“Ain’t That A Shame” was released on single in the summer of 1955, backed with “La La” and also featured on Fats’ debut album “Carry on Rockin’” in November of that year.

“Ain’t That A Shame” was one of many classic collaborations between Fats Domino and Imperial A&R man Dave Bartholomew. The pair had achieved a string of hits on the R&B chart since they began working together on the single “The Fat Man” in 1949, but “Ain’t That A Shame” was the first to achieve crossover success on the pop chart. Many timeless collaborations would follow, including “I’m Walkin’” and “Blue Monday.”

The song employs what even then was a well worn stop-time structure for the verses, with Fats and the band punctuating each statement with a double blast of the ‘B flat’ chord. The chorus has a standard R&B rhythm pattern, with Fats’ trademark pounding piano style, and a highly catchy “Ain’t That A Shame” hook. There is also memorable saxophone work throughout and particularly on the instrumental break played by Herb Hardesty, who played on many of Fats’ biggest hits.

Domino’s brand of rock ‘n’ roll was probably closer to conventional R&B than the output of any of his rock ‘n’ roll contemporaries, and “Ain’t That A Shame” was no exception. Fats himself would say that he just continued to play what he’d always played in New Orleans. There was some interference though from Imperial, who speeded up the single by one step in an effort to give the song a little more drive and make Domino’s vocal more youthful and less laidback.

“Ain’t That A Shame” first came to prominence via Pat Boone’s cover, which is often regarded as a watered down rip-off of the original. Putting aside the musical merits of the cover, it also gave mainstream exposure to the original and raised Domino’s profile. The royalties from Boone’s hit record were also significant, leading Domino to joke that Boone bought him his gold ring.

It was hits like “Ain’t That A Shame” that ensured Fats Domino was among the first 10 inductees into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1986. Bartholomew would join Fats in the Hall of Fame in 1991.

Fats Domino – “Ain’t That A Shame”

Authorship

“Ain’t That A Shame” was written by Fats Domino and Dave Bartholomew.

Recording date/location

“Ain’t That A Shame” was recorded in March, 1955, but sources differ on where, with some citing Cosimo Matassa’s Studio in New Orleans, LA, and others claiming that it was recorded in Hollywood during a break from a tour.

Musicians

The following musicians played on “Ain’t That A Shame”:

• Fats Domino – vocals, piano
• Herb Hardesty – tenor sax
• Wendell Duconge – tenor sax
• Walter Nelson – guitar
• Frank Fields – bass
• Cornelius Coleman – drums.

Chart performance

“Ain’t That A Shame” reached number 10 on Billboard’s pop chart and number one on the R&B chart.

Notable covers

Pat Boone – “Ain’t That A Shame”

Pat Boone was a fine ballad singer, but his instincts for rock ‘n’ roll were limited. His cover of “Ain’t That A Shame” is sung in an odd, overly formal fashion and the whole thing plods along with none of the natural verve of the original. Despite this, Boone had a number one hit on the Billboard pop chart.

Boone suggested that the title of his cover be changed to “Isn’t That A Shame,” but he was sensibly overruled.

John Lennon – “Ain’t That A Shame”

John Lennon claimed that “Ain’t That A Shame” was the first song he learned to play as a teenager, but he didn’t record it until 1974 as part of the sessions that would produce his 1975 “Rock ‘n’ Roll” album. Lennon had assembled a good band, with the keyboard work of Ken Ascher particularly notable on this track, but the whole thing might have benefited from being taken down a notch or two as Lennon’s vocal sounds a little strained.

There will be a new Song of the Week on February 13.

Fats Domino’s “Ain’t That A Shame” is available on numerous compilations, including “Fats Domino Greatest Hits: Walking To New Orleans.”

