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In an art form characterized from its earliest days by sexually charged imagery, rebellious abandon, a fickle sense of fashion, and often disposable musical fluff, Antoine "Fats" Domino embodied none of the above. Long revered as one of the founding fathers of rock & roll, Domino scored nearly three dozen Top 40 hits from 1955 to 1963. Yet that success--second only to
Elvis's during that era--belied a friendly, often low-key performing style and reverence of musical history that was ostensibly rock's very antithesis. The answers to that conundrum lie in the four 24-bit-remastered discs of this 100-track anthology, a rich chronicle of Domino's New Orleans boogie-woogie-bred R&B. If there are some distinct formulas at work here (the familiar lolling rhythms--and even lyrics--of "Something's Wrong" foreshadow at least two of his most massive hits, "Blueberry Hill" and "Ain't That a Shame," while the melody of the brief "You Done Me Wrong" can't help but recall
Lloyd Price's "Stagger Lee"), Domino has honed them to perfection, selling each song with a warm, understated voice that's a sharp contrast to his distinctively rollicking piano work. Indeed, it's remarkable how consistent Domino was over the near-15-year span of this anthology; if only General Motors had decided to keep building the '55 Bel Air as long. Suffice it to say that Domino's legacy continues to inform new generations of musicians and fans, and that this generous set documents one of the true cornerstones of modern American popular music.
--Jerry McCulley
Product Description
100 legendary Imperial recordings from 1949 to 1962 all digitally remastered on 4CDs. Includes all 40 of his R&B top 10 hits and 10 #1's. Housed in a digi-book with liner notes. 2002.