Jerry Lee Lewis – The Greatest Live Show On Earth
Bear Family – BAF18050
Jenny Jenny – Who Will The Next Fool Be – Memphis, Tennessee – Hound Dog – Mean Woman Blues – High Heel Sneakers – No Particular Place To Go – Together Again – Long Tall Sally – Whole Lotta Shakin’ Going On
By the early 1960s, the generation that had created Rock and Roll. Cochran and Holly had tragically died in accidents, Elvis was trapped by a manager who made him appear in one bad film after another, Little Richard had turned to God, and Johnny Cash had embraced country music while indulging in heavy drinking, as had Gene Vincent and Carl Perkins. And Jerry Lee Lewis’s meteoric rise was abruptly halted by the scandal surrounding his marriage to his young cousin, Myra. The path seemed clear for the British Invasion.
But Jerry Lee refused to admit defeat, and like Chuck Berry, resisted against all odds, and despite the adversity, rebuilt his career concert by concert.
The beginning of his renaissance came with the recording of the legendary live album at the Star Club in 1964, considered by many to be one of the best live albums ever recorded. Unfortunately, rights issues prevented the album’s release in the United States, leading Shelby Singleton and Smash Records to record another live album that same year and give it a title befitting the man.
From the enthusiastic reception given by the 15,000 spectators at the Birmingham Municipal Auditorium, it was clear that what was in store was something special. Lewis was galvanized by the crowd, like a bull in the arena. After a somewhat chaotic start with “Jenny Jenny,” on which the Killer and his band (guitar, bass, drums, and organ) struggled to find their rhythm, Charlie Rich’s “Who Will The Next Fool Be” truly launched the concert. Lewis displayed his full vocal technique, though the word “technique” hardly seems appropriate given his instinctive singing style. The rest of the set alternated between country-tinged tracks brimming with soul and rock ‘n’ roll of unparalleled ferocity, such as the “Hound Dog », “Mean Woman Blues”and, of course, “Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On” as the grand finale. Lewis plays as if his life depended on it (which it perhaps did), bending the band to his will and holding the audience in his palm. And the latter grants him the triumph he deserves. This album is not only an exceptional recording, but Singleton’s great skill lies in having retained the often humorous and ironic commentary and introductions between each song.
This exceptional recording is now being reissued on vinyl by Bear Family. This is a faithful reproduction of the original Smash LP, remastered from the original stereo tapes.
A must-have for all fans of The Killer and uncompromising Rock’n’Roll.
Buy your copy here.
Jerry Lee Lewis – The ballads of Jerry Lee Lewis
Bear Family – BCD17544 [2020]
Crazy Arms – Invitation To Your Party – Born To Lose – I Could Never Be Ashamed Of You – Tomorrow Night – I’m The Guilty One – Fools Like Me – Will The Circle Be Unbroken – Sail Away (Duet With Charlie Rich) – Set My Mind At Ease (Stereo) – I’ll Make It All Up To You – It Hurts Me So – Love Letters In The Sand – How’s My Ex Treating You – You Win Again – I Know What It Means – Turn Around – The Ballad Of Billy Joe – It All Depends – Love On Broadway – Seasons Of My Heart (Duet With Linda Gail Lewis) – Someday – That Lucky Old Sun – Cold Cold Heart – Love Made A Fool Of Me – Goodnight Irene – I Can’t Seem To Say Goodbye
Jerry Lee Lewis set the rocking piano on fire, metaphorically and literally, with songs like Whole Lotta Shakin Goin’ On, High School Confidential, and Great Balls Of Fire recorded for Sun. After his fall, he made a triumphant comeback as a country singer on Smash/Mercury Records in the mid-’60s.
Of course, country music was not a new thing in Lewis’ music, and it was already a massive part of his repertoire on Sun. After all, his first recording, included here, was a cover of Ray Price’s Crazy Arms. Actually, all kind of music was part of his repertoire. Knowing that he had a rough diamond that could not be easily polished, Sam Phillips tried almost everything to see what could happen in the studio.
This 27-song compilation gathers some of the best country-tinged sides and rockin’ ballads he recorded for Phillips and Sun between 1956 and 1963. And, though I like his harder edge, I always thought that this genre suited him best, showcasing his piano playing that rolls with grace and, most of all, his great, rich, and warm voice. Those recordings reveal the great singer he was. On these country weepers, he can make the best of his crooning voice. More than that, he has a way to appropriate these songs that totally makes you forget the originals. This is not an easy task to compete with Hank Williams, Leadbelly, Lonnie Johnson, and Ray Price.
The set is complete with two duets, one with Charlie Rich and another with his sister Linda Gail Lewis.
If you don’t know this side of his art, I strongly recommend this cd. And even if you, like me, own the Sun box-set published by Bear, it’s a good thing to have these sides on the same support. And the detailed booklet is an excellent addition to the product.
Fred “Virgil” Turgis
