Ostensibly replacing the compact disc My Blue Heaven as the definitive single-disc collection of Fats Domino's biggest hit singles, Fat Man: 25 Classic Performances features most of Fats Domino's biggest hits, but it inexplicably neglects such hits as "Walking to New Orleans," "Be My Guest" and "I'm Gonna Be a Wheel Someday." The only justification for the omission of so many hits is that the intent of the collection is to portray Fats Domino as the R&B heavyweight that he undoubtedly is, but seldom receives credit for being. Nevertheless, Fat Man masquerades as a greatest hits collection, billing itself as "25 Classic Performances," which leads you to believe that it is simply another hits collection. However, as an R&B compilation, Fat Man is strong and thoroughly enjoyable -- and, like any proper R&B collection, it presents the singles in the speed they were recorded at, not the sped-up versions that became hits.
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