By Loud Atlas
The toe-tappingly pleasing tunes that rode the radio waves back in the 1950s still carry a charm today. I wish more music nowadays would bounce along as joyfully and easily as it did back then. A sign of the times, perhaps. Catchy and concise tunes, many of them under three minutes long, were the staple of those pioneers of rock 'n' roll. Fats Domino's trademark warm delivery and punchy rolling piano style are a delight still to behold today. To put it succinctly, his work, and the work of his contemporaries, arguably laid the foundations of music for years to come.
Yes, this week we've been celebrating the work and legacy of Antoine "Fats" Domino who would have turned 98 years old last Thursday. For further reading, an overview of his remarkable life and the Song Bar patrons' nominations, have a peek at last week's article.
There's perhaps no greater compliment than using your stage name to honour your hero, I think. He's not called Chubby Checker for nothing. A cover of the Hank Ballard and the Midnighters original, The Twist continues to this day to be a portal to a joyful era of bop-tastic energy. He's a great soundalike, too.
Without Fats and his oeuvre, it's possible that The Beatles may not have sounded the way they did. And without The Beatles, what would everyone else have sounded like? Now there's a wormhole worth going down at some point. Their 1968 tribute to Fats and the classic world of rock 'n' roll, Lady Madonna, was itself inspired by the style of Bad Penny Blues by Humphrey Lyttleton. Fats would later go on to cover their single himself in a cyclical display of mutual affection.
See how they run … after Fats. The Beatles Lady Madonna UK 7-inch
A couple of covers next, with guitar-driven rock 'n' roll at their heart. The first firmly on the rock side of things. An expanded cover version of Ain't It A Shame, but still with the percussive beats in all the right places, Cheap Trick brought the house down with this live performance during their Budokan concert. It was reportedly Fats' favourite cover of his work as well.
Back in 1970, Welshman Dave Edmunds, with his distinctive vocal phase-reverse effect, channelled his inner swamp dweller by creating a homage to the greats of the past. I Hear You Knocking is a cover of a Smiley Lewis song, but this time with a steady chugging beat, minus the jangly piano of the original - although the piano player here has an easy gig with just the two chords. As was its popularity (a hankering for the past?) the song stayed at #1 for 6 weeks in the UK charts. Listen out for the name checks during the instrumental break, to which he and others owe a huge debt.
In terms of a modern advocate for that piano-driven boogie woogie style, there isn't anyone quite as keen as band leader and all-round musical maestro Jools Holland. In the late 1980s, Jools met his hero in New Orleans and sat down together for a jam session. It's a short lesson with Fats himself, but a style that Jools has made a living from for the last 40 years. Although this is a piece written before Fats' time, that boogie woogie style (in a very allegro fashion here) is the core of Sixth Avenue Express, a tune bound to get your toes a-tappin'.
Fats' influence didn't just inspire the rockers of the day in his home country and across the pond, but through the power of radio waves to the Caribbean too. The Jamaican pianist Theophilus Beckford (known as Theo, but what a terrific name) is credited by many as the originator of ska and took his piano style from Fats initially. Easy Snappin' has a super laid back off-beat groove that would go on to influence the development of rocksteady and reggae.
Theophilus Beckford
And whilst we're in that part of the world, let's celebrate a reggae cover version of Sick and Tired, which in itself was a cover of an original Chris Kenner song (you may have spotted a trend!). The structure remains the same, but that slow off-beat reggae rhythm is something that adds another dimension to the song. Neville Grant, along with legendary producer Lee "Scratch" Perry, throw in an even groovier sax solo too.
And so to the dancehall of the mid-1990s and a re-imagining of My Girl Josephine from the 1960 original. There's a hip-hop edge to it too, with a change to the lyrics. Gone are the references to hand holding, umbrella sharing and piggy backs, but the sentiments remain the same, I suppose. This version's wooing involves bragging about an inherited car. Smooth. Super Cat is the superstar DJ with the same shuffling beat, and Jack Radics is on vocals which weren't in the original (but they add a certain flavour!).
It's funny how songs so inextricably linked to an artist aren't always theirs. First recorded by Sammy Kaye back in 1940, it was a further 16 years before the world first heard Fats' version of Blueberry Hill. There's a propensity for most post-Fats covers to sound as close to him as possible. The ensemble that takes a more leisurely pace is Lester Bowie's Brass Fantasy, lingering on the melody with their fine brass sound. For me, it's the layers that get taken away and added that make this version a delight.
Stepping away from covers a moment, let's celebrate the dynamism of the Fine Young Cannibals. Here their soulful pop-rock-tinged sound on Good Thing harks back to a simpler uncluttered age. Lyrically the first half is very doom and gloom, despite the chipper music – a technique that Fats used in his songs too (see I'm Walkin' etc.). And guess who's on piano for that energetic solo? That's right, Jools Holland.
Andy Cox, Roland Gift and David Steele of Fine Young Cannibals, 1986
New Orleans, where Fats lived all of his life, has a musical scene like no other, and was an integral part of his sound. Another famous ex-resident is Randy Newman, who spent his formative years there. Randy wrote Have You Seen My Baby? much in the same style as Fats thematically (perennial troubles with his love life). Curiously, this was recorded by Fats first then by Randy himself shortly afterwards. Speaking to Rolling Stone, Newman said, "When he did it, it was like him imitating me imitating him." Either way, clearly a love letter from one great to another.
