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 On Sale:    11/11/2014
 Formats:     Hardcover | eBook | Large Print


The greatest Southern storyteller of our time, New York Times bestselling author Rick Bragg, tracks down the greatest rock and roller of all time, Jerry Lee Lewis—and gets his own story, from the source, for the very first time.

A monumental figure on the American landscape, Southern boy Jerry Lee Lewis spent his childhood raising hell in Ferriday, Louisiana, and Natchez, Mississippi; galvanized the world with hit records like “Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On” and “Great Balls of Fire,” that gave rock and roll its devil’s edge; caused riots and boycotts with his incendiary performances; married his thirteen-year-old second cousin—his third wife of seven; ran a decades-long marathon of drugs, drinking, and women; nearly met his maker, twice; suffered the deaths of two sons and two wives, and the indignity of an IRS raid that left him with nothing but the broken-down piano he started with; performed with everyone from Elvis Presley to Keith Richards to Bruce Springsteen to Kid Rock—and survived it all to be hailed as “one of the most creative and important figures in American popular culture and a paradigm of the Southern experience.”

Jerry Lee Lewis: His Own Story is the Killer’s life as he lived it, and as he shared it over two years with our greatest bard of Southern life: Rick Bragg. Rich with Lewis’s own words, set in context by Bragg’s richly atmospheric narrative, filled with rare and unpublished images, this is the last great untold rock-and-roll story, come to life on the page.




Source: http://www.harpercollins.com/books/Jerry-Lee-Lewis-His-Own-Story/?isbn=9780062078223

A must-read then, for sure! Thanks for the heads-up. (I don't know about "the greatest rock and roller of all time", though. I mean, he's phenomenal and all - but there are lots of other artists who'd deserve that title as well..)

I've dug up this little pearl (1970) to commemorate the Killer and the release of the above-mentioned biography. :smokin  It's a good one.

(http://oi57.tinypic.com/30lf9r4.jpg)

That's a real good one, I agree. I never liked the cover that much though. I think a similar concept was done better on the 1970 live album:

(http://jerryleelewis.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/Jerry+Lee+Lewis+-+Live+At+The+International+Las+Vegas+-+LP+RECORD-316125.jpg)



Speaking of live albums, I was listening to "The greatest live show on earth" yesterday. Although it features great perormances and a wider range of styles than "Live at the Star Club", I never could stand the mix at all. That's unfortunate. Sill, his version of "High-heel sneakers" has to be heard to be believed!

Here he is performing "High heel sneakers" and "Whole lotta shakin' goin' on" on Ready Steady Go!:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dWt4ofZreCo

.

(http://s1.directupload.net/images/140418/temp/om4hnn5s.jpg) (http://www.directupload.net/file/d/3596/om4hnn5s_jpg.htm)

The author's promotion tour dates:

http://www.harpercollins.ca/Author/Tour.aspx?authorID=39372


Saturday, September 20, 2014
SIBA
3806 Yale Ave Southern Independent Booksell Columbia, SC 29205

Friday, October 10, 2014
SOUTHERN FESTIVAL OF BOOKS/Tennessee Humanities Co
Legislative Plaza 301 6th Ave N Nashville, TN 37243

Saturday, October 11, 2014
SOUTHERN FESTIVAL OF BOOKS/Tennessee Humanities Co
Legislative Plaza 301 6th Ave N Nashville, TN 37243

Sunday, October 12, 2014
SOUTHERN FESTIVAL OF BOOKS/Tennessee Humanities Co
Legislative Plaza 301 6th Ave N Nashville, TN 37243

Saturday, November 01, 2014
LOUISIANA BOOK FESTIVAL/State Library of Louisiana
701 N 4th St Baton Rouge, LA 70802

Wednesday, November 05, 2014
ALABAMA BOOKSMITH
2626 19th Place S Birmingham, AL 35209

Friday, November 14, 2014
07:00 PM
CARTER LIBRARY/LIBRARY THEATER
441 Freedom Parkway Atlanta, GA 30307






The book's website:

http://www.harpercollins.com/books/9780062078223

The titletrack to Jerry's new album, "Rock'n'Roll time" - written by Kris Kristofferson, just as the last one.