Title
Fats Domino Greatest Hits: Walking To New Orleans (2 CDs)	Buy Now	Buy Now	Buy Now	Buy Now

A total of nine albums and 21 individual songs will be inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2011, with recordings spanning the years 1927 to 1984. Here’s the complete list:

Songs:

• “My Mammy” – Al Jolson (1927)
• “Dark Was The Night, Cold Was The Ground” – Blind Willie Johnson (1927)
• “Frankie” – Mississippi John Hurt (1928)
• “Steel Guitar Rag” – Bob Wills & His Texas Playboys Featuring Leon McAuliffe (1936)
• “Rockin’ Chair” – Mildred Bailey (1937)
• “Summertime” – Sidney Bechet (1939)
• “Ko-Ko” – Duke Ellington & His Famous Orchestra (1940)
• “Do Nothin’ Till You Hear From Me” – Duke Ellington & His Orchestra Featuring Al Hibbler (1944)
• “Lovesick Blues” – Hank Williams With His Drifting Cowboys(1949)
• “Walking To New Orleans” – Fats Domino (1960)
• “Please Mr. Postman” – The Marvelettes (1961)
• “We Gotta Get Out Of This Place” – The Animals (1965)
• “I’ve Been Loving You Too Long” (Single) – Otis Redding (1965)
• “Penny Lane” – The Beatles (1967)
• “The Letter” – The Box Tops (1967)
• “Many Rivers To Cross” – Jimmy Cliff (1969)
• “Cissy Strut” – The Meters (1969)
• “I’ll Be There” – The Jackson 5 (1970)
• “Take Me To The River” – Al Green (1974)
• “Cat’s In The Cradle” – Harry Chapin (1974)
• “On The Road Again” – Willie Nelson (1980).

Albums:

• “Schumann: Carnaval Op.9″ – Sergei Rachmaninoff (1929)
• “Brigadoon” – Original Broadway Cast (1947)
• “Joan Baez” – Joan Baez (1960)
• “Genius + Soul = Jazz” – Ray Charles (1961)
• “Sunday At The Village Vangaurd” Bill Evans Trio (1961)
• “The Köln Concert” – Keith Jarrett (1975)
• “Bogalusa Boogie” – Clifton Chenier (1976)
• “Heavy Weather” – Weather Report (1977)
• “Purple Rain” – Prince & The Revolution (1984).

Neil Portnow, President/CEO of The Recording Academy, said:

The Recording Academy and MusiCares has also announced the line-up for the 2011 MusiCares Person of the Year event, which will take place on February 11, 2011 – two days prior to the 53rd Annual Grammy Awards. The following artists will gather to pay tribute to Person of the Year, Barbra Streisand:

• Tony Bennett
• Kristin Chenoweth
• “Glee” cast members Darren Criss, Lea Michele and Matthew Morrison
• Herbie Hancock
• Diana Krall
• Barry Manilow
• Donna Summer
• Stevie Wonder
• Nikki Yanofsky.

Streisand will close the event with a special performance.

See also:
2011 Grammy Award nominations

The partnership between Fats Domino and Dave Bartholomew lasted from 1949 to 1963 and produced more than fifty songs, including classics such as “Blue Monday,” “I’m Walkin,” “Blueberry Hill,” “Ain’t That a Shame,” and “Walking to New Orleans.” Bartholomew’s arranging and production skills are also heard on tracks by Lloyd Price, Roy Brown, Smiley Lewis and Shirley & Lee.

The six-day celebration will include lectures, interviews, films, educational programmes and, on the final day, a conference at Case Western Reserve University and a tribute concert at the Palace Theater in PlayhouseSquare. The concert will include performances by Dave Bartholomew, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductee Lloyd Price, Dr. John and The Lower 9-11, Irma Thomas, The Rebirth Brass Band and Robert Parker.

Fats Domino will not be at the event, but he welcomed the tribute:

Dave Bartholomew said:

Click here for further information on “Walking to New Orleans: the Music of Fats Domino and Dave Bartholomew.”

This song has been selected as much for the numerous, high quality cover versions as the great original.

“Jambalaya (On the Bayou)” is named after the Creole and Cajun dish, jambalaya, and also references other Cajun cuisine, such as crawfish pie, and filé gumbo. It is a “feel good” song about a couple starting out life together, with a crowd gathering to celebrate.

Hank Williams – Jambalaya (On the Bayou)

Recording date/location

“Jambalaya” was recorded on June 13, 1952, at Castle Studio, Tulane Hotel, Nashville, Tennessee.

Authorship

Williams is credited as sole author of the song, but it has been suggested that he purchased it from another writer. Some have also noted the similarities with the melody of the Cajun song “Grand Texas.”

