Retro Dee is a regular contributor to The Grooveyard’s website, writing about music, fashion and other trends of the 1950s. Check out her blog, Retro Dee’s Guide to the Best Era Ever here, and her column here every Wednesday.
Hi folks, it’s Retro Dee and in honor of Fats Domino’s birthday last week, we’re going to look at three of his biggest hits!
I find it interesting how back in the early days of Rock n Roll and Pop music, many artists had an on-going theme for their songs.
At one time, during his long and illustrious career, Fats Domino’s theme seemed to be “blue”. And when you think about it, it’s a great theme!
“My Blue Heaven”
Let’s start with Fats’ first blue-themed song to hit airwaves, “My Blue Heaven” (written by Walter Donaldson and George A. Whiting) This was actually the B side to “I’m In Love Again”. Released in March of 1956, this song peaked at #21 on the US Hot 100.
Trivia: This song first debuted almost 20 years before Fats recorded it, when it was used in the Ziegfeld Follies of 1927.
“Blueberry Hill”
In September of 1956, “Blueberry Hill” was released on Imperial Records. “Blueberry Hill” is arguably Fats’ most famous song. Peaking at #4 on the US Hot 100, this song is a Jukebox favorite and often appears on compilations. However, “Blueberry Hill” didn’t start off as a Rock n Roll tune! Written by Vincent Rose, Larry Stock and Al Lewis, “Blueberry Hill” was recorded a total of six times in the year 1940 alone. Louis Armstrong also recorded a version the song in 1949, seven years before Fats’ big hit.
Trivia: “Blueberry Hill” was Richie Cunningham’s personal theme song on the TV show “Happy Days”!
“Blue Monday”
Another perennial favorite, “Blue Monday” (written by Dave Bartholomew) was originally recorded by Smiley Lewis in 1953. When Fats Domino’s version was released in December of 1956, it gained major popularity and peaked at #9 on the US Hot 100. “Blue Monday” was also featured in the 1956 film The Girl Can’t Help it.
Trivia: The first cover version of “Blue Monday” was recorded by Buddy Holly.
Bonus Trivia: Fats Domino was a favorite artist of Peggy Sue Gerron, the teenage girl who inspired the title of Buddy Holly’s 1957 mega-hit “Peggy Sue”!
Thanks for reading, I hope you enjoyed this post. You can follow Retro Dee’s Guide to the Best Era ever here on WordPress. You can also follow Retro Dee on on Twitter @RealRetroDee and Instagram @mariepascal82
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