ELEKTRA
'RITA MAY'(1979)
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Bob Dylan is one of rocks greatest songwriters & was influenced a lot by Jerry
Lee.Jerry Lee feels very much at home on this Dylan blues-rocker & it was
the first new song for Jerry at his first Elektra session in 1979.
'EVERYDAY I HAVE TO CRY'(1979)
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Arthur Alexander originated this song that was typical of his blend of
blues with country music.Jerry Lee turns in a fine version that also has
both blues & country appeal.
'I LIKE IT LIKE THAT'(1979)
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Chris Kenner was a New Orleans R&B artist,who was popular in the 1950s &
1960s.Jerry Lee already recorded his 'Sick & tired' at Sun in 1958 &
returns to him as a source again in 1979 for this excellent bluesy soul
song.
'NUMBER ONE LOVIN' MAN'(1979)
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Blues Jerry Lee at his greatest - great boogie piano & vocals steeped in
the traditions of the Mississippi Delta.
'ROCKIN' MY LIFE AWAY'(1979)
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A great blues-rocker from Jerry Lee & from 1979 onwards,this would be a
big highlight in his concerts.The song is the kind of one that really
defines Jerry Lee & was written by Mack Vickery,a man who wrote many of
Jerry's finest later songs.
'PERSONALITY'(1979)
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R&B & rock 'n' roll hit for Lloyd Price in the 1950s.Jerry Lee's right
at home on this one.
'I WISH I WAS 18 AGAIN'(1979)
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A country song with a similar theme to the previous 'Middle age crazy'
& the coming '39 & holding' - ie.not wanting to get older.
'ROCKIN' LITTLE ANGEL'(1979)
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Jerry Lee did this as a tribute to his friend Ray Smith who originated
it.Jerry's version is far superior to Smith's original,that's for sure.
'HOT DAMN I'M A ONE WOMAN MAN'(1979)
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This blues rocker was recorded for the film 'Roadie' & was the best song
from it.The session this was recorded at also contained the next 4 songs,
available on a rare bootleg called 'Alive & rockin'.
'MILK COW BLUES'(1979)
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Jerry Lee has always excelled as a bluesman & is undoubtedly the most
blues-based of all the rockers.He can sing & play many forms of blues
- both fast & slow & can mix it with country styles,too.
'Milk cow blues' is an old 1930s song written by Kokomo Arnold (based
on a John Estes version) in 1935 & covered by Robert Johnson,Bob Wills
& Big Joe Williams soon afterwards.It became a rockabilly standard in
the '50s but Jerry Lee plays it as a pure blues,stating he learned it
at Haney's big house.Like most versions,the words to Jerry Lee's version
are considerably different to other versions.The idea of the song is that
the singer depicts his woman as a 'Milk cow' producing milk (meaning
love,etc.).
'TOSSIN' & TURNIN''(1979)
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This version of a 1960s hit echoes the jazzy style used on 1960s Sun
Jerry Lee performances like 'No more than I get' or 'Livin' lovin' wreck'.
'I AIN'T LOVED YOU'(1979)
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An excellent blues-rock performance that was as good as anything on the
first Elektra album.
'OLD TIME ROCK 'N' ROLL(1979)
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The title of this was enough to make Jerry Lee record it & indeed we get
some great 'Old time rock 'n' roll' here.
'LOVE GAME'(1979)
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Fine piece of country-soul with a touch of the blues.
'ALABAMA JUBILEE'(1979)
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Jerry Lee cleverly mixes ragtime,bluegrass,Western Swing,Jazz &
blues on this excellent performance of an old standard.This song
was originally written by Jack Yellen & became a blues standard
after artists like Mance Lipscombe did versions.Country star Jerry
Reed also cut this.
'GOODTIME CHARLIE'S GOT THE BLUES'(1979)
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Country standard recorded by many including Charlie Rich.Jerry
Lee recorded a version of it in 1973,but this remains unreleased.
His 1979 version is definitive country with a hint of blues.
'WHEN 2 WORLDS COLLIDE'(1979)
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Another excellent version of a country standard (this was written
by Roger Miller & also recorded by Jim Reeves).Lewis' definitive
version went all the way to No.1.
'GOOD NEWS TRAVELS FAST'(1979)
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The b-side to the above - a savage boogie rocker.
'HONKY TONK STUFF'(1979)
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One of the purer piece of country music that Jerry Lee cut at
Elektra.
'TOOT TOOT TOOTSIE GOODBYE'(1979)
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Al Joson was one of Jerry Lee Lewis' early heros & this performance
is sure evidence of what a great interpreter of Jolson's work Lewis
is.
