JERRY LEE'S SONGS AT SUN CONTINUED
'BREATHLESS'(1958)
------------------
The follow-up hit to 'Great balls of fire',written by the same person
(Otis Blackwell,who wrote many for Jerry Lee & others in the '50s & '60s).
Similar in style to 'Great balls of fire',it was also a huge hit.
'MILKSHAKE MADEMOISSELLE'(1958)
-------------------------------
An excellent rocker from the Killer & typical of its era.
'HIGH SCHOOL CONFIDENTIAL'(1958)
--------------------------------
In 1958,Jerry Lee had created his own unique blend of rock 'n' roll &
this electrifying piece of music is sure evidence that Jerry Lee Lewis
is the true King of rock 'n' roll & that no one could rival him.
By 1958,rock 'n' roll's (blues-based,anyway) days were numbered.New
artists like Buddy Holly were fast diluting the blues in the music &
created more sanitized & harmless music - most of which was lame &
boring.However,there was still room for the wildest Jerry Lee Lewis
single of the '50s - 'Highschool confidential'.The finest piece of
real rock 'n' roll ever recorded,without a doubt - and what a finale
for blues-based rock 'n' roll on the pop charts.
'PUT ME DOWN'(1958)
-------------------
Another manic R&B-rocker,this was written by guitarist Roland Janes.
This is one of the most under-rated pieces of music Lewis has cut.
Great rocker,especially the gutbucket blues alternate version.
'GOOD ROCKIN' TONIGHT'(1958)
----------------------------
Blues shouter Roy Brown wrote & recorded this in 1948 & it was a big hit for
both him & Wynonie Harris soon after.This type of R&B was by all intents &
purposes rock 'n' roll & Jerry Lee's 2 definitive Sun versions really
make use of the songs potential.
'PINK PEDAL PUSHERS'(1958)
--------------------------
Carl Perkins hit big in 1955 with 'Blue suede shoes' & this Perkins
composition was a follow-up attempt.Jerry Lee was an excellent interpreter
of Carl's songs & this is no exception.
'JAIL HOUSE ROCK'(1958)
-----------------------
Another piece of furious rock 'n' roll that enters the same territory
as 'Highschool confidential'.The amazing thing about this number is
that Jerry Lee's version (with just him & a minimal band) is a lot more
impressive than the Elvis Presley hit version that had multi-member band
& a huge budget recording studio.This shows that Jerry Lee can back himself
with just himself or a very small band no problem.
'HOUND DOG'(1958)
-----------------
The same applies to this song.Jerry Lee can do something with this old
Big Mama Thornton blues with a small band that took Elvis Presley a whole
band & chorus to create the same effect.Jerry Lee would re-record this
in 1959 as a pure blues,using the Big Mama Thornton original lyrics.
'DON'T BE CRUEL'(1958)
----------------------
A third song most people will recognise as an Elvis hit & again,Jerry
Lee's version is far superior.For starters,it's more rock 'n' roll & is
cooler over all.And again,Jerry Lee does something with a small band that
took Presley a bigger band to do.
'SOMEDAY'(1958)
---------------
Jerry Lee then turns in a truly amazing & definitive version of an old
swing standard.In common with Moon Mullican,Jerry Lee could turn in an
excellent version of a mainstream standard in a bluesy country style.
'JAMBALAYA'(1958)
-----------------
Although credited to Hank Williams,this was actually written for the
most part by Moon Mullican (who didn't take credit for it because of a
contract with the King label).It was a big hit for Hank & Moon also did
a version (the song suited Moon or Jerry far better than it did Hank as
both these (Moon & Jerry Lee) turn in a lively version compared to the
sombre Hank version that lacked the cajun spirit needed on the song.
'FRIDAY NIGHT'(1958)
--------------------
Mixing rock 'n' roll with an old ragtime/jazz type song,Jerry Lee turns
in another excellent performance.
'BIG LEGGED WOMAN'(1958)
------------------------
An old blues dating back to the 1930s,done by Johnny Temple & Blind Boy
Fuller among others.This is the kind of song that Jerry Lee loves recording
& is sure evidence of the influence received from the many hours spent at
Haney's Big House.
'HELLO HELLO BABY'(1958)
------------------------
Recorded immediately after 'Big legged woman',this is another gutbucket
blues that owes a big debt to Haney's as well.This was released on the
1961 Sun Jerry Lee album 'Jerry Lee's greatest' & is one of that albums
main highlights.
'FRANKIE & JOHNNY'(1958)
------------------------
An old 19th century folk-blues song.Jerry Lee probably learned it from
Jimmie Rodgers' 1920s version & rewrote it as a fast rocker.Other rockers
like Gene Vincent & Elvis Presley would also cut it.