Jerry Lee Lewis Readies Star-Studded New Album 'Rock & Roll Time'
The Killer will also release new memoir 'Jerry Lee Lewis: His Own Story' on the same day this fall

http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/jerry-lee-lewis-readies-star-studded-new-album-rock-roll-time-20140624

best Jerry country tunes:

Come on In

Middle Aged Crazy  :hat

RickB

His Live at the Star Club LP (recorded in 1964) is one of the most vicious (in a good way) rock albums ever recorded.  The man sounds absolutely POSSESSED!

How about:

She's the closest thing to you

Would you take another chance on me

?

Another new recording. Chuck Berry's "Little Queenie":


http://thedailysouth.southernliving.com/2014/08/25/exclusive-stream-little-queenie-by-jerry-lee-lewis/


Guitar — Keith Richards
Guitar — Ron Wood
Guitar — Waddy Wachtel
Guitar — Kenny Lovelace
Bass — Rick Rosas
Drums, Percussion — Jim Keltner




Jerry Lee and Keith Richards performed this one in a '83 Jerry Lee Lewis special:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lCY4xOmFDaI


With Ron Wood and Kid Rock in 2006:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jFDBvIuTThk


And he recorded it on Sun in '59:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SzKFdXmk7VY

Terrible cover. I hope they'll change it. Anyway, from Facebook:


(http://s14.directupload.net/images/140828/35n2thhv.jpg) (http://www.directupload.net)

You can pre-order ‘Rock & Roll Time’ today on iTunes and instantly receive the individual songs “Rock & Roll Time” and “Little Queenie”.
The remainder of the tracks will automatically downloaded on release date, October 28th - http://smarturl.it/JerryLee.iTunes

You can also pre-order the CD from:
VG Store: http://smarturl.it/JerryLee.store
Amazon: http://smarturl.it/JerryLee.AMZ

Damn, that's unimaginative. :P

I strongly hope they'll change it. It looks like a home made job which could be done by any three year old. A very early version of the cover for "Last man standing" was just as bad. The cover for "Mean ol' man" with all the girls around him in the car was stupid as well but the poster (and I believe it was used as the cover on a version of the album) is fantastic!

From the media section of this message board. Thanks Ghost_of_Dr._Landy!

It's the Killer's birthday today!

Rock on!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JMgiOc2W18g


I: "But then you've had ... a very wild lifestyle."
JLL: "No, Jerry Lee Lewis style."

8:52

 :hat





(https://scontent-b-ams.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xap1/v/t1.0-9/993748_10152646649076281_3769670903882576352_n.jpg?oh=79d963d93858a757937600db803d5a28&oe=54843428)

Here are the favorite JLL songs of Rick Bragg, co-author of the soon-to-be-published autobiography:

http://gardenandgun.com/article/rick-braggs-favorite-jerry-lee-lewis-songs?fb_action_ids=976504165700417&fb_action_types=og.comments



Jerry Lee and Me

by Rick Bragg - Mississippi - October/November 2014

When the call came to write Jerry Lee Lewis's biography, Rick Bragg knew he couldn't say no



(http://gardenandgun.com/files/Jerry-Lee-Lewis-700.jpg)
http://gardenandgun.com/article/conversation-jerry-lee-lewis?fb_action_ids=976504389033728&fb_action_types=og.comments

Here's an article previewing JLL's recent performance at the Ryman Auditorium. It has some cool pictures.

http://www.tennessean.com/story/entertainment/music/peter-cooper/2014/10/02/jerry-lee-lewis-returns-ryman-pushes/16558943/

(http://www.gannett-cdn.com/-mm-/879af734d049de66dcb709a6ebc16dc412905969/c=0-0-2044-1539&r=x513&c=680x510/local/-/media/Nashville/None/2014/10/02/1412273142006-580118-a.jpg)

