Photo: Klaus Hiltscher [CC BY-SA 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
Fats Domino was constantly in the US billboard Top 40. Thirty five of his records reached the Top 40 in the 1950s. That is an incredible achievement for any artist in any decade. Fats Domino earned the nickname Fats from a band leader named Billy Diamond. The band leader had said that Fats Domino reminded him of other well-known pianists like Fats Waller.
Fats Domino had one of the earliest most successful rock and roll songs known. The song entitled “The Fat Man,” sold 1,000,000 copies in the early 1950s. From that point on, the hits kept on coming for Fats Domino. Fats domino’s first recording contract was with Imperial Records. In 1956 he released the song “Blueberry Hill.” It was a cover of a 1940 song written by Vincent Rose, Al Lewis and Larry stock. The song went on to become the biggest hit of his career. It sold more than 5,000,000 copies. It has become one of the most covered songs in rock and roll history. Artist as diverse as Elvis Presley through Led Zeppelin have recorded versions of the song.
Fats Domino’s first album was released in 1955 on Imperial Records entitled Rock and Rollin’ with Fats Domino. His second album was released in 1956 entitled Fats Domino Rock and Rollin. Later that year he released the album This Is Fats Domino. In 1957 he released an album called This is Fats! As you can tell there was not much originality in the naming of his albums. 1957 also saw the release of the album entitled Here Stands Fats Domino. In 1958 Imperial Records released the album the Fabulous Mister D.
1959 saw the release of two more Fats Domino albums Fats Domino Swings and Let’s Play Fats Domino both on Imperial Records. Fats Domino continued on into the 60s with Imperial Records releasing A lot of Dominos!, Sings Million Record Hits, Let the Four Winds Blow, I Miss You So, What a party!, Twisting the Stamp, Just Domino, and his final album with Imperial Records in 1963 Let’s Dance with Domino. It was an incredible release schedule of albums by a single artist in such a short period of time.
In 1963 Fats Domino signed with ABC records. From that point on Fats Domino and his record labels continued their fierce release schedule. Fats Domino’s first ABC album was entitled Here Comes Fats Domino. From that point on Fats Domino would continue to release albumS such as Walking to New Orleans, Here He Comes Again, Fat’s on Fire, Live in Las Vegas, King of Beats 3, Fat Domino’s 65, Get Away with Fats Domino, Fats Domino, Another Fats Domino, Trouble in Mind, Fat is Back ll, Fat Sound, When I’m walking, Fats, My Blue Heaven, When My Dream Boat Comes Home, Cooking with Fats, They call me the Fat Man, Sleeping on the Job, Lady Madonna, and so many more.
Fats Domino released so much music throughout his career. The bulk of the material he released was in the 1950s and 1960s. However, his heart pounding, soul infused, beat stomping piano playing and singing inspired countless rock and roll artist. From The Rolling Stones, The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Bruce Springsteen and so many others the spirit and soulfulness of Fats Domino’s music lives on. This is just a small sampling of 10 of our favorite Fats Domino songs.
# 10 – The Fat Man
We open our top 10 Fats Domino songs with Fats Domino’s first hit entitled “The Fat Man.” A great blues infused piano rocking boogie tune that announced the arrival of not only Fats Domino, but an entire new sound of music that was evolving with the man Fats Domino at the helm
# 9 – Walking to New Orleans
This great track “Walking to New Orleans” was written by Bobby Charles for Fats Domino. It was not your typical piano pumping fast Fats Domino rock and roll dance track. “Walking to New Orleans” was a slow tune laced with strings and a slow but steady eighth note piano riff played beautifully by Fats Domino. The song was released in 1960.
# 8 – Let The Four Winds Blow
Continuing with our Fats Domino songs list we turn to the great track “Let the Four Winds Blow.” The song was released on the album Let The Four Winds Blow. The record was released in 1962. It was a very popular song reaching the number two position on the U.S. Billboard rhythm and blues charts in 1962. The song were performed by Bruce Springsteen during his early live performances in 1974.
# 7 – “Whole Lotta Lovin‘“
In 1958 Fats Domino released the great rocking track “Whole Lotta Lovin‘” The song was released on the album Fats Domino Swings. 
The album was released in 1958 on Imperial Records. The song’s great simple piano riff juxtaposed against the simplicity of the lyrics and the song’s wonderful dance groove was a formula that would prove to be very successful for Fats Domino.
# 6 – Goin’ Home
The early Fats Domino song “Goin’ Home,” was released on the Rock and Rollin’ with Fats Domino
album in 1952. It was one of Fats Domino’s earliest hits as the song hit number one on the U.S. Billboard rhythm and blues charts. It was the first number one of many to come for Fats Domino on the U.S. Billboard rhythm and blues charts.
# 5 – I’m Walkin’
I’m Walkin’ was one of Fats Domino’s biggest hits. The song was featured on the album Here Stands Fats Domino.
The album was issued on Imperial Records in 1959. I’m Walkin’ hit number one on the U.S. Billboard rhythm and blues charts. The song was written by Fats Domino and Dave Bartholomew.
# 4 – I Want to Walk You Home
The classic Fats Domino song “I Want to Walk You Home,” was released on the Let’s Play Fats Domino 
album. The record was issued in 1959. The song hit number one on the U.S. Billboard rhythm and blues charts. It was also a top 10 hit on the Billboard Mainstream Hit 100.
# 3 – I’m in Love Again
The great Fats Domino song “I’m in Love Again” was released on the album Fats Domino Rock and Rollin’. The album was released in 1956. The song “I’m in Love Again” was issued as a single and hit number one on the U.S. Billboard rhythm and blues charts. It also was a top 10 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 reaching the number five position. The song was covered by many rock and roll artists over the years including Bill Haley and His Comets, Paul McCartney and The Animals.
# 2 – Ain’t That A Shame
The classic Fats Domino song “Ain’t That A Shame,” was released on the Fats Domino album Rock and Rollin’ with Fats Domino. The album was released in 1955. “Ain’t That A Shame,” hit number one on the U.S. Billboard rhythm and blues charts. The song was written by Fats Domino and Dave Bartholomew. John Lennon released a version of the song on his 1975 Rock and Roll
Album. Cheap Trick had a hit with “Ain’t That A Shame,” from their Cheap Trick at Budokan
live album that was released in 1978.
# 1 – Blueberry Hill
There is no doubt that Fats Domino’s song “Blueberry Hill,” would come in at number one on our top 10 Fats Domino songs list. “Blueberry Hill.” was Fats Domino’s biggest hit. It was his signature song. The song hit number one on the U.S. billboard rhythm and blues charts. It hit #4 on the U.S. Billboard top 100. It was his highest charting single that he ever released on the U.S. billboard Hot 100. Fats Domino never had a number one hit on the Hot 100.
Updated March 1, 2021
Top 10 Fats Domino Songs article published on Classic RockHistory.com© 2021
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