Click On Title To Link To YouTube's Film Clip Of Jerry Lee Lewis Doing "Whole Lotta Shakin' Going On". Wow.
In Honor Of The Late Rocker Chuck Berry Who Helped Make It All Possible-ast Man Standing', Indeed- Jerry Lee Lewis
DVD REVIEW
Jerry Lee or Elvis? What is your choice? Here is mine.
Last Man Standing, Jerry Lee Lewis in Concert, New York, 2006
Elvis, Chuck Berry, Carl Perkins, Bo Diddley. Yes those are the men who created Rock ‘n’ Roll, as we know it. However in that list do not forget one Jerry Lee Lewis. Fate dealt him an uneven hand due to the foibles of his personal life (the subject of a movie, “Great Balls of Fire”, with Dennis Quaid) but his form of rockabilly/boogie woogie piano-driven music and madman presentation must be placed in the mix of influences that drove the best of early rock.
If for no other reason that that he is one of the few ‘still standing' from that generation it was nice to see what “The Killer” could do in his 71st year in concert in New York City in 2006 with a host of guests some old, some young. Clearly off these performances he has lost a couple of steps. Hell the kind of energy that Jerry Lee produced in the 1950's definitely had a short shelf life. There are some nice clips from that period interspersed with the concert, by the way. Think about that opening scene in the movie “High School Confidential” of 1958 where he is playing like a madman on the back of a flatbed truck as he heads toward the local high school. Whoa.
Despite the lost of energy Jerry Lee can still give out on some tunes like in the old days. Take his duo with R&B master Solomon Burke on “Who Will the Next Fool Be”. How about Tom Jones on “Green, Green Grass of Home”. Or Norah Jones on Hank Williams’ “Your Cheating Heart”. Or Jerry on Chuck Berry's "Roll Over, Beethoven”. Or his classic “ Crazy Arms”. And on and on. In fact the covers of his old material and some Hank Williams material highlight this concert. If you have a couple of hours better take advantage of it. Then you will know what it was like when men (and women) played rock 'n' roll for keeps.
In Honor Of The Late Rocker Chuck Berry Who Helped Make It All Possible-ast Man Standing', Indeed- Jerry Lee Lewis
DVD REVIEW
Jerry Lee or Elvis? What is your choice? Here is mine.
Last Man Standing, Jerry Lee Lewis in Concert, New York, 2006
Elvis, Chuck Berry, Carl Perkins, Bo Diddley. Yes those are the men who created Rock ‘n’ Roll, as we know it. However in that list do not forget one Jerry Lee Lewis. Fate dealt him an uneven hand due to the foibles of his personal life (the subject of a movie, “Great Balls of Fire”, with Dennis Quaid) but his form of rockabilly/boogie woogie piano-driven music and madman presentation must be placed in the mix of influences that drove the best of early rock.
If for no other reason that that he is one of the few ‘still standing' from that generation it was nice to see what “The Killer” could do in his 71st year in concert in New York City in 2006 with a host of guests some old, some young. Clearly off these performances he has lost a couple of steps. Hell the kind of energy that Jerry Lee produced in the 1950's definitely had a short shelf life. There are some nice clips from that period interspersed with the concert, by the way. Think about that opening scene in the movie “High School Confidential” of 1958 where he is playing like a madman on the back of a flatbed truck as he heads toward the local high school. Whoa.
Despite the lost of energy Jerry Lee can still give out on some tunes like in the old days. Take his duo with R&B master Solomon Burke on “Who Will the Next Fool Be”. How about Tom Jones on “Green, Green Grass of Home”. Or Norah Jones on Hank Williams’ “Your Cheating Heart”. Or Jerry on Chuck Berry's "Roll Over, Beethoven”. Or his classic “ Crazy Arms”. And on and on. In fact the covers of his old material and some Hank Williams material highlight this concert. If you have a couple of hours better take advantage of it. Then you will know what it was like when men (and women) played rock 'n' roll for keeps.
He was related to Jimmy Swaggert, if I'm not mistaken.
ReplyDeleteHe was in a certain sense, as talented as Elvis. Only his personal life and Elvis's charisma knocked him down.
Ren- I believe that you are right on the Swaggert thing. Hell, they are all related down there one way or another. My father's people are coming out of the woodwork down in the hills of Kentucky. You know those hillbillies and bayou boys.
ReplyDeleteI also believe that you are right about his talent compared to Elvis. Like a lot of things there was only room at the top for one.
Elvis won and in the early days that was fair. Besides the guitar was taking over from the piano as the key instrument on the music scene.
Jerry Lee's marriage to his young cousin didn't help his image (you know, like with the blues in an earlier age, rockers were doing the devil's work).
Later I think Jerry mopped him up. As late as twenty years ago when I saw him in an Oldie's revue I noticed that the energy, the quality of the work and the presentation were far better than anything Elvis did after his Jailhouse Rock days.