(http://www.gannett-cdn.com/-mm-/0ce3fe9354ad168f5f909d225c584c3893cf6820/c=0-56-1944-1516&r=x513&c=680x510/local/-/media/Nashville/None/2014/10/02/1412273142007-580118-b.jpg)

(http://www.gannett-cdn.com/-mm-/170a39f8121c037eaecde0b4458825f9728f12a0/c=0-274-2018-1795&r=x513&c=680x510/local/-/media/Nashville/None/2014/10/02/1412273142008-580118-c.jpg)

(http://www.gannett-cdn.com/-mm-/b3e0a39b093441a100871c5c2a7623de40abfadc/c=0-0-1970-1483&r=x513&c=680x510/local/-/media/Nashville/None/2014/10/02/1412273142009-580118-d.jpg)

(http://www.gannett-cdn.com/-mm-/438c102513886b3a2d09e555d97640a72dec8e8b/c=0-183-1650-2381&r=383&c=0-0-380-510/local/-/media/Nashville/None/2014/10/02/1412273142010-620911-a.jpg)

(http://www.gannett-cdn.com/-mm-/64cd62a2ba839aada806412226ca3d64c34e88fb/c=0-113-1712-1402&r=x513&c=680x510/local/-/media/Nashville/None/2014/10/02/1412273142011-620911-b.jpg)

(http://www.gannett-cdn.com/-mm-/e8d4bc606f5363f1fbb9e899b076462567b3c89a/c=5-0-2220-1666&r=x513&c=680x510/local/-/media/Nashville/None/2014/10/02/1412273142012-690312-a.jpg)

(http://www.gannett-cdn.com/-mm-/42584da8b06f6270502136b8d3301e5eb08b6a1c/c=0-154-1860-1553&r=x513&c=680x510/local/-/media/Nashville/None/2014/10/02/1412273142013-690312-b.jpg)

Here's a very cool review for the Nashville show:

http://www.nashvillescene.com/nashvillecream/archives/2014/10/06/jerry-lee-lewis-w-linda-gail-lewis-at-the-ryman-10-4-14

The album is up for pre-order on amazon.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00MVE03CS/ref=amb_link_425167282_2?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=hero-quick-promo&pf_rd_r=0Q45KBG1RCC2S3WG8M3M&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_p=1929891782&pf_rd_i=B00M574EXU



Tracklist:

1. Rock & Roll Time
2. Little Queenie
3. Stepchild
4. Sick and Tired
5. Bright Lights, Big City
6. Folsom Prison Blues
7. Keep Me In Mind
8. Mississippi Kid
9. Blues Like Midnight
10. Here Comes That Rainbow Again
11. Promised Land




Jerry Lee plays guitar on "Folsom prison blues"





And here's a video of the co-author of Jerry Lee's autobiography about the book:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i6MVQxM3hMM

Here's a picture of Jerry Lee with the author

(http://s30.postimg.org/671u6tebl/image.jpg)


Here's a first impression of someone who was able to read the first 15 pages:

http://katesharpernews.wordpress.com/2014/07/10/sneak-peek-jerry-lee-lewis-his-own-story-rick-bragg/



And another interview with the author Rick Bragg:

http://www.chapter16.org/content/rick-bragg-talks-chapter-16-about-writing-epic-tale-jerry-lee-lewis

Here's a '69 interview with Jerry Lee done by the author of the great "Hellfire"-book on the Killer, Nick Tosches. It was conducted backstage at the Palomino club where in '79 and the 80s some very fine live recordings by Jerry Lee were taped.
BTW the only known professional live footage of Jerry at the Palomino comes from his appearance on T.J. Hooker.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F8zt3j9PmBA

Some amateur footage can be seen here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hno80Pc4YtI



(http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2014/10/14/1413292425247/783d63a5-20f3-42a5-b10d-c79a957bb348-460x276.jpeg)

The gospel according to Jerry Lee Lewis – a classic interview
‘I could take that there tape-recorder and shove it up your …’ As the country star prepares for the release of his new album Rock & Roll Time, here’s an interview originally published in Country Music in October 1979

http://www.theguardian.com/music/2014/oct/15/the-gospel-according-to-jerry-lee-lewis-classic-interview-1979

