Blueberry Hill by Fats Domino

Album: This Is Fats Domino (1956)

Charted: 6 2

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Songfacts®:

This was written by Vincent Rose, Al Lewis and Larry Stock for the 1940 Western The Singing Hill before they decided it was good enough to be released commercially. The song was used in the movie, where it was heard for the first time performed by Gene Autry.
Things are going well at the beginning of this song, as the singer has found his true love, enjoying a special moment on Blueberry Hill. It takes a sad turn though, when she leaves him:

Though we're apart
You're part of me still
For you were my thrill
On Blueberry Hill
Many artists recorded this before Domino, mostly orchestras. In 1940, it was a #2 US hit for Glenn Miller. That same year, Russ Morgan, Gene Krupa and Kay Kyser all recorded it with their orchestras. Louis Armstrong did the song with Gordon Jenkins and his orchestra in 1949; this version was re-released in 1956, going to #29 in America. Other artists to cover the song include Elvis Presley (on his 1957 album Loving You), The Beach Boys, Andy Williams, Kiki, Cliff Richard, Bruce Cockburn.
Fats Domino, who knew the song through Louis Armstrong's 1949 version, recorded this at Master Recorders in Los Angeles at a session in which he ran out of material to tape. Domino insisted on recording the song over the vehement objections of producer-arranger Dave Bartholomew, who felt the song been done too many times already. Domino came up with the definitive version though, featuring his famous piano triplets and sly Cajun accent.
Larry Stock, who wrote the lyrics, recalled that "one important publisher turned down 'Blueberry Hill,' because, he claimed, blueberries don't grow on hills. I assured him I had picked them on hills as a boy, but nothing doing. So Chappell And Company bought the song and another hit was born." >>>
Suggestion credit:
Brett - Edmonton, Canada
Personnel on this track:

Dave Bartholomew - trumpet
Walter "Papoose" Nelson - guitar
Herb Hardesty - tenor sax
Lawrence Guyton - bass
Cornelius Coleman - drums
The band couldn't get a full take of this song they were happy with, so the engineer, Bunny Robyn pieced together the final version from many fragmentary takes.
Domino's real name was Antoine Domino. He placed 37 songs in the US Top 40, the last in 1963 with "Red Sails In The Sunset." "Blueberry Hill" was his biggest hit and best seller, spending 11 weeks at #1 on the R&B chart.
In the TV series Happy Days, Ritchie Cunningham (played by Ron Howard), sang this whenever he found a date.
Ray Manzarek of The Doors admitted on his BBC Radio 2 program that the baseline to "Light My Fire" was based on this song.
Domino Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin performed this song on December 10, 2010 at a charity event in front of an audience of international film and television celebrities. Videos of his performance quickly went viral worldwide. Putin's spokesman said the former KGB chief learned the lyrics to the song as part of his English language studies.