Sticking with famous New Orleans residents, Dr. John considered Fats a hero and influence on his style. He himself became a distinctive figure in the development of the New Orleans sound. Iko Iko, that Mardi Gras staple, was made famous by the Dixie Cups, but at Dr. John's fingertips becomes a glistening example of the sound of the South. And a bonus fun fact: Fats' band guitarist was also Dr. John's early guitar teacher.
Dr. John
You'll be pleased to hear we have another New Orleans local (another who never left) who learnt his trade by listening to Fats and Professor Longhair. Clarence "Frogman" Henry was a rhythm and blues singer and pianist. I Don't Know Why (But I Do) is a delightful song with wonderfully warm vocals (the Soundalike Award of the Week goes to him) and soulfully pulsating piano.
It would be a bit remiss to not include at least one Fats Domino track in this list, and perhaps, suitably, it should be the one that some consider to be the first rock 'n' roll record - including terrific vocal wah-wahs as well. Written with his long-term collaborator Dave Bartholomew, this was Fats' first single. And without his frame, the song wouldn't exist. So here he is inspiring himself. The Fat Man: the record that launched a genre...arguably.
Over in the B-list, you'll hear some of Fats' contemporaries who were integral to the development of rock 'n' roll (I'm sure they were all influencing each other at one stage or another!), some pounding piano from later disciples, and some more ska of course!
Ample Influence Full-Fats A-List Playlist:
Chubby Checker - The Twist (SweetHomeAlabama)
The Beatles - Lady Madonna (ParaMhor)
Cheap Trick - Ain't That A Shame (live) (DiscoMonster)
Dave Edmunds - I Hear You Knocking (Uncleben)
Jools Holland - Sixth Avenue Express (magicman)
Theo Beckford - Easy Snappin' (Nicko)
Neville Grant - Sick and Tired (pejepeine)
Super Cat (feat. Jack Radics) - My Girl Josephine (pejepeine)
Lester Bowie's Brass Fantasy - Blueberry Hill (pejepeine)
Fine Young Cannibals - Good Thing (AltraEgo)
Randy Newman - Have You Seen My Baby? (magicman)
Dr. John - Iko Iko (ParaMhor)
Clarence "Frogman" Henry - I Don't Know Why (But I Do) (magicman)
Fats Domino - The Fat Man (Nicko)
Big Boogie Woogie Booster B-List Playlist:
Ray Charles - Roll With My Baby (magicman)
Mott the Hoople - All The Way From Memphis (magicman)
Elton John - Crocodile Rock (magicman)
Paul Davis - Boogie Woogie Man (SweetHomeAlabama)
Lloyd Price - Lawdy Miss Clawdy (Naguchi)
Bob Dylan - Temporary Like Achilles (ParaMhor)
Chas & Dave - All By Myself (magicman)
Lord Tanamo - I'm In The Mood For Love (I'm In The Mood For Ska) (severin)
Bitty McLean - It Keeps Rainin' (Tears From My Eyes) (TarquinSpodd)
The Rulers - Wrong Emboyo (pejepeine)
Roy Montrell and his Band - That Mellow Saxophone (Naguchi)
James Brown & The Famous Flames - I'll Go Crazy (live) (magicman)
Billy Joel - Christie Lee (Naguchi)
The Fontane Sisters - I'm In Love Again (magicman)
Guru's Wildcard Picks:
Luca Sestak - E-Flat Flyer
Bereft of ideas for modern boogie woogie piano players of the 21st century, I had a fumble around the web and I think I've found him. This is taken from his 2010 debut album recorded when he was only 15! The future's looking groovy.
Bruce Springsteen - Stand On It
This is the B side of Glory Days from 1985. It's perhaps the closest Brucie got to a traditional rock 'n' roll song. Raucously done!
Ben Folds Five - Tom & Mary
Ben was once the poster boy of 1990s piano-plonking. He and his Five released a number of albums each with an emphasis on energetic piano. There's plenty of that here.
Neil Sedaka - Love Will Keep Us Together
Paying tribute to Mr Domino, Neil once said that Fats had "the happiest songs", and I'd like to think that this is his attempt at emulating that heart-on-his-sleeve shuffling style. The piano bounces lightly in this sweet and well-meaning song. RIP, Neil.
These playlists were inspired by readers' song nominations in response to last week's topic: New Orleans and beyond: songs referencing and influenced by Fats Domino. The next topic will launch on Thursday after 1pm UK time.
New to comment? It is quick and easy. You just need to login to Disqus once. All is explained in About/FAQs ...
Fancy a turn behind the pumps at The Song Bar? Care to choose a playlist from songs nominated and write something about it? Then feel free to contact The Song Bar here, or try the usual email address. Also please follow us social media: Song Bar X, Song Bar Facebook. Song Bar YouTube, and Song Bar Instagram. Please subscribe, follow and share.