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.

 

Record #0848: Darling, Listen To This Song / Florida Special – WILBERT HARRISON

Savoy 1164 (original) USA, July 1955
Words & Music by:  Side A – Wilbert Harrison; Side B – Wilbert Harrison
Musicians: Wilbert Harrison (lead vocals, possibly some piano / guitar), Kenny Burrell (guitar), Buddy Lucas (saxophone), Panama Francis (drums), others unknown
Recording sessions: Produced by Fred Mendelsohn at Van Gelder Studio, Hackensack, NJ, in March 1955
Highest chart positions: none

One of the most fascinating aspects of this record is found on its flipside The track reveals Wilbert Harrison’s bold habit of revisiting, recycling, and reshaping his own musical ideas.

“Florida Special” is a fast, train-themed rhythm-and-blues boogie, powered by a rolling guitar-and-piano groove and sharpened by Buddy Lucas’s exuberant saxophone. Its real significance lies in what that groove later became.

He reworks that same musical idea for “Let’s Work Together”, his enduring rock-blues anthem in 1969. The following year Canned Heat covers the song, turning Harrison’s recycled groove into a worldwide hit.

So, “Florida Special” has the blueprint for “Let’s Work Together”. 😊

List price: Les Docks lists this for $5-$8. One copy was sold in eBay for $69 in 2015.