I haven't mentioned yet the new release "Jerry Lee Lewis - The Knox Phillips sessions". Knox is the son of Sam.
Hear Jerry's version of "Bad, bad Leroy Brown" and learn more about the release here:




http://www.rollingstone.com/music/premieres/jerry-lee-lewis-bad-bad-leroy-brown-premiere-20140820


"I have struck again with a 14 million-seller underground record"

Jerry Lee Lewis: ‘There was no pure rock’n’roll before Jerry Lee Lewis’

His life has been as extraordinary as his live appearances. He has survived boycotts, riots, scandals and a career low following the marriage to his 13-year-old cousin. An extract from the authorised biography of a rock’n’roll legend


http://www.theguardian.com/music/2014/oct/19/jerry-lee-lewis-his-own-story-biography-rick-bragg

Great job on this thread, Rocker. Thank you for building anticipation and keeping us abreast of all the latest developments as you see fit. This is exciting stuff.

We have the excellent article above. (The comments section was also very tolerable and entertaining.)

AND on OCt. 27th we have Jerry Lee sitting in on The Late Show .  Very good.

Thanks for your kind words halblaneisgood!


I'm looking forward to the Letterman appearance. It'll be interesting to compare it with some of his other appearances on the show:

Great Balls Of Fire - 2006 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tkEPbIYhJbs)

You don't have to go (with Neil Young) - 2007 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hZIrU8t6Pws)



Jerry Lee Lewis Still Going Strong on ‘Rock & Roll Time’ (Exclusive Album Premiere)

http://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2014/10/21/jerry-lee-lewis-still-going-strong-on-rock-roll-time-exclusive-album-premiere/

This was posted on facebook by JerryLeeLewis.org:


Most of the album songs are not recently recorded, most of these songs got recorded during the sessions for Mean Old Man & Last Man Standing albums.

Lots of good and detailed info about the songs (and a lot of additional songs from the sessions at the time) are available online.

Here some links to get some details:

 

A Mean Old Man Party (by TR, 14. April 2011)

http://jerryleelewis.org/cgi-bin/weblog_basic/index.php?p=2261

(Note: there are some very informative & interesting comments too!)

 

Jerry Lee Lewis - Mean Old Man Outtakes (by Dr. Fernado Gil, 08. October 2011)

http://www.rockbluescountryclasicos.es.tl/JERRY-LEE-LEWIS-MEAN-OLD-MAN-OUTTAKES.htm

(incl. Spanish translation)

 

Keeping up with The Killer: My interview with Jerry Lee Lewis (by Samantha Crespo for TN-Vacation.com, 16 July 2014)

http://www.tnvacation.com/triptales/keeping-up-with-the-killer-my-interview-with-jerry-lee-lewis/

 

Preview & Download ROCK & ROLL TIME single on iTunes (iTunes Music, 25. July 2014)

http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/rock-roll-time-single/id897735587

 

Bob Mehr's Memphis Music Beat article about Killers book, new releases & shows (20. August 2014)

http://www.commercialappeal.com/go-memphis/music/memphis-music-beat/bob-mehrs-memphis-music-beat-jerry-lee-lewis-turns-80-with-bio-album-and-concert-on-tap_07723661

 

Engine145 online article by Barry Mazor (20. October 2014):

http://www.engine145.com/roots-watch-indestructible-lee-monumental-lee-jerry-lee/

 

Wall Street Journal online article by Eric R. Danton incl. pre-listen full album (21. October 2014)

http://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2014/10/21/jerry-lee-lewis-still-going-strong-on-rock-roll-time-exclusive-album-premiere/

 

Wall Street Journal online report & interview by Marc Myers (21. October 2014):
http://online.wsj.com/articles/jerry-lee-lewis-the-enduring-rebel-of-rocknroll-1413908005




EDIT:

Just to make sure you don't miss it. You can listen to the album here:

http://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2014/10/21/jerry-lee-lewis-still-going-strong-on-rock-roll-time-exclusive-album-premiere/


And here's another interesting interview. Plus something I just got now, the book is not really an autobiography but Jerry Lee's story as told by him to Rick Bragg.

http://online.wsj.com/articles/jerry-lee-lewis-the-enduring-rebel-of-rocknroll-1413908005

There's some real fine stuff here.  Listen up, people.

