45 RPM record
photo by Styrous®
Today, February 26, is the birthday of Fats Domino who was born in 1928. He was an American rhythm and blues pianist and singer-songwriter. In 1957 he recorded one of my All-Time favorite hits, Blueberry Hill. I remember falling in love with the song when I heard it.
I was in high school and deeply in love with a beautiful girl named
Janet who would break my heart later that year. While the lyrics are about
having lost a love, the melody is beautiful and Domino's piano work is
exquisite. Also, it is a terrific slow dance song!
45 RPM record detail
detail photo by Styrous®
Blueberry Hill was written by Vincent Rose, Al Lewis and Larry Stock for Gene Autry to sing in his 1941 western The Singing Hill; it became one of Autry's best-selling recordings. The song had previously been recorded, in 1940 by Sammy Kaye, Gene Krupa, the Glenn Miller Orchestra, Kay Kyser, Russ Morgan, Connee Boswell, and Jimmy Dorsey; then by Louis Armstrong in 1949 and many others (links below).
The Domino version was ranked number 82 in Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.
The Domino version was ranked number 82 in Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.
45 RPM record detail
detail photo by Styrous®
Blueberry Hill lyrics
[Verse 1]
I found my thrill on Blueberry Hill
On Blueberry Hill, when I found you
[Verse 2]
The moon stood still on Blueberry Hill
And lingered until my dream came true
[Bridge 1]
The wind in the willow played
Love's sweet melody
But all of those vows you made
Were never to be
[Verse 3]
Though we're apart, you're part of me still
For you were my thrill on Blueberry Hill
[Bridge 2]
The wind in the willow played
Love's sweet melody
But all of those vows you made
Were only to be
[Verse 4]
Though we're apart, you're part of me still
For you were my thrill on Blueberry Hill
I found my thrill on Blueberry Hill
On Blueberry Hill, when I found you
[Verse 2]
The moon stood still on Blueberry Hill
And lingered until my dream came true
[Bridge 1]
The wind in the willow played
Love's sweet melody
But all of those vows you made
Were never to be
[Verse 3]
Though we're apart, you're part of me still
For you were my thrill on Blueberry Hill
[Bridge 2]
The wind in the willow played
Love's sweet melody
But all of those vows you made
Were only to be
[Verse 4]
Though we're apart, you're part of me still
For you were my thrill on Blueberry Hill
The song was featured in the soundtrack of the 1956 film, Shake, Rattle & Rock! The film starred Fats Domino, Big Joe Turner and saxophonist Choker Campbell as themselves, Mike Connors of later Mannix fame, Lisa Gaye the sister of Debra Paget, Sterling Holloway, Douglass Dumbrille of the 1964 film Shock Treatment, Raymond Hatton whose films included In Cold Blood, Percy Helton of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969), Paul Dubov of High Noon (1952) and other film stars (link below).
Since the Domino release in 1957, Blueberry Hill has been covered by dozens of recording artists: Elvis Presley (1957), Ricky Nelson (1958), Duane Eddy (1959), Little Richard (1964), Led Zeppelin (1970), Chris Isaac took a turn at it with French recording artist, Johnny Halllyday in 2006, Elton John (2007), an instrumental jazz version by Al Hirt and even a Czech version by Milan Chladil entitled, Růžový pahorek which translates into Pink Hill (the linguistic as well as the music suffers in translation). Dozens of others have covered it (links below).
45 RPM record
photo by Styrous®
The "B" side of the record is Honey Chile, the total opposite of Blueberry. It is bouncy, lively and a terrific dance song (link below).
45 RPM record detail
detail photo by Styrous®
One of the pioneers of rock and roll music, Fats Domino sold more than 65 million records. Between 1955 and 1960, he had eleven Top 10 hits.
On his birthday in 1987 he received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 29th annual Grammy Awards (link below).
In 1995 Domino received the Rhythm & Blues Foundation's Ray Charles Lifetime Achievement Award.
On his birthday in 1987 he received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 29th annual Grammy Awards (link below).
In 1995 Domino received the Rhythm & Blues Foundation's Ray Charles Lifetime Achievement Award.
