The Fat Man / Detroit City Blues - Fats Domino
Note: I am aware that it was recorded and released at the tail-end of 1949, but the single is so important to not just the year 1950 but music history in general that I make an exception for it.
Why included: 5th in RYM's Top 10 singles of 1950
A-side: Fat Man
Sometimes, major revolutions may not be as obvious and flashy as we expect; they may lie in subtle details that might seem insignificant at first but earth-shattering when you finally soak it all in. If you listen to a good amount of old-school R&B and jump blues, this song may not stand out as a major highlight. At its core, it is just a regular rhythm and blues song set to the trademark New Orleans "Junker Blues" melody used by Lloyd Price, Professor Longhair, and many others. He didn't possess the vocal powerhouse of Big Joe Turner or Wynonie Harris nor did the song present instrumental virtuosity on par with Amos Milburn or the previously-mentioned Professor Longhair. Forget that this is commonly heralded by people (like myself) as the first rock and roll song, how did this sort of song become such a monster hit?
If I had to take a guess, it is the unique yet organic juxtaposition of a ferocious sound with such a charming and lovable personality. Maybe it is a jump blues song at its core, but it was genuinely novel at the time the way Fats banged the keys with all of his might under a pounding backbeat propelling it forward. Fats had serious playing chops (as demonstrated in the B-side of this single), but he wisely traded complexity for this minimalistic style to give the song a visceral, gutsy feel. The song becomes even more fascinating when you hear the utter friendliness of his demeanor, living and wah-wahing his life to the fullest while even poking a bit of fun at himself in the process (the lyrics are truly classic here). Really, it's so mindblowing how he managed to balance his heavy sound with his easygoing persona so perfectly throughout his career, becoming the friendliest guy in rock 'n' roll while packing a punch that blew the minds of Jerry Lee Lewis, Little Richard, and countless others who could feel the beginning of a musical revolution in their bones. A milestone classic indeed that retains plenty of entertainment value today because who could not fall under the spell of such a wonderful dude like Fats?
B-side: Detriot City Blues
If anyone still had doubt in their mind about Fats being a great piano player, this is the recording to hear. He wasn't the finest player of the rich New Orleans piano-playing tradition, but he certainly had plenty of performing talent that made him a significant presence in the scene. The song itself is pretty generic, but the way he flavors the songs with glissandos and speedy soloing is quite impressive. His style was not nearly as visceral and unique as Professor Longhair or Allen Toussaint at the time, but this track is a good demonstration of the musical backbone behind his acclaimed classics that all Fats fans must check out.
Verdict: Essential listening
There is plenty of debate about when rock 'n' roll truly begins, which I always felt was generally unresolvable. Most genres develop and evolve gradually, and it's hard to say when we have crossed the point of no return. Yet, I feel this single is the best point at which to begin, not only because this was the first rock-sounding song to sell a million records but also because much of the core ingredients are in place. We have our charismatic frontman banging away at his instrument like there's no tomorrow, rocking the dance floor down in a way few did before him. We count Fats Domino as the first rock star chronologically for a reason, and even though this is not his greatest song, this would be a defining recording that declared that he had arrived as a powerful musical force and he meant business. His subsequent career would be a glorious continuation of this song's mighty spirit.
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