Play It Again, The Very Best Of Fats Domino, United Artists record label, 1970, value £65

I WAS saddened to learn of the death of Fats Domino a few weeks ago. Compilation albums of greatest hits are not usually of high monetary value, but when a popular entertainer passes away it usually generates a lot of interest in the music, especially a pioneer of Fats Domino's status.

Born Antoine Domino in 1928 in New Orleans, Louisiana, one of eight children in a French Creole family, he became 'Fats,' influenced by his musical hero Fats Waller. At 14 years of age he formed his own band and began playing in local clubs in and around New Orleans. In 1949 he was offered a recording contract, his first release The Fat Man is now generally regarded as the first rock 'n' roll record to sell a million copies although that phrase had not then been created, that would come later. His first hit was Ain't That A Shame. It was also the first song that John Lennon learned when he taught himself to play the guitar. The Beatles were huge admirers of Domino and had a big hit with Lady Madonna, sung in the style of Fats Domino as a homage to the great man, although the tune was 'borrowed' from an old Humphrey Lyttleton instrumental. Fats later recorded his own version and had a minor hit with it in the late sixties.

Between 1955 and 1960 Fats had a total of 61 songs featured in the charts. He sold 65 million records, only Elvis sold more. Elvis, who shot to fame around the same time, once said "I can't sing like Fats Domino can, but I have always loved his style of music." Many years later when Elvis was holding a press conference at the Hilton Hotel in Las Vegas, he interrupted a reporter who referred to him as the real king of rock 'n' roll. Elvis pointed to Fats Domino who was in the room as a guest of Elvis and said, "There's the real king of rock 'n' roll." A wonderful gesture from a great man.

This is a super collection of the best recordings of Fats Domino. We only ever seem to hear the song Blueberry Hill played on the radio which is a shame (pardon the pun). This album has rockers and ballads. It is impossible to sit still listening to the songs, which are the real roots of rock 'n' roll, an essential mix of music that will grace any vinyl collection.