. WALKING TO NEW ORLEANS 1’59 • 20. DON’T COME KNOCKIN’ 1’57.
DISC 6 • 1959-1962 : 1. LA LA 2’02 • 2. SHU RAH 1’40 • 3. MY GIRL JOSEPHINE 2’02 • 4. IT KEEPS RAININ’ 2’46 • 5. WHAT A PRICE 2’21 • 6. AIN’T THAT JUST LIKE A WOMAN 2’43 • 7. FELL IN LOVE ON MONDAY 1’55 • 8. TROUBLE IN MIND 2’30 • 9. BAD LUCK AND TROUBLE 2’40 • 10. I JUST CRY 2’06 • 11. AIN’T GONNA DO IT 2’04 • 12. WON’T YOU COME ON BACK 2’18 • 13. GOOD HEARTED MAN 2’24 • 14. TROUBLE BLUES 2’41 • 15. LET THE FOUR WINDS BLOW 2’17 • 16. WHAT A PARTY 1’59 • 17. JAMBALAYA (ON THE BAYOU) 2’22 • 18. STOP THE CLOCK 2’19 • 19. HUM DIDDY DOO 1’54 • 20. DANCE WITH MR. DOMINO 2’04.

CD 1 - 2 – 3

The Fat Man
Little Bee
Hey! La-bas Boogie
Rockin’ Chair
Don’t You Lie to Me
Rockin’ Chair
Reeling and Rocking
Goin’ Home
Mardi Gras
in New Orleans
Swanee River Hop
“A lot of people seem to think that I started this business. But rock ‘n’ roll was here a long time before I came along… Let’s face it: I can’t sing like Fats Domino can. I know that.”    — Elvis Presley
DISC 1 • 1949-1950
Acetate disc recordings :
 1. THE FAT MAN 2’37
 2. HIDE AWAY BLUES 2’24
 3. SHE’S MY BABY 2’40
 4. LITTLE BEE 2’28
 5. BOOGIE WOOGIE BABY 2’16
 6. HEY! LÀ-BAS BOOGIE 2’24
 7. CARELESS LOVE 2’15
 8. HEY! FAT MAN 2’35.
1951-1952
Magnetic tape recordings :
 9. WHAT’S THE MATTER BABY 2’13
10. I’VE GOT EYES FOR YOU 2’38
11. STAY AWAY 2’13
12. DON’T YOU LIE TO ME 2’18
13. ROCKIN’ CHAIR 2’27
14. SOMETIMES I WONDER 2’21
15. RIGHT FROM WRONG 2’14
16. YOU KNOW I MISS YOU 2’13
17. I’LL BE GONE 2’19
18. REELING AND ROCKING 2’19
19. GOIN’ HOME 2’10
20. HOW LONG 2’01.

DISC 2 • 1951-1953 :

 1. NO, NO BABY 2’19
 2. THE FAT MAN’S HOP 2’25
 3. LONG LONESOME JOURNEY 2’27
 4. TRUST IN ME 2’48
 5. CHEATIN’ 2’36
 6. MARDI GRAS IN NEW ORLEANS 2’17
 7. I GUESS I’LL BE ON MY WAY 2’17
 8. NOBODY LOVES ME 2’12
 9. DREAMING 2’19
10. GOING TO THE RIVER 2’29
11. I LOVE HER 2’04
12. SECOND LINE JUMP 2’32
13. SWANEE RIVER HOP 2’46
14. ROSEMARY [version 1] 2’00
15. PLEASE DON’T LEAVE ME 2’34
16. DOMINO STOMP 1’55
17. YOU SAID YOU LOVE ME 2’34
18. ROSE MARY [version 2] 2’15
19. AIN’T IT GOOD 2’36
20. FATS DOMINO BLUES 2’25.
DISC 3 • 1953-1955 :
 1. THE GIRL I LOVE 2’06
 2. DON’T LEAVE ME THIS WAY 2’18
 3. SOMETHING’S WRONG 2’41
 4. FAT’S FRENZY 2’23
 5. GOIN’ BACK HOME 1’55
 6. YOU LEFT ME 2’03
 7. “44” 2’29
 8. BARREL HOUSE 2’29
 9. LITTLE SCHOOL GIRL 2’38
10. IF YOU NEED ME 2’03
11. YOU DONE ME WRONG 2’03
12. BABY PLEASE 1’56
13. WHERE DID YOU STAY 2’01
14. I LIVED MY LIFE 1’59
15. LITTLE MAMA 2’39
16. I KNOW 2’38
17. LOVE ME 1’55
18. DON’T YOU HEAR ME CALLING YOU 2’07
19. DON’T YOU NOW 2’20
20. HELPING HAND 2’06.

