Sixteen songs have become a part of our musical language and are instantly recognizable, and only 21 of those songs appear on Greatest Hits: Walking to New Orleans, another 30-song treasure trove of Domino songs. The two albums combined put forward almost 40 Domino tracks worthy of note; think about how many other musicians’ catalogues are that deep and Domino’s importance comes into sharp focus.

 

The hits album reveals the beautiful economy of the Domino recordings. No song is longer than 2:42 and five clock in at under two minutes. He doesn’t stress over vocal nuances, investing most of his best work with a genial quality, and Bartholomew’s arrangements are laser-focused on the rhythmic impact. We might never hear how earth-shaking these songs were in their day—I understand the importance Rick Coleman attaches to “Ain’t That a Shame,” but the difference between a “boom” then and a “boom” now is too great for me to hear it—but we can appreciate the whipsnap movement of these songs. Combined, the two albums make a powerful statement for the musical importance (if it was ever in question) of one of the figures who has become one of the symbols of New Orleans’ recovery.