'FOLSOM PRISON BLUES'(1980)
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If Elektra didn't release 'Milk cow blues' from a year earlier,
they got another chance (and took it) to release a great Lewis
blues.This track was written & made famous by Johnny Cash.Jerry
Lee interprets this country-blues as a tough gutbucket blues &
creates a bluesy performance comparable to 1973s 'Be bop a Lula'
or 1979s 'Milk cow blues'.
'I'D DO IT ALL AGAIN','CHANGE PLACES WITH ME'(1980)
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Lewis' country at Elektra was a lot less pure than that he
recorded at Mercury.These 2 songs are prime examples - both
have a bluesy country-rock feel to them & both deal with Jerry
Lee's life as a performer.
'JUKEBOX JUNKY'(1980)
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Excellent rocker - typical of the 'Killer Country' album.
'TOO WEAK TO FIGHT'(1980)
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Fine blues-influenced country.
'LATE NIGHT LOVIN' MAN'(1980)
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Lewis' blues side at its best.This is typical of the energetic
style of Jerry Lee's Elektra & later Mercury material,not to
mention 'Killer Country',the album this was featured on.
'39 & HOLDING'(1980)
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Another great piece of country-rock,this became a major hit for
the Killer.The theme is almost identical to 'Middle age crazy' &
'I wish I was 18 again'.
'MY FINGERS DO THE TALKING'(1982)
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What a way to start off his MCA sessions!A great funky rocker
in the spirit of the Elektra recordings of 2 years earlier.
'WHY YOU BEEN GONE SO LONG'(1982)
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Jerry Lee interprets this Mickey Newberry composition as a great
piece of bluegrass.Ron Chancey's production backing Jerry isn't
all it could be though.
'BETTER NOT LOOK DOWN'(1982)
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B.B King is an artist that Jerry Lee has spoken reveringly of
for years.There isn't much in common between Lewis' Delta blues
& King's more urbane styles.This song is the only time Jerry did
one of B.B's songs.
'EASTER PARADE'(1985)
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During the mid-'80s,Jerry Lee often performed songs in concert that
he hadn't cut before.This is one great example - an excellent version
of this old standard (previously recorded by Al Jolson & Bing Crosby).
Recorded at a Norwegian concert.
'PEACH PICKING TIME IN GEORGIA'(1985)
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From the same concert as the above track,Lewis turns in an excellent
version of this Jimmie Rodgers country-blues track.
'IN THE GARDEN'(1980s)
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Likewise,during a concert in Austin,Texas,Lewis turns in a great
performance on this old country-gospel standard.
'ROCK 'N' ROLL FUNERAL'(1986)
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30 years on after his first Sun sessions,Jerry Lee rocked as well
as ever as this song proves.
'ONE OF THEM OLD THINGS'(1987)
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Jerry Lee recorded an unreleased version of this country song in studio
in 1987.However,there is a live in Italy 1987 version available.This song
would also be recorded for 'Young blood' in 1995.
'TURN YOUR RADIO ON'(1987)
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Jerry Lee's recorded some great material in 1987 at Hank Cochran's house.
This is now available on 'At Hank Cochran's',which was released in 1995.
The first track on it was this excellent bluesy gospel performance.
'BECAUSE OF YOU'(1987)
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Jerry Lee tackles a swing/oldtime pop ballad,with a Latin American
flavour & excels.From Hank Cochran's.
'HIS HANDS'(1987)
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Excellent version of a gospel ballad written by Stuart Hamblen.
Hamblen was a country singer & writer who later took up gospel.
He's the writer of many famous standards like 'It is no secret
what god can do','Remember me I'm the one who loves you' (which
Jerry Lee did - a song that is hard to figure out if it's love or
gospel) & 'Known only to him are the great hidden secrets'.
'MY MAMMY'(1987)
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One of Al Jolson's signature songs.Jerry Lee excels on this style
& pays great tribute to one of his early idols.
'OLDTIME CHRISTIAN'(1987)
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Simply one of the best bluesy gospel performances Jerry Lee ever
did.
What am I living for" - R&B singer Chuck Willis has been a big favorite of
Lewis' always & this performance of one of his biggest hits is
superb.Record in England in 1987.
"Lovin' cajun style" - Jerry Lee then does a great cajun number,also
recorded in England in 1987.
'LADY OF SPAIN'(1988)
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Recently released (1997) on a compilation of rarities called 'Oldtime
rock 'n' roll'.Excellent version of an old standard.
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