vinylfanatics.com

**Rock And Rollin' With Fats Domino**
★★★★☆

In the grand pantheon of rock 'n' roll pioneers, Antoine "Fats" Domino occupies a throne carved from New Orleans ivory and adorned with the jewels of rhythm and blues royalty. By the time "Rock And Rollin' With Fats Domino" rolled off the Imperial Records presses in 1956, the man from the Ninth Ward had already established himself as one of the most potent forces in American popular music, his piano-driven sound serving as a crucial bridge between the honky-tonk blues of the past and the revolutionary rock 'n' roll future.

The album arrived at a pivotal moment in Domino's career, following his breakthrough success with "Ain't That a Shame" and "Bo Weevil," when the music industry was finally waking up to the commercial potential of this rotund genius whose fingers danced across the keys like sugar-coated lightning. While Elvis was gyrating his way into controversy and Chuck Berry was duck-walking into legend, Domino was quietly revolutionising popular music with a more subtle, infectious approach that made rebellion sound like the most natural thing in the world.

What strikes you immediately about "Rock And Rollin' With Fats Domino" is how effortlessly it captures the essence of New Orleans music – that intoxicating blend of Caribbean rhythms, French colonial elegance, and raw American blues that could only have emerged from the cultural melting pot of the Crescent City. This isn't the aggressive, guitar-heavy rock 'n' roll that would later dominate the airwaves; instead, it's a more sophisticated beast, built on Domino's rolling piano triplets, the steady thump of his rhythm section, and his own deceptively casual vocal delivery that could make the most mundane lyric sound like profound wisdom.

The album's crown jewel is undoubtedly "Blueberry Hill," a song that would become Domino's signature and one of the most enduring standards in the American songbook. Originally penned by Vincent Rose, Al Lewis, and Larry Stock in 1940, the tune had been kicking around Tin Pan Alley for over a decade before Domino transformed it into something altogether more magical. His version strips away the original's saccharine sentimentality, replacing it with a gentle melancholy that speaks to universal themes of love and loss. The way Domino's voice caresses the melody, supported by his own piano work and a sympathetic arrangement that never overwhelms, creates a perfect three-minute capsule of musical emotion.

Equally impressive is "Honey Chile," which showcases Domino's ability to inject genuine warmth into what could have been throwaway material. The song bounces along on a bed of rolling piano and subtle brass, while Domino's vocal delivery suggests both romantic devotion and playful flirtation. It's the kind of performance that made him such a crossover success – non-threatening enough for mainstream audiences, yet authentic enough to maintain his credibility with R&B purists.

"Don't You Know I Love You" demonstrates another facet of Domino's artistry, his ability to take a simple blues structure and elevate it through sheer force of personality. The song's call-and-response structure between Domino's vocals and his piano creates an intimate conversation that draws the listener into his world of gentle romance and musical sophistication.

The album's production, courtesy of the legendary Dave Bartholomew, deserves particular praise for its clarity and warmth. In an era when many recordings suffered from primitive technology and rushed sessions, "Rock And Rollin' With Fats Domino" sounds remarkably fresh and immediate, each instrument occupying its own space in the mix while contributing to a cohesive whole that perfectly frames Domino's artistry.

Looking back from our current vantage point, it's clear that "Rock And Rollin' With Fats Domino" represents more than just another collection of songs from the early rock era. It's a document of a crucial moment in American music history, when the old certainties were crumbling and new possibilities were emerging from unexpected places. Domino's influence can be heard in everyone from The Beatles to Dr. John, from Jerry Lee Lewis to Professor Longhair, testament to the enduring power of his musical vision.

While some tracks feel less essential than others, the album's best moments rank among the finest achievements of the rock 'n