The title track and Folsom PRison Blues are standouts .

Yes, a very cool album! Just listening to it!
But a very bad job done with the autotune on some moments. My, my...

halblaneisgood, do you know Jerry Lee's 1980 recording of Folsom Prison Blues?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J31yagkWhvI



Here are some promo pictures by Vanguard Records:

(https://scontent-a-ams.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpa1/v/t1.0-9/10730900_468322706650094_8843361976858975416_n.jpg?oh=71797aad9efdacac84d5d7a57a78a5f5&oe=54E49300)

(https://scontent-a-ams.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpf1/v/t1.0-9/997088_468322689983429_4877219982058995634_n.jpg?oh=fdafe8586ee1bb9eb15a49e3c8372fc0&oe=54B58AFE)

(https://scontent-a-ams.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xaf1/v/t1.0-9/10696426_468322699983428_6031433784473155185_n.jpg?oh=b0347703fcc009cc8a5b266ef73bc69d&oe=54AC4A2E)

Culture Shock: Who needs the Hall of Fame when we’ve still got Jerry Lee Lewis?

The rise of heritage acts has meant boom times for singers no longer in the first bloom of success but still able to tour until they drop

http://www.irishtimes.com/culture/culture-shock-who-needs-the-hall-of-fame-when-we-ve-still-got-jerry-lee-lewis-1.1972859

(http://oi59.tinypic.com/20fdclj.jpg)

 :-D



Listened to the new LP, too. It's a good album. Standard fare, I'd say - but I guess there are people who are way more into this sort of thing than I am.

Remember to catch the Killer on Letterman tonight!


here's a first snapshot from facebook:

(https://scontent-b-ams.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpf1/v/t1.0-9/10690011_471229033026128_8158449525677293626_n.jpg?oh=1a9772433d2473d2fd4997d2c4b64a26&oe=54B2A8B4)





@Lowbacca: I'd say it's his strongest of the three comeback-studio albums. But of course it's not his best ever.... and he's old. I'm just listening again to my favorite JLL album, Southern Roots. Now that's something.... Even the musicians on the record... the best of the best

Did anybody catch his performance on Letterman last night? I've yet to find a video. Here's him arriving at the show:


(http://cache3.asset-cache.net/gc/457970620-pianist-jerry-lee-lewis-arrives-at-late-show-gettyimages.jpg?v=1&c=IWSAsset&k=2&d=GkZZ8bf5zL1ZiijUmxa7QRRIDWGlUIDqCtOghsZkZVVLanc%2fkxqF%2f2GtaWNNiy2rT%2fZEXS3v7XKebRXLoojGPg%3d%3d)

(http://cache1.asset-cache.net/gc/457970608-pianist-jerry-lee-lewis-arrives-at-late-show-gettyimages.jpg?v=1&c=IWSAsset&k=2&d=GkZZ8bf5zL1ZiijUmxa7QXlvV8WOL36BTBw1XmaZTh9hmozlIHNQQ9JgHrgPSHv3eNJWGckyLzHyW9skxQuctw%3d%3d)

Someone uploaded the audio on Facebook. Jerry sings "Bright lights, big city" "Rock and Roll time" (shortly and just him and piano for the first verse), "Little Queenie" and what seems to be a Rock'n'Roll medley (he's ending with "Tutti frutti" but obviously there was the advert between :( part of "Release me" "Great balls of fire", another blues I don't realize yet , "Whole lotta shakin goin on"   and he sounds really cool! Unfortunately the songs were mostly snippets, probably played while advertising was shown on TV so only the studio audience got to hear the songs completely. But let's wait for more