CD REVIEW-The Last Man Standing
ReplyDeleteThe last time we heard the name Jerry Lee Lewis in this space was in connection with a rave review of his star-studded concert in New York City in 2006 also entitled The Last Man Standing. I was not aware at the time I wrote that review that there was a CD connected with it (silly me). A couple of paragraphs below are taken from the concert review because they certainly apply to this album which also gets a rave review from these quarters. The last paragraph details some of the highlights of this CD. However, I can tell you right now to save your old eyes- get this thing. It is not the fireballing of Jerry’s youth but virtually from start to finish it is some very nice work. If you need to go back to the Fifties there are plenty of his compilations elsewhere. Here goes on this on.
“…Elvis, Chuck Berry, Carl Perkins, Bo Didderly. Yes those are the men who created rock and roll, as we know it. However in that list do not forget one Jerry Lee Lewis. Fate dealt him an uneven hand due to the foibles of his personal life (the subject of a movie, Great Balls of Fire, with Dennis Quaid) but his form of rockabilly/boogie woogie piano-driven music and madman presentation must be placed in the mix of influences that drove the best of early rock.
If for no other reason that that he is one of the few `still standing' from that generation it is nice to see what the Killer can do in his 71st year in concert in New York City in 2006 with a host of guests some old, some young. Clearly off these performances he has lost a couple of steps. Hell the kind of energy that Jerry Lee produced in the 1950's definitely had a short shelf life. There are some nice clips from that period intertwined with the concert, by the way.”
Apparently in putting together this album every artist who has ever been anything, every wanted to be anything or who will be in the various musical Halls of Fame signed on to play with the Killer. Let’s make this clear though- Jerry Lee is in charge here- the other artists are basking off his reflected glory. Ya, he is an old man and he has lost a step, and maybe he has not learned all of life’s lessons but he still rocks, does rockabilly and country rocks with the best of them. Highlights here concerning some of life’s lessons that he has learned, as reflected in some of the lyrics, are his duo with Willie Nelson on Couple More Years, his duo with Keith Richards on That Kind of Fool ( a take-off on his old classic- Who Will The Next Fool Be) and his duo with Eric Clapton on Trouble In Mind. To show that he can still rock- listen to the duo with Kid Rock (ya, that Kid Rock of rapper fame) on Honky Tonk Woman. If you need to hear rockabilly and boogie-woogie then the classic Hadacol Boogie with Buddy Guy will keep you moving. Enough said, except the production values on this CD are very good here as well.
Here are the lyrics to Jerry Lee's most powerful and energetic presentation. This song is where the argument about who was or who was not the king of rock 'n' roll in 1958 has to begin.
ReplyDeleteHigh School Confidential
(Jerry Lee Lewis)
You better open up honey its your lover boy me that's a knockin'
You better listen to me sugar all the cats are at the High School rockin'
Honey get your boppin' shoes Before the juke box blows a fuse
Got everbody hoppin' everybody boppin'
Boppin' at the High School Hop
Boppin' at the High School Hop
Shakin' at the High School Hop
I've rollin' at the High School Hop
I've been movin' at the High School Hop
Everybodys hoppin' Everybody's boppin'
Boppin' at the High School Hop
Come on little baby gonna rock a little bit tonight
Woooh I got get with you sugar gonna shake things up tonight
Check out the heart beatin' rhythm cause my feet are moving smooth andlight
Boppin' at the High School Hop
Shakin' at the High School Hop
Rollin' at the High School Hop
Movin' at the High School Hop
Everybodys hoppin' just a boppin' just a boppin'
Piano Solo!
Come on little baby let me give a piece good news good news good news
Jerry Lee is going to rock away all his blues
My hearts beatin' rhythm and my soul is singin' the blues
Oooooh Boppin' at the High School Hop
Shakin' at the High School Hop
Rollin' at the High School Hop
Gettin' it at the High School Hop
Everybodys hoppin' Everybody's boppin'
Boppin' at the High School Hop
Solo Time!
Boppin' at the High School Hop
Shakin' at the High School Hop
Rollin' at the High School Hop
Movin' at the High School Hop
Well Everybodys hoppin'
Everybody's boppin'
Boppin' at the High School Hop
And that, my friends, is the argument for why half the parents of America firmly bolted their kids' door shut.
Jerry Lee Lewis
ReplyDeleteGreat Balls Of Fire lyrics
You shake my nerves and you rattle my brain
Too much love drives a man insane
You broke my will
But what a thrill
Goodness gracious great balls of fire!
I laughed at love cause I thought it was funny
But you came along and moooooved me honey
I've changed my mind
This love is fine
Goodness gracious great balls of fire!
Kiss me baby
Mmmm feels good
Hold me baby
Welll I want to love you like a lover should
You're fine, so kind
Got to tell this world that you're mine mine mine mine
I chew my nails and I twiddle my thumbs
I'm real nervous but it sure is fun
C'mon baby, you drive me crazy
Goodness gracious great balls of fire!
