Search - Fats Domino :: Sweet Patootie: Complete Reprise Recordings

A true 50-50 cd but some hard-to-gems for real fans!

Robert Eaglesham | Leeds, UK | 02/14/2005

(3 out of 5 stars)

"I eagerly awaited this compilation's release because it contains some hard-to-find Fats rarities.



Tracks 1 to 11 are taken in order from the excellent "Fats is Back" album from 1968, an underrated gem in the Fats discography. The Richard Perry-produced album at times verges on being over-produced but escapes the sickly sweet, string-laden excesses of his ABC period in the early 60's. All the "Back" tracks boast a driving rhythm section, cracking horns and the Fat Man on the best vocal form of his career. Tracks 12 and 13, also Richard Perry productions, are in the same vein. Have You Seen My Baby, a Randy Newman composition, is particularly strong and, unable to find it elsewhere, made the whole cd worth buying for me as a Fats die-hard.



Tracks 14 onwards come from Fats' mid-late 60's efforts with long-time co-writer and producer, Dave Bartholomew. Sadly, the spark, found in all their classic Imperial hits of Fats' 50's heyday, fails to re-ignite here. The tunes themselves are average, the arrangements are lazy and the production sounds very thin, especially after listening to the first half of this cd. Only Lawdy Miss Clawdy and Work My Way Up Steady offer glimpses of the old magic. Another Mule is interesting but I prefer the earlier version Fats did at ABC.



All in all, casual fans, if looking to buy something beyond a greatest hits compilation, would do much better to just buy "Fats is Back", also available on cd.



One for the collectors!"

Fats c. '67-70

Phil S. | USA | 05/29/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"While there's not much "traditional"-Imperial label type rockin' R & B by Fats Domino on these Reprise sides, there's surely enuff stuff to warrant a high placement on your CD carousel. He made the R & R Hall Of Fame in '86 for a reason and these later catalogue items contain much rationale for that achievement.

Although FD has stayed with his '50s material on stage, in the studio he's consistently tried new things - in the late '50s when he did a version of "Margie" with a mandolin, and in that same spirit in the late '60s he got together with Dave Bartholomew and Richard Perry for something different.

The Bartholomew productions appear to have been cut for the Broadmoor label which gave us two singles for said label and the remaining sides unissued until '71 on Reprise. "I'm Going To Cross That River" is contemporary uptempo, not following a blues progression; the bass line and horns are sophisticated for the time. However, the mix pushes back the piano and drums to the extent that one wonders if only *one* channel was working during the mastering. "I'm Going To Help A Friend" is another unusual and pleasant sound - a very light production, it sounds as if it was recorded at home for purposes of a demo tape. "These Old Shoes" has a James Brown sound, one chord [musicians correct me if I'm wrong] with horns reminiscent of those heard on JB's "It Won't Be Me". "Wait Till It Happens To You, No. 2" [though issued first] could have been a hit B-side for Antoine D. back in the Imperial days and it works here in the '60s as a notable blues ballad with just the right Crescent City seasoning. "Another Mule" is blues-jazz, nicely done. FD fans check out two other versions: entitled "Man, That's All" done earlier for ABC Paramount, and as "Another Mule" on the Tomato label around 1990. "Work My Way Up Steady" is a fine Ivory Joe Hunter composition, another up-to-date medium rocker. This one has a hint of Motown. Too bad we have a slightly cloudy mix here - collectors look for the Broadmoor single. Despite all these successful experiments, it just might be the very familiar "Lawdy, Miss Clawdy" which lifts the listener. Ofcourse the historians will enjoy hearing Fats do his own rendition of a classic which included his piano back in '52.

A much more polished (and commercial) set was done by Mr. Perry and ofcourse fans should know the highlights of "Fats Is Back" by now: "Make Me Belong To You", "Honest Papas Love Their Mamas Better", "One For The Highway" are some of his best efforts, period. Yes, it seems as if the producer was a bit obssessed with "Sgt. Pepper", "Penny Lane", and the rest and on the original l.p. issue we got *two* Beatles covers done in *Beatles* style to take up alot of space on the album. "Everybody's Got Something To Hide..." was a pretty groovy 45rpm, though, and here it makes its' CD debut on Track #12. But these slight indulgences shouldn't diminish an altogether artistic success.

There are two previously unreleased c. '70 numbers added to this limited edition CD which certainly enhance the value - the "cerebral" "Can't Chase A Dream Forever" and "Blues So Bad" are beautifully recorded tunes which should have found an album spot way back when.

The sub-title tune for this set is yet another non-traditional effort which should delight the fans.

I'm a little disappointed by the reissue artwork - the cover appears to be a copy of the '68 "Fats Is Back" cover, and the reverse a crop of the ultra-rare "Fats" cover. I would have enjoyed seeing reproductions of both original front and back covers, front and back on this package. Also, the missing session details might cause a few frowns. Naturally we assume these notes were unavailable at press time; and we thank Rhino Handmade for a great effort in releasing many significant sides."