'YOUR CHEATING HEART'(1958)
---------------------------
Hank Williams' most famous song.Jerry Lee really mines the blues feel
from it & creates a definitive version.It remained a big favorite with
Lewis,who did another great bluesdrenched version at the Star Club in
1964 & many other times at Mercury.
'LOVESICK BLUES'(1958)
-----------------------
This was Hank Williams' first big hit & was (uncharacteristically) not
a selfwritten track - it was an old blues standard from the 1920s that
entered the country field of music via Rex Griffin's 1930s version,from
which Hank learned it.Jerry Lee rocks it up to great effect.
'FOOLS LIKE ME'(1958)
-----------------------
The B-side to 'Highschool confidential' - an excellent country ballad.
Moon Mullican memorably covered it in the '60s.
'CARRYING ON'(1958)
---------------------
Like 'Cool cool ways',this was a variation of Hank Ballard's 'Sexy ways' & a
good excuse for the Killer to rock out.
'CRAZY HEART'(1958)
---------------------
Another excellent country performance on a song that he probably learned
from Hank Williams.
'SLIPPING AROUND'(1958)
-----------------------
Floyd Tillman's Country hit.Jerry Lee treats it as a blues at Sun &
later did it as pure country on Mercury.Either way,an excellent
record.
'I'LL SEE YOU IN MY DREAMS'(1958)
----------------------------------
Jerry Lee displays his mastery of jazz & ragtime piano styles on
this great instrumental.A 1920s standard.
'WILD ONE' & 'LET THE GOOD TIMES ROLL'(1958)
----------------------------------------------
Lewis the rocker at his greatest.The former a song written by
Australian rocker Johnny O'Keefe (Lewis got the song from him
when on a tour of Australia),the latter a speeded up version
of the Louis Jordan R&B hit.
'MEMORY OF YOU','COME WHAT MAY','BREAK UP',
'I'LL MAKE IT ALL UP TO YOU','JOHNNY B. GOODE',
'SETTIN' THE WOODS ON FIRE'(1958)
-----------------------------------
Jerry Lee solo - playing piano & singing.This is a prime example
that Jerry Lee needed no one to back him.'Memory of you'
is an excellent sefcomposed bluegrass flavoured country ballad.'Come
what may' is a unique & definitive version of a Clyde McPhatter R&B
hit.'Break up' & 'I'll make it all up to you' were written for
Jerry by Sun newcomer Charlie Rich.Lewis would turn to these again
with a full band & both were hits.
'Johnny B. Goode':Jerry Lee's first (and best) version of this
Chuck Berry standard.Jerry Lee's excellent piano playing really adds
to the song (one more associated with guitars than pianos.Lewis
returned to it many times in the future.The 1965 'Return of rock'
version is almost as good as the solo Sun version.'Settin' the woods
on fire:Jerry Lee turns in a masterful version of Hank Williams'
standard.
'I'LL SAIL MY SHIP ALONE'(1958)
-------------------------------
Moon Mullican was a big inspiration to Jerry Lee & his material was very
suitable for the Killer too.Moon had a huge hit with this in 1950 & Jerry
had a minor hit with it in 1958 & did it live in 1966,quoting Moon as one
of his favorite artists.Moon was doing rock 'n' roll-type material long
before Bill Haley showed up with 'Rock around the clock' & was an artist
who,like Jerry Lee himself,sing in many styles.
'IT HURT ME SO'(1958)
----------------------
Excellent interpretation of a blues ballad written by Charlie Rich.
'LOVIN' UP A STORM'/'BIG BLON BABAY'(1958)
--------------------------------------------
These 2 rockers made up a single that was a minor hit for Jerry Lee.
'SICK & TIRED'(1958)
-----------------------
This is a classic piece of New Orleans R&B.It was written &
originated by Chris Kenner & made famous by Fats Domino.Jerry Lee's
version was bluesier & better than both.The song has remained a
standard among Louisiana & New Orleans bluesmen;Professor Longhair
is one of many to have recorded a version.
'SHANTY TOWN'(1958)
--------------------
Jerry Lee's influences were broad & diverse.This old Tin Pan Alley song
is more evidence of this fact.The bluesy performance Jerry Lee gives this
is comparable with 1920s Bessie Smith songs in style.
'RELEASE ME'(1958)
--------------------
Jerry Lee gives an excellent & definitive bluesy reading to this Ray
Price country hit.The song would prove to be a big pop hit for crooner
Englebert Humperdinck in the '60s.
'I COULD NEVER BE ASHAMED OF YOU'(1959)
-----------------------------------------
Another excellent interpretation of a Hank Williams country classic.
'NEAR YOU'(1959)
-----------------
An old jazz standard & a hit for Francis Craig & Bob Crosby.Jerry Lee
turns in a great piano instrumental of it,that is simply some of his
best playing ever - mixing jazz,blues & boogie influences together.
