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Fats DominoWith skinny singers like Elvis Presley and Buddy Holly, and hyperkinetic guitar heroes like Chuck Berry and Eddie Cochran competing for the public's attention, it was perhaps inevitable that Fats Domino would get short shrift when the history of rock 'n' roll was written. And, that's a musical crime, because Fats Domino was a pioneer of rock as much as those sexy and svelte rockers. But, just because he didn't (or couldn't) leap off his piano stool like Jerry Lee Lewis, Fats seldom makes the highlight reel of rock.

Regardless, more than anyone - save his producer and songwriting partner Dave Bartholomew - Fats Domino was responsible for creating the rollicking New Orleans sound. In the process, he racked up dozens of lubricious, piano-pounding hits during the late 1950's - way more than, say, Little Richard or Gene Vincent. But, that was a long time ago, and Fats was an old man by the time he recorded his first (and only) Christmas album.

A genuinely disappointing album, Christmas Is A Special Day (The Right Stuff, 1993) was apparently cut by the usually irrepressible Mr. Domino during a severe episode of narcolepsy. "Somnambulant" hardly describes his lack of energy, and after two mildly entertaining original numbers ("I Told Santa Claus" and the title song), Antoine dives into an altogether predictable program of holiday standards. Even worse, the entire album are marred by the cheesiest synthesizers this side of Wisconsin. Seriously - most of it sounds like it was recorded on a Casio SK-210 that Fats picked up on a lark in the early 80's. Fats' piano, in particular, sounds sterile and electronic - not the kind with actual hammers and strings.

Fats DominoAccording to the album credits, actual people played actual instruments (guitars, horns, drums) on Christmas Is A Special Day, but the plonky keyboard sounds and robotic drum tracks had me believing otherwise. Fats produced the album himself (Bartholomew was long dead), so he has only himself to blame. Add to that stubbornly unimaginative arrangements (by Wardel Kazen) and Fats' own drowsy vocals, and Christmas Is A Special Day is finally swamped by its own inertia.

Briefly, those two original songs won't blow your doors off, but they're worth dropping into your Christmas mix. "Christmas Is A Special Day" and "I Told Santa Claus" possess a lot what made Fats special: his good humor and folksy charm, plus a simple, catchy melody. "I Told Santa Claus" even has that unique, strolling New Orleans piano style that he perfected - and a randy lyric to match. Neither are works of Socratic genius, but then neither were Domino classics like "I'm Ready" and "I Want To Walk You Home." Played with a little more verve and abandon, they might have been classics, too. Instead, I can't listen to either song without thinking about how good they could have been.

Now, I love Fats as much as anyone - truly, I do. Songs like "Blue Monday," "Ain't That A Shame," and "I'm Walking" are true pillars of rock 'n' roll. But, simply put, Christmas Is A Special Day is worth owning only if you're a completist maniac. Like me.

By the way, the album was rechristened Christmas Gumbo when reissued by Right Stuff (a Capitol Records subsidiary) in 1999. The front and back cover shots were transposed, and the liner notes were truncated, but the track listing remained the same. In 2006, the album was reissued yet again, this time by CSP Records under the original title with a new, genuinely unattractive cover. [top of page]

Albums Albums

SongsEssential Songs

  • Christmas Is A Special Day
  • I Told Santa Claus

Further ListeningFurther Listening

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