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THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

Posted by: In: Other 10 Jun 2022 Comments: 0

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.


272-Fats Domino-Blueberry Hill.


1956-Number 6 single.


Best Bit-At 0.10. In 1969 Elvis Presley (see also best songs 954-664-442 and 194) said,’A lot of people seem to think I started this business, but ‘Rock N’ Roll’ was here a long time before I came along. Let’s face it I can’t sing like Fats Domino can, I know that.’


Fats Domino (see also best songs 617) was born Antoine Dominique Jr. on February 26th, 1928, in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States, he died of natural causes on October 24th, 2017, at the age of 89. Although Fats Domino is considered to be one of the leading lights in the development of Rock N’ Roll in the 1950’s, he was never convinced that Rock N’ Roll was a new genre. In 1957 he said,’What they call Rock N’ Roll now is Rhythm and Blues. I’ve been playing it for 15 years in New Orleans.’ Music critics writing for the ‘Rolling Stone’ magazine have backed up this statement by stating that ‘All Fifties rockers, black and white, country born, and city bred, were fundamentally influenced by ‘R&B,’ the black popular music of the late Forties and early Fifties.’ Fats Domino has sold in excess of 65 million records, with five of his songs including ‘Blueberry Hill’ selling over one million copies each. In America on Billboard, 35 of his singles have reached the top 40, with ‘Blueberry Hill’ charting the highest when making Number 2, while in the UK, 17 of his songs have reached the top 40.


‘Blueberry Hill’ was written in 1940 by Vincent Rose, (1880-1944) who wrote the music, and Larry Stock, (1896-1984) and Al Lewis (1901-1967) who co-wrote the lyrics. Vincent Rose wrote over 200 songs including ‘Avalon’ in 1921, which was a big hit for Al Jolson, who also wrote the lyrics. Larry Stock’s other writing credits include ‘You’re Nobody till Somebody Loves You,’ of which the best known recording is by Dean Martin from 1960, and Al Lewis was the co-writer of ‘Tears on My Pillow,’ first recorded by Little Anthony and the Imperials, and covered by Kylie Minogue, who took her version to Number 1 in the UK in 1990.


‘Blueberry Hill’ was recorded six times in 1940, with the original version being by the Sammy Kaye Orchestra, with vocals by Tommy Ryan, recorded on May 31st. The most successful version prior to Fats Domino was recorded by the Glenn Miller Orchestra which reached Number 2 on the American chart in 1940. In 1949 Louis Armstrong recorded a version which reached Number 29 on Billboard, and it was Armstrong’s recording that inspired Domino to record it in 1956.


Dave Bartholomew (1918-2019) who was a long time collaborator with Fats Domino had reservations about recording ‘Blueberry Hill,’ stating that it had been done too many times already, he can be heard playing the trumpet on the track. The song is about lost love, the narrator has fond memories of his time with his partner on Blueberry Hill, but now he is alone, and sadly reminiscing.


‘The wind in the willows played love’s sweet melody, but all of those vows you made were never to be. Though we’re apart you’re part of me still, for you were my thrill on Blueberry Hill.’