Ain't that a shame: the new incarnation of WCBS-FM, the venerable New York oldies station, has redefined "oldies" as hits from the '60s, '70s and '80s rather than the '50s and '60s the way it used to be. Since I was born in the '60s, and came of age musically in the '70s, that station, and a similar one in Boston, were the places I learned Fats' songs and got "Ain't That a Shame" and "Blueberry Hill" sewn permanently into my own skin. (A painless procedure, I assure you.) People listening to the new CBS won't get any Fats with their Rod Stewart and their Mamas and the Papas.
Fortunately, they can get this new CD. The price is great and the recordings sound as good as 50-year-old singles can be made to sound on a modern CD. (The very oldest tracks sound a bit worn, but I'm sure that's because of the limitations of the source media.) On most tracks Domino's vocals jump out like he just sang them yesterday. His iconic piano triplets chug up your spine, and Herbert Hardesty's classic sax lines surge out warm and rich. Capitol's Ron McMaster deserves kudos for a great mastering job. If you're looking for a single, high quality, more-or-less definitive Fats Domino hits collection, for a very nice price, this is definitely your best bet.
Track list:
1. The Fat Man
2. Goin' Home
3. Going To the River
4. Please Don't Leave Me
5. Something's Wrong
6. Ain't That a Shame
7. All By Myself
8. Poor Me
9. I Can't Go On (Rosalie)
10. Bo Weevil
11. Don't Blame It On Me
12. I'm In Love Again
13. My Blue Heaven
14. When My Dreamboat Comes Home
15. So Long
16. Blueberry Hill
17. Honey Chile
18. Blue Monday
19. I'm Walkin'
20. It's You I Love
21. Valley Of Tears
22. Wait And See
23. Whole Lotta Loving
24. I'm Ready
25. I Want To Walk You Home
26. I'm Gonna Be a Wheel Someday
27. Be My Guest
28. Walking To New Orleans
29. My Girl Josephine
30. Let the Four Winds Blow
Article comments
1 - Connie Phillips
Congrats! This article has been forwarded to the Advance.net websites and Boston.com.