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.
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