'HILLBILLY MUSIC'(1959)
------------------------
A frenetic rocker.
'MY BLUE HEAVEN'(1959)
------------------------
Lewis always loved to record older jazz & swing songs.This is one of
his particular favourites (he would turn again to it in 1961 & 1969).
Frank Sinatra was one of many oldtime pop artists to record this song
& Fats Domino had a big hit with it in the mid-'50s.Jerry Lee probably
knew many versions.
'LET'S TALK ABOUT US'(1959)
----------------------------
By 1958,the pop-rock style was coming more & more into fashion.This was
Jerry Lee's first in that style.Unlike many of his contemporaries,Jerry
Lee brought a solid rock 'n' roll feel to this style song & always gave
a top class performance.This was also a top class song,written by Otis
Blackwell & was revived by Jerry Lee in 1969.
'LITTLE QUEENIE'(1959)
------------------------
A Chuck Berry composition in the mould of 'Johnny B. Goode'.Jerry Lee
could do this type of material backwards in his sleep.
'HOME'(1959)
--------------
An early Jim Reeves hit,written by a young Roger Miller.Miller would
hit big in the mid-'60s with fast novelty/funny C&W songs.He also wrote
'When 2 worlds collide' - Jerry Lee's last No.1 hit to date.There are
rumours that Jerry Lee & Miller dueted on unreleased tracks in the '60s.
Lewis turns in a great version of 'Home',showing his mastery of country
rock.
'WILL THE CIRCLE BE UNBROKEN'(1959)
------------------------------------
Undoubtedly one of Jerry Lee's finest bluegrass-gospel performances.
This is a song that has covered a lot of ground in bluegrass,country
& gospel musics,dating back to the Original Carter Family.
'THE BALLAD OF BILLY JOE'(1959)
--------------------------------
Written by Charlie Rich.The late '50s & early '60s was the era of story
songs in country music.Marty Robbins' 'El Paso',Johnny Horton's 'Battle
of New Orleans' & Johnny Cash's 'Don't take your guns to town' were huge
hits of the day.Lewis turns in an excellent country story song here -
one that deserved to be a lot more successful than it was.
'SAIL AWAY' & 'AM I TO BE THE ONE'(1959)
-----------------------------------------
Jerry Lee has rarely dueted during his long career.When he did,it was
almost always with either other Sun artists or with his cousins or
sister.These 1959 duets with Charlie rich on a ballad & a rocker are
excellent.
'NIGHT TRAIN TO MEMPHIS'(1959)
--------------------------------
Jerry Lee creates an excellent piece of bluegrass boogie out of this
old Roy Acuff country hit.Dean Martin,one of the few oldtime pop singers
with a convincing country style,also cut a version of this.
'I'M THE GUILTY ONE'(1959)
----------------------------
Jerry Lee turns in a great performance on this country ballad.He out
Jims Jim Reeves as a country crooner here.
'THE WILD SIDE OF LIFE'(1959)
-------------------------------
One of the greatest country tracks ever written & who better than Jerry
Lee to sing it?Jerry Lee takes hold of the song,sings it soulfully &
the saxophone-orientated backing lets you know that this is Western
Swing.Jerry Lee cut an equally excellent pure country version of this
for his 1965 'Country songs for city folks' album.
'BILLY BOY'(1959)
------------------
Jerry Lee creates an excellent rocker out of this traditional Nursery
Rhyme-derived song.
'MY BONNIE'(1960)
------------------
Jerry Lee gives this old Scottish standard a great jazzy blues feel which
in fact is similar to the style he'd use on 'Walk right in' 5 years later.
'MEXICALI ROSE'(1960)
----------------------
This was an old standard dating back to the '20s.From the '30s on,it
was recorded & popularised by artists as diverse as Bing Crosby & Bob
Wills.Jerry Lee's main source for the song is Gene Autry's hit version.
The song also gave a name to one of Gene's films.Lewis excels at the
song as a ballad & also as a rocker.
'GETTIN' IN THE MOOD','IN THE MOOD','I GET THE BLUES
WHEN IT RAINS'(1960)
-------------------------------------------------------
3 excellent instrumentals.'Gettin' in the mood' was an excellent
original boogie preparing for the next track,a rocking version of
Glenn Miller's 'In the mood'.
'I get the blues when it rains' is another old jazz & blues standard
(cut by people as diverse as Big Bill Broonzy & Guy Lombardo).Jerry
also did a vocal Western Swing version in 1969 for Mercury.
'DON'T DROP IT'(1960)
----------------------
Jerry Lee turns in an excellent version of Terry Fell's country boogie
hit.This was an R&B hit for Wilbert Harrison around the time Jerry Lee
cut it.
This page created using the webpage creation facilities of Webspawner.
Copyright © 2000 . All Rights Reserved
WebSpawner Page Machine