On January 12, 2007, Domino was honored with the OffBeat magazine
Lifetime Achievement Award at the annual Best of the Beat Awards, held
at the House of Blues in New Orleans. The Mayor of the city, Ray Nagin,
declared the day "Fats Domino Day in New Orleans and presented him with
a signed declaration.
On May 19, 2007, his last public performance was at Tipitina's at New Orleans, performing to a full house (link below). In September of that year, Domino was inducted into the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame.
In 2015, his song The Fat Man entered the Grammy Hall of Fame (The Recording Academy in Santa Monica, California).
On August 21, 2016, Domino was inducted into the National Rhythm and Blues Hall of Fame. The ceremony was held in Detroit, Michigan.
On May 19, 2007, his last public performance was at Tipitina's at New Orleans, performing to a full house (link below). In September of that year, Domino was inducted into the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame.
In 2015, his song The Fat Man entered the Grammy Hall of Fame (The Recording Academy in Santa Monica, California).
On August 21, 2016, Domino was inducted into the National Rhythm and Blues Hall of Fame. The ceremony was held in Detroit, Michigan.
45 RPM record detail
detail photo by Styrous®
Fats Domino died on October 24, 2017, at his home in Harvey, Louisiana, at the age of 89, from natural causes, according to the coroner's office.
On June 25, 2019, The New York Times Magazine listed Fats Domino among hundreds of artists whose material was reportedly destroyed in the 2008 Universal fire.
On June 25, 2019, The New York Times Magazine listed Fats Domino among hundreds of artists whose material was reportedly destroyed in the 2008 Universal fire.
Side 1:
A Blueberry Hill, written by Lewis*, Stock*, Rose* - 2:14
Side 2:
B Honey Chile, written by A. Domino & D. Bartholomew* - 1:55
Companies, etc.
Published By – Reeve Music Co., Inc.
Published By – Chappell & Co., Inc.
Notes:
B: From the American-International Picture Shake, Rattle and Rock
Maroon label version; for red label use this link: Blueberry Hill / Honey Chile
Barcode and Other Identifiers
Matrix / Runout (Label Side A): IM-1082
Matrix / Runout (Label Side B): IM-1083
Matrix / Runout (Runout Side A): 45-IM-1082-2
Matrix / Runout (Runout Side B): 45-IM-1083-2
Matrix / Runout (Variant 2: Side A run-out, etched): 45-IM-1082-1 5407
Matrix / Runout (Variant 2: Side B run-out, etched): 45-IM-1083-1 5407
Barcode and Other Identifiers
Matrix / Runout (A side label): IM-1082
Matrix / Runout (B side label): IM-1083
Matrix / Runout (A side runout etched): 340 IM-1082
Matrix / Runout (B side runout etched): 340 IM-1083
Viewfinder links:
1987 Lifetime Achievement Award
Louis Armstrong
Gene Autry
Fats Domino
Jimmy Dorsey
Gene Krupa
Kay Kyser
Glenn Miller
Elvis Presley
Little Richard
Led Zeppelin
Big Joe Turner
Net links:
Blueberry Hill recorded versions
Infogalactic ~ Selected list of recorded versions
Jazziz ~ A short history of Blueberry Hill
The Movie Court ~ Great Moments in Cover History: Blueberry Hill
RollingStone ~ 500 Greatest Songs of All Time
Shake, Rattle & Rock!
Steyn Online ~ Steyn's Song of the Week ~ Blueberry Hill
YouTube links:
Fats Domino ~
Blueberry Hill
Blueberry Hill (video)
Blueberry Hill (live) (1989)
Honey Chile
Honey Chile (film)
Fats at New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival
Louis Armstrong ~ Blueberry Hill (1941)
Louis Armstrong ~ Blueberry Hill (live)
Gene Autry ~ Blueberry Hill
Milan Chladil ~ Růžový pahorek (Pink Hill)
Al Hirt ~ Blueberry Hill
Elton John ~ Blueberry Hill
Sammy Kaye w/Tommy Ryan, vocal ~ Blueberry Hill (1940)
Brenda Lee ~ Blueberry Hill
Jerry Lee Lewis ~ Blueberry Hill
Glenn Miller & Ray Eberle ~ Blueberry Hill
Elvis Presley ~ Blueberry Hill
Led Zeppelin ~ Blueberry Hill
Styrous® ~ Wednesday, February 26, 2020
