The Birth of a Song: Fats Domino - Walking to New Orleans - Undubbed

Sort of a curiosity piece here. This is the actual take that was used for the released version but prior to the last minute addition of the string section of The New Orleans Symphony!

From Wikipedia (as of 9/28/08): Walking to New Orleans is a 1960 song by Bobby Charles, written for and recorded by Fats Domino.
Domino was a hero of Charles. Domino had previously recorded the Charles tune "Before I Grow Too Old". When Domino stopped on tour in Lafayette, Louisiana he invited Charles into his dressing room, and regretted he didn't have a copy of his new record to give to Charles, but invited Charles to come visit him in Domino's home of New Orleans. Charles replied, "I don't have a car. If I'd go, I'd have to walk." Afterwards, the thought remained on Charles's mind, and he said he wrote the song for Domino in some 15 minutes.
After he got to New Orleans to accept Domino's invitation, Charles sang "Walking to New Orleans" for Domino. Domino was enthusiastic about the number and made a few modifications to it, including adding a quote from his earlier hit, "Ain't That A Shame". Dave Bartholomew made an orchestration for the backup band, and Domino with Bartholomew and band recorded it in Cosimo Matassa's studio on Rampart Street.
After the recording was made, Bartholomew decided to overdub a string section from the New Orleans Symphony. Use of classical strings was unusual for early rock and roll. Domino was at first somewhat surprised when Bartholomew played back the new version with strings, but warmed to the distinctive sweet melancholy sound it added. The record was a hit, released on Imperial Records, reaching #6 on the pop chart and #2 on the R&B chart.

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[bluesgutter]

It was not unusual for strings to be on R&B records during this time. Brook Benton at this point had a number of Gold records with strings attached. Even BB King had a coupe of recordings with strings. As far as Fats "tweaking" Charles' song, that was done to justify putting his name on the song as songwriter and getting a piece of the song writing royalities.

[9thWardJukebox]

@bluesgutter Brook Benton R&B? To me, he was more mainstream pop then Nat King Cole. As for writing credits, the only bitterness I know that Bobby Charles had was toward Paul Gayten. I could be wrong and perhaps Bobby just never said anything out of respect for Fats. As for B.B. King using strings prior to 1960, can you name any songs since I would love to post them on my blues channel. (I always give credit when folks help me). Thanks for the info!

[bigredlover77]

Ok... I had a 'non orchestra recording' it was a 45rpm I bought at a record convention which occurred annually, ...I signed up for the mailing list. I was 11yo at the time. I had about 700 records & albums of mostly blues=boogie=ballad=hillbilly=­country= ancient=contemporary=delt a raw deal deep-rooted-uprooted-big-city-­down-home & everything in between music . I never heard it w/ strings until I was trying to find the song again. Now I like Both recordings. Go figure? ...What's the flip side?

[9thWardJukebox]

@bigredlover77 According to everything I have read, it was never released nor did Imperial Records ever press it. That's not to say a 45 was never slipped out in the form of a demo with no label but that would have likely happened here in New Orleans, not in Los Angeles. If you have a demo with no label, it would be worth considerable money. If you have an undubbed version that could be verified on the Imperial label, i.e. not a counterfeit, the sky would be the limit as for the value.

[9thWardJukebox]

@bigredlover77 Forgot, the B-side is "Don't Come Knockin'".

[GOLDBAND45]

i have this version in my collection as well.Back in 1960 strings were THE thing and who can blame whoever it was to add strings for wider market acceptance?

But this recording is so much better!.

[9thWardJukebox]

@GOLDBAND45 Even fats was skeptical at first when Dave played it back for him but with the strings, this song still manages to keep its roots firmly planted in the New Orleans sound. We are very fortunate that this undubbed version survived all these years and that we got a chance to hear it.

[daveberry41]

love it

[bluesgutter]

The strings on this record were arranged by Milton Bush. Bush, a trombone player, was the go-to guy to do string arrangements at Cosimo's during this period. Fats knew all about the strings as he hired Bush. Bush arranged the strings standing up with Fats right there. It took him about 10 minutes. When Fats asked him how much for the arrangement, he figured $1 a minute sounded pretty good and charged Fats $10. Of course the song went on to sell 2,000,000 copies.

[bigredlover77]

@9thWardJukebox Thanx for the info! I wish my memory served us both better in this case. I like"Don't Come Knockin'", so it seems I'd remember if it was the flip side on my 45.But I loved "Walkin' to New Orleans" so much, I only flipped it a couple times!! It's been over 20yrs since then, & I simply can't remember. Either way, Thanx for posting this! I really like your channel. Sometimes, a song is what we need. Thanx again.

[bigredlover77]

@9thWardJukebox Well, I did have some records worth alot more than I paid for them. Unfortunately, I became homeless at 14. Years later, my mother confessed to throwing away what didn't sell when they moved. Fats was an influence for me, though I haven't listened to him for some years, until now. I can't honestly remember the label, but I hope someone bought it for a nickel!!