Two people, one song ready to rock ’n’ roll in the heart of New Orleans.
“I’m Ready” is one of Fats Domino’s signature tracks, performed in those deeply spirited jam sessions with Jools Holland & His Rhythm & Blues Orchestra. Even though the song wasn’t tied to a major chart-topping single when it first appeared, the moment Domino bends forward, carried by Holland’s driving accompaniment, feels spontaneous yet immortal a declaration of sorts: “I’m ready to play, to live, to share myself through these piano keys.”
In that electrifying meeting between Jools Holland, the young, passionate British musician, and Fats Domino, the New Orleans legend, they created a musical space that felt both warm and alive. It wasn’t just a performance it was a reunion of generations, a bridge between the roots of rock ’n’ roll and a sincere love for the R&B legacy.
Beneath its sweet melody, “I’m Ready” radiates a simple but profound confidence. Domino sings, “I’m ready, I’m willing and I’m able to rock and roll all night,” a wordless assertion that music is where he finds freedom and joy. Those energetic lines evoke a sense of readiness not just to play, but to connect, inviting listeners into his world, a world where time loses meaning as voice and piano melt into each other.
Musically, the song represents Domino’s unmistakable style: boogie-woogie piano, steady rhythms, and a smooth yet powerful voice. When Holland joins him on the keys, audiences can feel a connection that needs no explanation just notes, smiles, and a sincere musical bond. As described in a VICE article, their early conversation felt a bit awkward (“…they are from different worlds…”), but the moment the piano began, that distance disappeared. Domino, unable to hide his grin, embraced Holland, traded solos with him, like two artists finding understanding through music.
Culturally, this collaboration meant far more than a shared stage. It was a cross-ocean connection between a New Orleans musician from the very birthplace of R&B and rock ’n’ roll and a younger British artist who honored and carried that spirit forward in his own R&B orchestra. It proved that classical, roots-driven music like Domino’s is not just memory but lifeblood continuing to spread, inspire, and forge bonds that transcend time and geography.
And above all, “I’m Ready” is not merely a song about being ready to play. It is the declaration of a soul ready for joy, for sharing, for connection through melody. In that moment, Jools Holland and Fats Domino weren’t just performing a tune they were telling a story of respect, passion, and the timeless beauty of rock ’n’ roll.
Oldies Songs