VARIOUS ARTISTS > Goin’ Home: A Tribute to Fats Domino

Rarely does a tribute album hit all the right notes as often as this one, whose proceeds will go towards rebuilding Fats’ own neighborhood, New Orleans’ Lower 9^th Ward. From its opening track, John Lennon’s raucous take on “Ain’t That a Shame” (from 1975’s Rock ‘n’ Roll) to its closing paean, the Preservation Hall Jazz Band and other Big Easy musicians all rising on “When the Saints Go Marching In,” the album’s strengths eloquently speak for themselves.Label: VANGUARD
[RATING: 4 ]

Rarely does a tribute album hit all the right notes as often as this one, whose proceeds will go towards rebuilding Fats’ own neighborhood, New Orleans’ Lower 9^th Ward. From its opening track, John Lennon’s raucous take on “Ain’t That a Shame” (from 1975’s Rock ‘n’ Roll) to its closing paean, the Preservation Hall Jazz Band and other Big Easy musicians all rising on “When the Saints Go Marching In,” the album’s strengths eloquently speak for themselves. The 30 tracks, all except Lennon’s recorded specifically for this tribute, amply testify to the Fat Man’s longstanding influence on the British Invasion, rootsy blues, no-frills rock, alt. country singer/songwriters, boogie-woogie torch bearers, reggae and ska, and of course good ol’ N’awlins r&b. Just about every cut is worth repeated listening, but among the many standouts are Willie Nelson’s sneaky vocals on a honky-tonk rendition of “I Hear You Knockin’,” Lucinda Williams longingly croaking for a gawky lover on a loopy, barebones “Honey Chile,” and Lenny Kravitz in front of James Brown’s horn section funking up “Whole Lotta Lovin’.”