CD 4 - 5 - 6

All By Myself
Ain’t That a Shame
Blue Monday
I’m Walkin’
I’m Ready
Lazy Woman
Shu Rah
Ain’t That Just Like
a Woman
Ain’t Gonna Do it
Blueberry Hill
DISC 4 • 1955-1957 :
 1. ALL BY MYSELF 2’22
 2. AIN’T THAT A SHAME 2’25
 3. LA-LA 2’13
 4. BLUE MONDAY 2’16
 5. TROUBLES OF MY OWN 2’13
 6. I’M IN LOVE AGAIN 1’54
 7. BO WEEVIL 2’47
 8. DON’T BLAME IT ON ME 2’41
 9. IF YOU NEED ME 2’02
10. HOWDY PODNER 2’08
11. SO LONG 2’11
12. I CAN’T GO ON THIS WAY 2’10
13. MY BLUE HEAVEN 2’06
14. IDA JANE 2’09
15. WHEN MY DREAMBOAT COMES HOME 2’19
16. WHAT’S THE REASON WHY I’M NOT PLEASING YOU 2’01
17. THE TWIST SET ME FREE 2’00
18. BLUEBERRY HILL 2’19
19. HONEY CHILE 1’46
20. WHAT WILL I TELL MY HEART 2’26.

DISC 5 • 1957-1959 :

 1. I’M WALKIN’ 2’09
 2. I’M IN THE MOOD FOR LOVE 2’42
 3. MY HAPPINESS 2’14
 4. DON’T DECEIVE ME 1’52
 5. THE ROOSTER SONG 2’05
 6. OH WHEE 2’06
 7. MY LOVE FOR HER 2’37
 8. DON’T YOU KNOW THAT I LOVE YOU 2’09
 9. (I’LL BE GLAD WHEN YOU’RE DEAD) YOU RASCAL YOU 2’36
10. YOUNG SCHOOL GIRL 1’54
11. LAZY WOMAN 1’47
12. WHOLE LOTTA LOVING 1’38
13. LIL’ LIZA JANE 1’52
14. WHEN THE SAINTS GO MARCHING IN 2’25
15. I’M READY 2’03
16. I WANT TO WALK YOU HOME 2’19
17. EASTER PARADE 2’26
18. BE MY GUEST 2’15
19. WALKING TO NEW ORLEANS 1’59
20. DON’T COME KNOCKIN’ 1’57.

DISC 6 • 1959-1962 :

 1. LA LA 2’02
 2. SHU RAH 1’40
 3. MY GIRL JOSEPHINE 2’02
 4. IT KEEPS RAININ’ 2’46
 5. WHAT A PRICE 2’21
 6. AIN’T THAT JUST LIKE A WOMAN 2’43
 7. FELL IN LOVE ON MONDAY 1’55
 8. TROUBLE IN MIND 2’30
 9. BAD LUCK AND TROUBLE 2’40
10. I JUST CRY 2’06
11. AIN’T GONNA DO IT 2’04
12. WON’T YOU COME ON BACK 2’18
13. GOOD HEARTED MAN 2’24
14. TROUBLE BLUES 2’41
15. LET THE FOUR WINDS BLOW 2’17
16. WHAT A PARTY 1’59
17. JAMBALAYA (ON THE BAYOU) 2’22
18. STOP THE CLOCK 2’19
19. HUM DIDDY DOO 1’54
20. DANCE WITH MR. DOMINO 2’04.

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