Record #0851: Sometime Tomorrow / Farther Up the Road – BOBBY “BLUE” BLAND

Duke 170 (original) USA, July 1957
Words & Music by:  Side A – Joseph Scott, Charles Harper; Side B – Don Robey, Joe Veasey
Musicians: Bobby “Blue” Bland (lead vocals), Bill Harvey (tenor sax, band lead), Joe Scott (trumpet), Pluma Davis (trombone), L.A. Hill (tenor sax), Rayfield Devers (baritone sax), Teddy Reynolds (piano), Hamp Simmons (bass), Sonny Freeman (drums), Pat Hare (guitar on side B), Clarence Hollimon (guitar on side A), the Joe Scott Singers (backing vocals)
Recording sessions: Produced by  Don Robey at ACA Studios, Houston, TX, around January / February 1957
Highest chart positions: Side A – none; Side B – US #43, US R&B #1

The matrix numbers indicate that “Sometime Tomorrow” was the original A-side of this single, but radio stations played mostly the flipside, which became a big crossover hit.

According to blues singer Johnny Copeland, he and Joe Medwick (Joe Veasey) sat down and wrote the song together in a single night. The next morning, Medwick, who was chronically broke and desperately needed quick cash, walked straight into Don Robey’s office to sell the brand-new track.

Robey was famous for keeping a stack of cash right inside his desk drawer specifically for these moments. He bought the song from Medwick on the spot for just a few dozen dollars. However, as part of the deal, Robey completely erased Johnny Copeland's name from the credits and substituted his own as the official co-writer.

Because the song became a number-one hit, that small cash payout turned into a goldmine for Don Robey. He raked in massive publishing royalties for decades—especially later when Eric Clapton recorded his own famous versions of the track. Meanwhile, the actual creators saw virtually none of the long-term wealth their song generated.

This was the only record where Pat Hare played guitar for Bobby Bland. Soon after this Hare joined Muddy Waters’ band full-time.

List price: Les Docks lists this for $5-$10. 45cat.com Price Guide sets this at €23. I found 12 copies sold in eBay for €20-€60 (the highest price was paid in Germany).

 

Record #0850: The Big Beat / I Want You To Know – FATS DOMINO

Imperial 5477 (original) USA, November 1957
Words & Music by:  Side A – Antoine “Fats” Domino, Dave Bartholomew; Side B – Domino, Bartholomew
Musicians: Fats Domino (vocals and piano on side A, overdubbed vocals on side B), Justin Adams or Harrison Verrett (guitar), Frank Fields (bass), Lee Allen (tenor sax), Alvin “Red” Tyler (baritone sax), Dave Bartholomew (trumpet on side A), Earl Palmer (drums on side A), Charles Williams (drums on side B), Allen Toussaint (piano on side B)
Recording sessions: Produced by Dave Bartholomew at J&M Recording Studio, New Orleans, LA; Side A - on 5. June 1957; Side B – on 6. October 1957
Highest chart positions: Side A – US #26, US R&B #15, UK #20; Side B – US #32

This single holds a unique place in Fats Domino's discography. It is historically recognized as the very last Imperial single to feature a deliberately sped-up studio recording. Prior to this release, the label frequently accelerated the pitch and tempo of his tracks to make them sound more energetic for the radio. From his next release onward, his singles were issued at their natural recorded speed.

While Fats Domino is universally famous for his distinct rolling piano style, he does not play piano on the flip side. Because Fats was constantly on the road touring in late 1957, producer Dave Bartholomew had to find a substitute studio pianist to lay down the keys. He hired a young, local New Orleans musician named Allen Toussaint. Toussaint mimicked Fats' style so perfectly that most listeners never realized a future Rock and Roll Hall of Fame legend was ghost-playing the keys. The song was Toussaint’s first recording.

List price: Les Docks lists this for $5-$8. 45cat.com Price Guide sets this at €28. I found five copies sold in eBay for €20-€33.

 

Record #0849: Goin’ Home/ Reeling and Rocking – FATS DOMINO

Imperial 5180 (original) USA, April 1952
Words & Music by:  Side A – Antoine “Fats” Domino, Alvin Young; Side B – Antoine “Fats” Domino, Alvin Young
Musicians: Fats Domino (vocals and piano), Harrison Verrett (guitar), Billy Diamond and/or Frank Fields (bass), Wendell Duconge (alto sax), Buddy Hagans (tenor sax), Earl Palmer (drums)
Recording sessions: Produced by Dave Bartholomew at J&M Recording Studio, New Orleans, LA, in January 1952
Highest chart positions: Side A – US R&B #1; Side B - none

This was Fats Domino’s first chart-topper and his first million seller. He was backed by the elite of New Orleans’ R&B scene.

Eager to secure a lucrative slice of the publishing royalties, the record label boss, Lew Chudd, credited himself under a fake name, even though Fats Domino had written the core of the song himself.

Fats Domino's regular producer, arranger, and co-writer, Dave Bartholomew, was furious when he saw this. Feeling completely blindsided and cheated out of his rightful creative recognition, Bartholomew walked out on Imperial Records in protest.

In a twist of pure poetic justice, just as "Goin' Home" hit #1 on the R&B charts in June 1952, it was knocked off the top spot by another massive New Orleans track: Lloyd Price's "Lawdy Miss Clawdy" (where Fats Domino played the piano). The producer and arranger behind that rival number one hit? None other than Dave Bartholomew, proving to the label that he could dominate the charts without Fats Domino.

Realizing his massive mistake, Lew Chudd quickly patched things up and lured Bartholomew back. Fats and Dave reunited, going on to create one of the most successful and enduring partnerships in music history. Imperial 5180 stands as the exact record that nearly broke early rock's most dynamic duo—but ultimately cemented their power.

List price: Les Docks lists this for $30-$50. 45cat.com Price Guide sets this at €33. I found four copies sold in eBay for $27-$40.