The Big Beat: Fats Domino and the Birth of Rock N' Roll

This DVD includes the "American Masters" show plus the longer, more comprehensive look at Fats Domino's life and career. The shorter version seems to have better picture and sound quality than the director's cut, but the latter has more music, which is an enjoyable plus. Sprinkled with interesting interviews highlighting how other musicians were affected by Fats' music and who helped him during his hitmaking years, these productions are a real treat not just for Fats Domino fans, but also for everyone who is interested in the trials and tribulations of very talented black performers, as they helped shape the history and direction of music in America and worldwide.

I learned a lot about Fats though this video documentary. I didn't realize how big of a part Dave Bartholomew played in helping Fats become a success. Fats and Dave laid down the ground work for what became rock and roll. They were playing rock and roll but it was called R&B. Fats & Dave deserve and should be recognized by anyone that enjoys rock and roll.

The Big Beat includes all the typical elements of a documentary: a history of Fats childhood, the beginning of his career, and highlights of his adult career. At a mere 53 minutes (broadcast version), what is missing is details about Fats the person such as his thoughts and opinions, and information about his personal life. For example, transpiring during a time of racial segregation we get no inkling of what Fats thought of this, or how it may have affected him. Or, how did his success impact his family. Perhaps that was the intention of the producers, as the documentary is very informative about the development of Fats’ music and the success of his songs.A documentary of Fats is certainly deserved and there is no denying his achievements. He played a major part as a musical bridge from rhythm & blues to rock & roll. He provided a transition that made the music more palatable and accessible to mainstream (white) America. However, his style was eclipsed by more controversial and kinetic performers and once the British Invasion hit his genteel and rolling music eventually – as with most pop genres – fell out of favor. Furthermore, in pop music it’s often not enough to rely on the music to stay popular, it often takes a certain amount of drama, which he had none. It probably didn’t help that he was viewed as a “harmless” rock & roller. Even so, for several decades he was able to maintain successful publishing and touring endeavors.The documentary includes several quality performance clips. It also includes good interviews with members of Fats’ band and other musicians, including Professor Longhair, Allen Toussaint, Earl Palmer, Herb Hardestry, as well as former record man, Eddie Ray. Fats’ co-writer and producer Dave Bartholomew receives a lot of face time. His importance in Fats’ career cannot be understated and he deserves his own documentary.As it happens to many things, trends change, fads come and go, and what’s popular can change on a dime. During his heyday, Fats’ music was the best of its kind. Now it seems simplistic and quaint. That doesn’t mean it’s not quality, it just means it’s from a different time and space. The documentary does a good job reminding us why this music was so popular.(to read more about Fats, check out “Blue Monday: Fats Domino and the Lost Dawn of Rock ‘n’ Roll)

I saw this on PBS and had to get it for my friend who grew up in New Orleans in the 30's and 40's. There's some nice footage of old musicians. He loved it too. You don't even have to be a Fats Domino fan to appreciate this. I didn't even know that some of the songs on it were his, but it's a great historical early rock documentary.

COMPREHENSIVE HISTORY AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF FATS DOMINO'S LIFE

It is in a documentary style and has some good information. However, it isn't presented in a very interesting way. It also has a couple cuss words in it.

Nicely done movie documenting the rise of rock 'n roll and the part Fats Domino and his cohorts did to make it happen!

Bought this as a gift for my dad who is a huge Fats Domino fan and he said it was amazing!!!

Genau was ich wollte.

I purchased this for my dad for Father's Day. He is a big fan of Fats and was pleased with the in depth documentation and music of his favourite artist.

Schade um das Geld

Excellent dvd. Tells from the very start of his life with interviews and clips that brought the whole era to life. Strongly recommend it

all the fats fans and collectors have waited for years for this mostly for the palais-de-sports paris 1962 concert which we all have had for years in our collections in good quality and the complete show ''all the songs'' which fats did along with other jazz stars but we was all hoping for an digitally remastered upgrade in picture & sound but just got the same quality ''no upgrade in quality'' & too add to this let down ''not the complete fats part of the show at least one song has been cut out ''aint that just like a woman'' which is a rarer song for fats to do live so a big let down for the fans! as we already have this song in the complete show! the other point is that the show is broken up in to parts yet we was all told we would be getting the complete fats show without the other jazz artists everybody is so disappointed also there is nothing new for the fans with the rest of the documentary footage taken at fats house we have all had for years nothing new here we have seen it all before! i like many other fans that i know will be sending the dvd back for a full refund! the trouble is the person that did this is not a true fan and knows very little about fats domino & the music it was done on the cheap with no love a missed opportunity what a shame!