Rolling Stone's review:


http://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/jerry-lee-lewis-rock-roll-time-20141028

(https://scontent-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpa1/v/t1.0-9/64748_1506761602920778_9185579684526017034_n.jpg?oh=fb4e6b473f8486d3e73611c78e9e6a70&oe=54F12087)

Here are all the clips!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=kWYnoE9eIdI

I laughed out loud when JLL started to perform "Rock & Roll Time" without being asked to? :lol Bit of a Brian moment! ;D

You just don't interrupt the Killer when he's at a piano!  8)


Here's an interview with Jerry and Rick Bragg at Barnes&Noble at a book signing:

Part 1:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fHwrQTcczis

Part 2:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PDXmH4zyt8w&feature=share

This is cool. Here's some amateur footage of the Killer at Niagara Falls, NY in 1959 overdubbed with audio from a '59 radio appearance. Footage of himfrom that time is quite rare because he was banned by TV stations etc. after the scandal.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y76n3iTu-oU

Very good article and interview:



Jerry Lee Lewis' Living Legacy: Approaching 80, the 'Last Man' of rock and roll looks back

http://www.commercialappeal.com/go-memphis/music/jerry-lee-lewis-living-legacy-approaching-80-the-last-man-of-rock-and-roll-looks-back

Another new article from Rolling Stone:


(http://assets.rollingstone.com/assets/2014/article/the-killer-at-peace-jerry-lee-lewis-golden-years-20141104/173611/medium_rect/1415117540/720x405-McClister_JerryLeeLewis_1618.jpg)

The Killer at Peace: Jerry Lee Lewis' Golden Years
Jerry Lee has a new wife (number seven!), a new LP and a new outlook on life

http://www.rollingstone.com/music/features/the-killer-at-peace-jerry-lee-lewis-golden-years-20141104

And another one by the L.A. Times:



(http://www.trbimg.com/img-1415071734/turbine/la-ca-0602-jerrylee-upi-jpg-20141103/750)

Jerry Lee Lewis a ball of promotional fire with new book, albums


http://touch.latimes.com/#section/-1/article/p2p-81868310/

[bJerry Lee Lewis misses Memphis concert due to illness[/b]

http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/local-news/jerry-lee-lewis-misses-memphis-concert-due-to-illness

Billboard 200 Chart Moves: Jerry Lee Lewis Returns

http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/6312119/jerry-lee-lewis-returns



Here's the part about Jerry Lee:


(http://www.billboard.com/files/styles/promo_650/public/media/jerry-lee-lewis-2014-steve-roberts-billboard-650.jpg)



— Jerry Lee Lewis, Rock & Roll Time - No. 140 — Goodness, gracious! Rock legend Jerry Lee Lewis is back on the Billboard 200 chart with his latest guest-filled album, Rock & Roll Time. The set, which was released on Shangri-La/Vanguard/Welk, bows at No. 140, selling 3,000 copies in its first week, according to Nielsen SoundScan.

The new album -- his first for Vanguard -- features collaborations with Keith Richards, Ronnie Wood, Neil Young, Robbie Robertson, Shelby Lynne and others. (Richards and Wood play on "Little Queenie," below.) The set’s release came during the same week that his authorized biography, "Jerry Lee Lewis: His Own Story" (by Rick Bragg) was released.

Lewis, 79, was completely absent from the Billboard 200 chart from 1979 until 2006, when he returned with the star-studded album Last Man Standing: The Duets. It debuted and peaked at No. 26 -- his highest charting album ever -- and has sold 213,000 (his best-selling album since SoundScan started tracking sales in 1991). He followed up Last Man Standing with another collaborations set, Mean Old Man, which hit No. 30 in 2010.

The new album arrives 57 years to the month after one of Lewis' most familiar hits, "Great Balls of Fire," peaked at No. 2 on the Best Sellers in Stores chart. The song would later double as the title of the 1989 film about Lewis' life, starring Dennis Quaid.

Ain't that nice...


