50s

Ain't That A Shame - Fats Domino (1955) - Ain't That A Shame - Cheap Trick (1982)

Fats Domino: released in 1955, released under the 'Rock and Rollin' With Fats Domino' album, Ain't That a Shame - was co-written by Fats Domino and his producer/arranger, Dave Bartholomew, and by many critics is believed to have been written as a tribute song to Domino's manager, Melvin Cade, who had sadly died shortly before the song's recording - the song had catapulted Domino even further into his career of Rock and Roll stardom, reaching the top 10 on the pop charts and number 1 on the R&B charts respectively.

This heart-ache yet cheeky - bold tonality of the song is embedded by being set in B major - keeping that blues-y soul of Domino - the classic blues piano playing with his infectious vocals however set at 125 bpm allowing for a rhythm that is easy to follow and clap along to - as done so in his live performances, - the song itself feels sweetly ironic with the disparaging lyrics of heartache.

Verse 1:

You made me cry when you said goodbye

Ain't that a shame

My tears fell like rain

Ain't that a shame

You're the one to blame

Verse 2:

You broke my heart when you said we'll part

Ain't that a shame

My tears fell like rain

Ain't that a shame

You're the one to blame

In the first verse: the narrator ...

In the second verse (no chorus - only three verses): the narrator ...

Cheap Trick: released in 1982 under the live album 'Cheap Trick At Budokan' - which contrastingly had been produced byJack Douglas the song embeds itself as a power rock - anthemic performance akin to the original where it follows the same melody and structure, however is articulated more dynamic and harsher than Domino's sweeter - softer presentation of the song. Frontman 

Using the overdriven edgy chords of (E)x3,(A),(Asus4),A,E,A,Asus4,A,(B) in their, crystal like vocals - slightly broken up and distorted to add that hard rock, grit - all contrasted with crunchy - boomy instrumentals creating this punky high-energy nature of the song - illustrated further by it's faster bpm of 136 and more 'heavy-handed' drumming - emphasised in the suspenseful intro performed by Bun E Carlos - a killer drummer and overlooked drummer icon - seen here holding the rhythm tight.