Comments: 21

Omar from TexasGreat song! but where was "blueberry hill" located?
Black Rooster from Adelaide South AustraliaLove ya Fats...R.I.P great man.
Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn April 1st 1963, Fats Domino signed a recording contract with ABC-Paramount records...
Just under seven weeks later on May 18th his first record, "There Goes {My Heart Again)", on his new label entered Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart at position #89, and on June 9th it peaked at #59 {for 1 week} and it spent 7 weeks on the Top 100...
His previous record label was Imperial Records; and on that label between the years 1949 and 1962 he had sixty-six records on Billboard's R&B Singles chart, thirty-nine made the Top 10 with nine reaching #1*...
* He almost had nineteen #1 records when ten of his songs peaked at #2.
Sarah from CambridgeFats' version has always been my favourite but I recently found this cover by a guy called Lenny, it may be my new no.1 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y6CW4J3Hhsw
Ted from MichiganI just came back from Jerusalem and visited the Western Wall there. At the Wall there was an old Jewish man of perhaps 80 years old dressed in white holding an old book in hand and I recognized the melody but the words were in Hebrew. And from a distance, yet close enough I recorded him singing a very familiar song, well perhaps not! But the melody was very familiar. It was Fat's Domino's Blueberry Hill song...without question! BUT what was this old man singing anyway? It couldn't be the words of Blueberry Hill, BUT the melody, the music was indeed that of the music as we know it. Please don't doubt this. I have it recorded on my camera. I'm writing this partly in astonishment, but would love to know the reason this Hebrew was singing it. My research points that the music was written by Vincent Rose in the 1940's and performed by orchestras of that era, then in the 1950's performed by country and rock and roll artists most notably Fats Domino. If you know, write me Tednite8@aol.com
Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn February 15th 1957, in Pittsburgh, PA the "Greatest Show of 1957" rock tour debut...
Fats Domino was one of the performers and at the time his "Blue Monday" {at #10} and "Blueberry Hill" {at #21} were on Billboard's Top 100 chart...
And what a show it must have been; also appearing were Chuck Berry, LaVern Baker, Clyde McPhatter, Five Satins, Moonglows, and Bill Doggett*...
* Mr. Doggett also had two records on the Top 100 at the time; "Ram-Bunk-Shush" {at #67} and "Honky Tonk" {at #96}.
Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn November 30th 1956, the Sunset Productions movie 'Shake, Rattle & Rock!' opened in theaters across the U.S.A. and Canada...
Fats Domino appeared in the film, and he performed the songs "I'm In Love Again", "Honey Chile", and "Ain't That a Shame"...
But at the time his covered version of the 1940's song "Blueberry Hill" was at #1 on Billboard's Best Selling R&B in Stores chart, #1 on the Most R&B Played on Jukeboxes chart, and #1 on the Most R&B Played by Jockeys chart {and was at #4 on Billboard's Best Selling in Stores chart}.
Andrew from MadridThe Al Lewis credited as co-writer is not the Al Lewis who played Grandpa Munster. - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al_Lewis_(lyricist)
Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn March 5th 1961, Louis Armstrong performed "Blueberry Hill" on the CBS-TV program 'The Ed Sullivan Show'...
He first charted with the song in 1949, at that time it peaked at #29...
Seven years later he re-recorded it and this version entered the Hot 100 on October 28th, 1956 and once again it peaked at #29 and spent 11 weeks on the Hot 100...
Around a year later in early 1957 Fats Domino reached #2 on the Hot 100 with his covered version.
Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn February 2nd 1957, Fats Domino was in a 'BLUE' mood!!!
For he appeared on the NBC-TV program 'The Perry Como Show' and performed "Blueberry Hill" and "Blue Monday"!!!
"Blueberry Hill" entered the Billboard's Top 100 on September 30th, 1956; eventually it peaked at #2 (for 3 weeks) and spent over a half-year on the Top 100 (27 weeks)...
And "Blue Monday" entered the Top 100 on December 30th, 1956; it reached #5 and stayed on the Top 100 for 18 weeks...
At the time of his appearance on the 'Como' show "Blue Monday" was #1 on Billboard's R&B Singles chart (was #1 for a total of 8 weeks)...
And in November of 1956 "Blueberry Hill" became #1 on the R&B Singles chart and remained in the top spot for 11 weeks...
"Since I Met You Baby" by Ivory Joe Hunter was the record that bumped "Blueberry Hill" out of the #1 spot, then Fats returned the favor and his "Blue Monday" replaced Ivory Joe at #1 ("Since I Met You Baby" was #1 for 3 weeks).
Randy from Fayettevile, ArFats Domino's biggest hit was Blueberry Hill? Great! There's a lot of his hits I recall from the 50s & 60s when growing up as a "baby booooooomer." Wasn't the Beatles' song "Lady Madonna" influenced by Fats? Great song by Fats Domino.
Christopher from Charlotte, NcYes Gene Autry First performed the song in "The Singing Hill" but the first Recorded version was by Sammy Kaye And His Orchestra with Tommy Ryan on vocals.
Carolyn from Knoville, TnWhat a terrific song! I thought it was a great touch when Ron Howard (playing Richie Cunningham on "Happy Days") would break into this song. They just don't make them like this anymore!
Steve from Clacton, United KingdomFurther to the debate on authorship of this song, it was written by my friend Tom's cousin Bill of Montreal whilst serving in the Canadian Army based in Devon U.K. Four servicemen funded a weekend pass in London by Bill selling the song in "Tin Pan Alley" hence he is not credited as the song's author. Family members in Montreal still hold an original score! Steve Smith U.K.
Shelly Binkley from Grants Pass, OrActually the song lyrics WERE NOT written by whom you stated. They were written by my mom's aunt Elma Kisro of IL., who now is deceased. Back in those days they would ask for people to write the lyrics to songs and they would pay you for it. Well she never was paid and the credit didn't go to her as you can see. She didn't have the money in those days to sue. I think it's time for her to get recognized for her work!
- Shelly Binkley, Grants Pass, OR
Andrew from Birmingham, United StatesIt's not surprising that this one and "Ain't It a Shame" were both by Fats Domino. I mean, they sound almost identical. The first time I'd ever heard one of these two, I don't remember which one it was they sound so much alike!
Dawn from Wco, Txi get a thrill from listening to Blueberry Hill!!
Shelly Binkley from Grants Pass, OrActually the song lyrics WERE NOT written by whom you stated. They were written by my mom's aunt Elma Kirso of IL., who now is deceased. Back in those days they would ask for people to write the lyrics to songs and they would pay you for it. Well she never was paid and the credit didn't go to her as you can see. She didn't have the money in those days to sue. I think it's time for her to get recognized for her work!
Kaitlin from Cornwall, OntThat guy on Happy Days used to sing this all the time! I can't think of his name right now tho... ergh!
George from Richmond, VaDuring Hurricane Katrina Fats was reported as missing in his beloved New Orleans, but later surfaced alive and well.
Stefanie from Rock Hill, ScIt's a good thing Fats Domino recorded this one! It's a great song.