(piano solo)
Welll kiss me baby
Mmmm feels good
Hold me baby
Welll I want to love you like a lover should
You're fine, so kind
Got to tell this world that you're mine mine mine mine
I chew my nails and I twiddle my thumbs
I'm real nervous but it sure is fun
C'mon baby, drive me crazy
Goodness gracious great balls of fire
Jerry Lee Lewis
Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On lyrics
Sung by Jerry Lee Lewis, 1957
(from the 1957 Sun release)
Come along my baby, whole lotta shakin' goin' on
Yes, I said come along my baby, baby you can't go wrong
We ain't fakin', while lotta shakin' goin' on.
Well, I said come along my baby, we got chicken in the corn
Woo-huh, come along my baby, really got the bull by the horn
We ain't fakin', whole lotta shakin' goin' on.
Well, I said shake, baby, shake,
I said shake, baby, shake
I said shake it, baby, shake it
I said shake, baby, shake
Come on over, whole lotta shakin' goin' on.
Oh, let's go . . .(Piano break, guitar rift)
Well, I said come along my baby, we got chicken in the barn,
Whose barn, what barn, my barn
Come along my baby, really got the bull by the horn
We ain't fakin', whole lotta shakin' goin' on.
(Talking break) Easy now. Shake.
Ah, shake it baby
Yeah, you can shake it one time for me
Yeah-huh-huh-ha-ha, Come along my baby,
Whole lotta shakin' goin' on.
(Talking break) Now let's get down real low one time now
Shake, baby, shake
All you gotta do, honey, is kinda stand in one spot
Wiggle around just a little bit, that's what you got
Yeah, come on baby, whole lotta shakin' goin' on.
Now let's go one time
Shake it baby, shake, shake it baby, shake
Woo, shake baby, come on baby, shake it, baby, shake
Come on over, whole lot-ta sha-kin' go-in' on.
Jerry Lee Lewis
A Couple More Years lyrics
(feat. Willie Nelson)
(Shel Silverstein & Dennis Locorriere)
I've got a couple more years on you, babe,that's all.
I've had more chances to fly and more places to fall.
And it ain't that I'm wiser - it's only that I've spent
More time with my back to the wall.
And I've picked up a couple more years on you, baby, that's all.
I've walked a couple more roads than you, baby ,that's all.
And I'm tired of runnin' while you're only learning to crawl.
And you're headin somewhere , but I've been to somewhere
And found it was nowhere at all.
And I've picked up a couple of years on you baby , that's all.
Now sayin' goodbye, girl don't never come easy at all.
But you've got to fly 'cuz you're hearin' those young eagles call.
And someday when you're older, you'll smile at a man strong and tall.
And you'll say I've got a couple more years on you, baby - that's all.
I've got a couple more years on you baby , that's all.
You'll say I've had more chances to fly and more places to fall.
It ain't that I'm wiser it's only that I've spent
More time with my back to the wall.
And I've picked up a couple more years on you baby, that's all.
Jerry Lee Lewis
High School Confidental lyrics
You better open up honey it's your lover boy me that's a knockin'
You better listen to me sugar all the cats are at the High School rockin'
Honey get your boppin' shoes Before the juke box blows a fuse
Got everbody hoppin' everybody boppin'
Boppin' at the High School Hop
Boppin' at the High School Hop
Shakin' at the High School Hop
I've rollin' at the High School Hop
I've been movin' at the High School Hop
Everybodys hoppin' Everybody's boppin'
Boppin' at the High School Hop
Come on little baby gonna rock a little bit tonight
Woooh I got get with you sugar gonna shake things up tonight
Check out the heart beatin' rhythm cause my feet are moving smooth and
Light
Boppin' at the High School Hop
Shakin' at the High School Hop
Rollin' at the High School Hop
Movin' at the High School Hop
Everybodys hoppin' just a boppin' just a boppin'
Piano Solo!
Come on little baby let me give a piece good news good news good news
Jerry Lee is going to rock away all his blues
My hearts beatin' rhythm and my soul is singin' the blues
Oooooh Boppin' at the High School Hop
Shakin' at the High School Hop
Rollin' at the High School Hop
Gettin' it at the High School Hop
Everybodys hoppin' Everybody's boppin'
Boppin' at the High School Hop
Jerry Lee Lewis
Breathless lyrics
If you love me please don't tease if I can hold then let me squeeze
My heart goes round and round my love comes a tumblin' down
You leave me aaah breathless ah
Oh I shake all over honey you know why I am sure love honey it ain't no no lie
Cause when you call my name you know honey I burn like a wooden flame
You leave me ooh breathless ah ooh baby ooh crazy
Honey you're much too much you know I can't love you enough
Well it's alright to hold me tight but when you love me love me right
Oh come on baby now don't be shy this love was ment for you and I
Wind rain sleet or snow I'm gonna get you baby wherever you go
You have leave me aaah breathless ah
[ piano - guitar ]
Well ooh baby brrr crazy your much to much I can't love you enough
Well it's alright to hold me tight but when you love me love me right
Ah come on baby now don't be shy this love was ment for you and I
Wind rain sleet or snow honey Jerry's gonna get you wherever you go
You leave me aaah breathless ah