(https://scontent-a-fra.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpa1/v/t1.0-9/10805790_487336058082092_6351148450261100138_n.jpg?oh=86025268eaaea4486b3fb05448def682&oe=54DD12DF)

The Jerry Lee part:

(http://i3.birminghammail.co.uk/incoming/article8127780.ece/alternates/s615b/Jim-Simpson-18.jpg)


Jerry Lee Lewis 1964 The Mayor's Parlour West Bromwich
Jerry Lee Lewis, pianist, singer and songwriter was, not without good reason, known as The Killer. His stage performances were primitive, seemingly barely under control, anarchic but unequalled. He is one of the three men who best embodied the spirit of rock &and roll.

The other two? Chuck Berry and Little Richard, naturally.

Lewis was one of the stars of Sun Records in Memphis where his label-mates were Elvis Presley, Roy Orbison, Johnny Cash and Carl Perkins.

His rise to international fame was meteoric, fuelled by the massive 1957 hit Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On.

Lewis was selling more records than Elvis, but his career suffered catastrophically when his marriage to his 13-year-old cousin was made public.

The scandal caused his performance fees to plummet from $10,000 a night to $250.

Lewis steadily rebuilt his career with consistently fine recordings and legendary stage shows. His box-set All Killer, No Filler is listed by Rolling Stone in their 500 Greatest Albums of All Time and his contribution to rock and roll is enormous.



Source:

When Rolling Stones, Jerry Lee Lewis and other music legends came to Birmingham

http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/nostalgia/rock-stars-1960s-caught-candid-8122556

Here's an excerpt from the book:



Jerry Lee Lewis on touring with Elvis, Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins: “They knew, even then, they were seeing the greatest thing”
Cash, Perkins, Jackson -- they were all legends, they were all young, and the early tours were unforgettably cool

- Rick Bragg


http://www.salon.com/2014/11/28/jerry_lee_lewis_on_touring_with_elvis_johnny_cash_carl_perkins_they_knew_even_then_they_were_seeing_the_greatest_thing/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=socialflow

Unforgettably cool?  I spent time with 'the [so-called] Killer' a couple of times.  It was for hours as opposed to minutes...certainly enough time to see how he treated people plus his general attitude in regards to his sense of where he fit in the scheme of things.  From my perspective the things he was most experienced at killing were his own career, any chance at good will, and all opportunities to be taken seriously as a professional in the entertainment business.  HE was his own worst enemy.  T'was he who paid the price.  Cool?  Not so much.

IF he was 'all that' then why only the 2 1/2 meaningful hits back in the day?  Jerry Lee Lewis...that's why.   He left himself Breathless.

Don't get me wrong...I do [and did] like the songs very much.  The man?  Hank Junior suggested that HE needed an an attitude adjustment?  Not like ol' Killer.  I think though that's probably all he had in him and then he pretty much went and sought out the safety of the country music audience along with cousin Mickey.  He sure as heck wasn't gonna find it with 'the man in the sky'.  His other cousin pissed that concept away...even if JLL had WANTED to try living under that long black veil.

Jerry Lee wasn't a one hit wonder.  He did very well for himself.  Perhaps he could have been a whole lot MORE...if he wasn't such an ass.  But from what I saw him say and do he was exactly that.

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That was back in the mid 80s by the way.  Maybe he' an entirely different person now.  Many of us are.  People ask me...of all the folks I've met and interviewed along the way...who was the best/who was the worst?

Carl Wilson circa 1971/72 was the best. Mark and Howard/Flo and Eddy were great too.  So was BJ Thomas...Mary Wilson...Michael Buble and Joe Cocker.  Jerry Lee pretty owns the other end of the spectrum all by himself.  

I'm sorry to hear about your experience with the Killer, Add Some. The 80s were his worst decade of heavy drug abuse. So maybe it has something to do with that but that won't make your experience any better. And I'm sure even sober he can be a big a$$hole. But of course that won't change him being one of the greatest talents ever.


Here's a Q&A with The Guardian:


http://www.theguardian.com/music/2014/nov/29/jerry-lee-lewis-q-and-a-interview

If you could edit your past, what would you change?
Nothing.

