"Blue Monday" is a song written by Dave Bartholomew, first recorded in 1953 by Smiley Lewis and issued as a single, in January 1954, on Imperial Records (catalog #5268). The single, with a slow-rocking beat, features an instrumental electric guitar solo by Lewis.
Fats Domino cover It was later popularized in a recording by Fats Domino in 1956, and became his 7th pop single. It was also released on Imperial (catalog #5417), with the songwriting credit shared between him and Bartholomew. The baritone saxophone solo is by Herbert Hardesty.Davis, Hank (1993). Fats Domino: Out of New Orleans. Bear Family Records. p. 42.
The song debuted on the Billboard Top 100 (later known as the Hot 100) chart on January 5, 1957, at number 58. It would climb up to number 9 in February, and remain there for 3 weeks. It peaked at number 23 on the UK charts. The January 5 edition 'Rhythm & Blues Notes' column on Billboard called the song the "hottest new record around" and stated orders stood around the 350,000 mark. It would also spend 8 consecutive weeks at number 1 on the R&B chart.
Domino's cover was featured in the 1956 film The Girl Can't Help It.
The song title was used for a 2006 biography of Domino by Rick Coleman.
Cat Stevens cover Cat Stevens covered the song during a 1976 jam session with Ringo Starr, but the song remained unreleased until 2001, when it was finally included on a career-spanning box set. Additionally, Stevens sang the song several times live during his 1976 Majikat tour, including one which was a tribute to Fats's birthday.
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