Chart performance

Williams released the song on July 19, 1952, with “Window Shopping” on the B-side. “Jambalaya” was Williams’ 7th of 11 (three posthumous) number one hits on the country charts. “Jambalaya” also hit number 20 on the pop charts.

Although Hank Williams was losing his battle with drink and drug addiction in 1952, he still managed to release some fine music. Along with “Jambalaya,” there were four other top five hits, including “Honky Tonk Blues” and the final number one during his lifetime, “I’ll Never Get Out of This World Alive.”

Covers

There have been numerous great covers of “Jambalaya.” The first popular cover was a pop version by Jo Stafford that hit number three on the pop charts.

Jo Stafford – Jambalaya (1952)

Brenda Lee – Jambalaya (1956)

Another singer showing how well suited “Jambalaya” is to a female voice was Brenda Lee with her 1956 version. Here’s a live version from Brenda from several years later.

Fats Domino – Jambalaya (1961)

Fats Domino recorded an infectious cover of “Jambalaya” in November 1961 and had a top 30 hit with it.

Leon Russell – Jambalaya (1965)

This Leon Russell performance is from Shindig in 1965. Look out for a young Glen Campbell on banjo.

John Fogerty (The Blue Ridge Rangers) – Jambalaya (1972)

Fogerty’s first project after leaving Creedence Clearwater Revival was an album recorded under the guise of The Blue Ridge Rangers. “Jambalaya” was one of the songs featured.

Emmylou Harris – Jambalaya (1975)

Note that Emmylou’s Hot Band featured two prominent members of Elvis Presley’s TCB Band – James Burton on guitar and Glen D. Hardin on piano.

“Jambalaya” is still a very popular country song to this day and one of numerous Hank Williams songs that have achieved classic status, including “Hey Good Lookin,” “Your Cheatin’ Heart,” “Cold, Cold Heart” and “Honky Tonk Blues.” On January 1, 1953, Hank Williams died while on the way to play a New Years Day concert in Canton, Ohio. The official cause of death was heart failure.

Look out for next week’s Song of the Week.

Fats Domino last hit the headlines in a big way when his home was destroyed by Hurricane Katrina in August, 2005. There were serious concerns for Fat’s health for a time, but thankfully he was rescued by a Coast Guard helicopter. Fats moved to Harvey, Louisiana, while his house was being gutted and repaired.

In 2007, a number of great artists tackled Fats Domino hits for the charity album “Goin’ Home: A Tribute to Fats Domino.” Proceeds went to New Orleans public school music programs and to rebuilding Domino’s Hurricane Katrina-ravaged home. Among the contributing artists were Paul McCartney, Dr. John, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Randy Newman, Elton John, Norah Jones, Bonnie Raitt and Willie Nelson.

In the last few years, Fats has received a series of honours, including Offbeat magazine’s Lifetime Achievement Award, and induction into the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame, the Delta Music Museum Hall of Fame, and the Hit Parade Hall of Fame.

In November 2008, the PBS documentary “Fats Domino: Walking Back To New Orleans” premiered at Tipitina’s in New Orleans in the presence of Fats. The documentary contains 30 minutes of concert footage from May 2007 at Tipitina’s, as well as interviews with friends and fellow musicians.

Fats Domino’s rolling piano and masterfully laidback, yet powerful vocals, have been delighting music fans since 1949. Here’s a couple of songs that never fail to get the feet tapping:

Fats Domino – Jambalaya (On the Bayou)

Fats Domino – I’m Walkin’

UK fans who tuned into the recent “Only Fools and Horses” prequel, “Rock ‘N’ Chips”, will have seen Fat’s “I Want to Walk You Home” used to great effect throughout the show, including over the final credits. Here’s that fine song.

Fats Domino – I Want to Walk You Home

Happy Birthday Fats Domino.

Recommended purchases

This year also marks 60 years as a star for Fats. His first record to make a national impression was The Fat Man in 1949. Many classics followed, including Ain’t that Shame, Blueberry Hill, I’m Walkin’ and Walking to New Orleans.

Fats didn’t manage a number one on the pop charts (coming closest with Blueberry Hill in 1956), but did manage nine number ones on the R&B charts.

Ain’t that a Shame

Check more of Fat’s great tunes in the video section:

Blueberry Hill

Walking to New Orleans

I’m Walkin’ – with Ricky Nelson