How would you like to be remembered?
As a great entertainer who always gave 100%.

Yes...it was the 80s.  85 and 86ish Rocker.  Seems he's forgotten that era...otherwise these two Q and A's above make no sense and suggest a thick air of having lived a life fantasy and complacency...right up to and including the day of that interview.  In order to be remembered "As a great entertainer who always gave 100%.
" he would, one, have to show up...at the very least within' 3 hours of the contractually agreed to show time and, two, have some degree of respect for his fellow human beings while there.

For some reason the guy has been cut a 'bligh' for decades and even though I think his 3 Rock 'n' Roll era hits were excellent and that some of his Country tunes are pretty darned decent too...being included as a member of the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame might be seen by some as being a little overly generous.  Perhaps his reputation far outstrips the realities no matter which way you look at it?  [good and bad]

Just read the Rick Bragg book. Now I wanna go back and reread Hellfire.

I still haven't even begun reading it...  :-D

But my opinion about "Rock and Roll Time" (the album) took a 180° turn now that I have had a chance to listen to it intently. What a piece of junk. I already mentioned the terrible job of autotune (or whatever it is they used on his voice). You think Brian sounded like a robot on the early shows of the Beach Boys 2012 tour? Well, listen to this. And something else: it looks like "Little queenie" was a copy-and-paste job. There's no piano on the track, except for the places when Jerry sings; and ONLY then. So I guess it was a bleedthrough on the vocaltrack or something and they cut the vocaltrack into small pieces that they then would put onto their respective places on the track. So you only hear the piano as background while he is singing and the it's gone only to appear on (or better: under) the next singing part.
I also think that this studio chatter stuff is really annoying when done on each of the last three albums. It was ok for Last Man Standing, but now it's getting ridiculous. I wonder if JLL even listened to this album or if Jim Keltner did. I would never put out this kind of album. It could have been a good one but the production makes it crap.

Some thoughts on the songs:

"Sick and tired" is a cool tune but I like Jerry's Sun recording much, much better:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oJGXAUAz8Cw

The new one sounds like it was inspired by Waylon Jennings' version. Nothing wrong with that but it just doesn't sound Lewis enough to me.



"Folsom Prison Blues" was done great by Jerry, no need to do it again only if to let one hear his guitar playing. We could already hear it on "Mean ol' man"'s "Will the circle be unbroken" and iirc "Life is like a railroad".

"Keep me in mind" could've been a great new entry into the catalogue of Lewis but the work on the leadvocal just ruin it.

I'd like to know how many more Kris Kristofferson songs Jerry Lee recorded during the sessions (that already gave us three albums).
Thankfully the guest stars don't get to sing very much on this one. I hope a next one will follow that.

I've read Carl Perkins' autobio, and the only guy he has anything bad to say about is JLL. Does not deny his talent, but JLL was full of himself even before he was a star. Was supposed to have a piano solo on "Matchbox", but Carl took both solos himself because he couldn't stand JLL's arrogance.

I would imagine being in the Killer's presence for any length of time would be trying.  That doesn't have anything to do with his greatness as a recording/performing artist. 

To be fair, though, Chuck Berry can be very trying, too.

The Killer at Jazz Fest, May 2nd 2015. 3 Songs, pro shot:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=44&v=YZWfZAyfeg8

Yup.  And sometimes he can ... or at least could...be OK.  He had WAY more hits though.  LOADS more.

I saw him back in 1980, 84, and 95. The first show was electric. The second show was sabotaged by a terrible backup band and sound system. The last show was another great one. I'm sure the band was a pickup band, but they knew his music, and he let them share the spotlight. Chuck himself sounded fine, still played some fine guitar. Judging by recent footage on youtube, I'd say he should  have given it up a long time ago.

I didn't wanna start a new thread for this. So here you go:


Jerry Lee Lewis: ‘I worry about whether I'm going to heaven or hell’

http://www.theguardian.com/music/2015/aug/08/jerry-lee-lewis-interview-heaven-hell?CMP=share_btn_fb



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