Each few months, as soon as he had made the grade as an R&B hitmaker, Antoine “Fats” Domino would pitch up at J&M Studio, at 838 North Rampart Avenue in his beloved dwelling city of New Orleans. This was the ability run by engineer, studio proprietor and trade large Cosimo Matassa, and it actually turned a crucible of the fledgling phenomenon of rock’n’roll.
Nearly all of Fat’ greatest hits for the Hollywood-based label Imperial had been recorded there, in addition to Little Richard’s for Specialty and seminal sides by Clarence “Frogman” Henry, Lloyd Value, and Guitar Slim. In November 1951, with two hits below his substantial belt in “The Fat Man” and “Every Night About This Time” – and a 3rd on the way in which with “Rockin’ Chair” – Domino made his fourth and last go to of the 12 months to J&M.
Accompanying him on the session had been guitarist Harrison Verrett, bassist Billy Diamond, Cornelius Coleman on drums, and saxophonists Wendell Duconge and Robert “Buddy” Hagans. This was the monitor date that might yield Fat’ first R&B No.1, “Goin’ Home,” which turned by far his greatest hit to this point with a 20-week chart run and, like “The Fat Man,” gold certification.
The 4 sides recorded that day additionally included certainly one of a number of Domino singles with only a single chart week to its identify, “How Long.” It was marketed as one of many “Red Hot Imperial R&B Records” of the day together with Smiley Lewis’ “Gumbo Blues,” and Lil’ Son Jackson’s “Rockin’ and Rollin’ #2”. Fat’ launch entered the Nationwide Finest Sellers on Billboard’s High Rhythm & Blues Data web page at No.9 within the December 13, 1952 challenge, its solely week on the record.
The 2-minute “How Long,” written by Fat with Al Younger and produced by the ever-present Dave Bartholomew, was a distinctly bluesy quantity, extra uncooked in type than many Domino singles. It was backed by the instrumental “Dreaming,” which was highlighted by sax and piano and wasn’t recorded till two classes therefore, in September 1952.
Purchase or stream “How Long” on The Full Imperial Singles.
