Jerry Lee Lewis
"The Session (Recorded In London"
© Mercury
March 23 - 29, 2025
Year of Release: 1993
Rating:
Drink Wine Spo Dee
O Dee Drinkin' Wine
Music To The Man
Bad Moon Rising
Sea Cruise
Jukebox
Don't Put No Headstone
On My Grave
Big Boss Man
Pledging My Love
Memphis
Trouble In Mind
Johnny B. Goode
High School Confidential
Early Morning Rain
Whole Lotta Shakin'
Goin' On
Sixty Minute Man
What'd I Say
Rock And Roll Medley
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Jerry Lee Lewis returns this week, with his live album - The Session (Recorded In London). Recorded in LOndon,
1973, with great guest artists: Tony Ashton, Andy Brown, Delaney Bramlett, Tony Colton, Matthew Fisher, Peter Frampton,
Rory Gallagher, Pete Gavin, Ches Hodges, Kenny Jones, Mickey Jones, Mick Kellie, Albert Lee, Kenneth Lovelace, Brian
Parrish, Steve Rowland, Ray Smith, Gary Taylor, Thunderthighs, Klaus Voorman, Gary Wright. With an all-star lineup (most
of them easily recognized), this concert should be exceptional. Having The Greatest Live Show On Earth vinyl
album (Smash Records, 1964 when I was much younger, and remembering how great of a live album that was, it's most likely
no doubt, that The Sessions concert would be also exceptional. The Greatest Live Show On Earth original
vinyl album would be reissued on CD as The Greatest Live Shows On Earth - 2 concerts, the original album concert
from July 1, 1964 at Municipal Auditorium in Birmingham, Alabama, and a second concert, from September 7, 1966, at Panther
Hall, Fort worth, Texas (which was originally released on vinyl as By Request: More Of The Greatest Live Show On
Earth (Smash Records, 1966). The Greatest Live Shows On Earth CD was released on Bear Family Records, 1991.
Like Elvis Presley, the 1970s was a good decade for Jerry Lee Lewis. He acheived #1 hits on the Billboard Country
charts, released numerous albums (of which Monsters I had on vinyl when I was younger, and is a must-have; it is
a great album). Monsters would be reissued on CD as a two-fer - Monsters (Sun Records, 1970), and
Roots (Sun Records, 1982). Jerry Lee Lewis and Elvis Presley would be part of what was called "The Million Dollar
Quartet," with Carl Perkins and Johnny Cash, when they were all starting out their careers at Sun Records, 1956.
Unfortunately for Jerry Lee, his arrest at Graceland (the home of Elvis) on November 23, 1976 for allegedly to shoot Elvis.
He would have the gun and a bottle of champagne, and on the way towards Graceland, at 3 am that morning. His car
accidentally smashed into the gates at Graceland. Elvis was watching on his closed-circut television, and notified his
cousin Harold Lloyd, who was monitoring the Graceland gates, to call police. Jerry Lee was arrested, as he was charged
with carrying a pistol and public drunkeness. Released on a $250 bond, his mugshot picture was shown around the world.
Some say it was Jerry Lee's jealousy towards Elvis, being more popular of the two. But despite all that, Lewis released
many studio and live albums throughout the 1970s decade. To mention, his career did turn out well for him, although
Elvis was more popular of the two, you can just say that Jerry Lee Lewis' 1970s decade would be complete - Elvis Presley
died on August 16, 1977.
"Drinking Wind Spo Dee O Dee Drinkin' Wine" starts out the concert, and you just can't help to think that
Hank Williams Jr. could have been a part of this song. "Music To The Man" is a very good track, as Jerry continues
his own Country sound. (His Coundry sounds of his 1970s decade would sound more Country, than Elvis did. Elvis did put
his own "Country feel" to his own 1970s songs himself.) Jerry Lee provides great blues on "Baby What You Want Me To
Do" - the Jimmy Reed classic. "Bad Moon Rising" (the Creedence/Fogerty classic) is way different from Jerry,
than that of the original. Jerry's version sounds more Country, and sounds like Merle Haggard, if he were to record this
one. Quite impressive. "Sea Cruise" (the oldie classic, written by Huey "Piano" Smith, and recorded by Frankie
Ford) has the great boogie-woogie that Jerry has always recorded before.
"Jukebox" gets the Hank Jr. comparison. The blues return (yet it kicks into Rock & Roll later) on "Don't
Put No Headstone On My Grave" (written by Charlie Rich), as this song (and "Drinkin' Wine Spo Dee O Dee") were
hit singles from the live concert. "Headstone" would become a concert staple, as a sort-of anthem for Lewis and
his God-fearing, hell-raising persona. Next is Jimmy Reed's "Big Boss Man," and it's the Blues, Jerry Lee style.
"Pledging My Love" (originally by Johnny Ace, as I don't recall Ace's version, but I have heard the song before, as
it was covered by many.) Jerry Lee's cousin, Mickey Gilley, gets the comparison on this one. Chuck Berry's
"Memphis" has always been a great tune, whether it be by the original writer Chuck Berry, or by others. Jerry Lee's
version is no different. He rocks on this one.
"Trouble In Mind" is a great slow-driven tune by Jerry, as he keeps continuing his own great Country sound.
Labeled as "Vaudeville Blues," I would agree to that, and Jerry Lee's piano makes it shine more. Another Chuck Berry
classic follows, "Johnny B. Goode." Rock & Roll, baby. Jerry Lee is rocking it, again. "High School
Confidential" (an earier hit by Jerry Lee) has always been a great tune (I had heard it first by ShaNaNa, from their
Live From New York album), and Jerry Lee has always rocked on his original hit, and here, live. There are no
vocals, just Jerry Lee and his band, rocking it out. Gordon Lightfoot wrote "Early Morning Rain," as I remembered
the Kingston Trio version. Jerry Lee's version is more upbeat, and another quite impressive version. Another Jerry Lee
classic, his "Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On" has been one song that truly defines him. It states how he lived.
A whole lotta shakin' goin on in the life of Jerry Lee Lewis. Attitude and style. The Killer. "Sixty Minute Man"
(originally by Billy Ward & The Dominoes) defines once again, Rock & Roll Jerry Lee. Billy Ward/Dominoes original version
is a classic. If you haven't heard this one, it's a must hear. Great R&B, at it's finest. "Movin' On Down The Line"
(co-written by Roy Orbison) Boogie-woogie Rock & Roll. (Orbison's version may not be familiar, as it was written during
Roy's Sun years.) Ray Charles' "What I'd Say" is a Rock & Roll staple. Jerry Lee's version is no different.
The concert ends with a "Rock And Roll Medley" -- "Good Golly Miss Molly," "Long Tall Sally," "Jenny Jenny,"
"Tutti Frutti" (all Little Richard songs), and "Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On." Yes, it's Rock & Roll. Jerry style.
Jerry Lee Lewis' The Session (Recorded In London is a great concert. It sounds more like a studio album, as
you don't really hear the crowd's reactions. Maybe there's a reason for that. Lewis felt that performing in London was out
of his confort zone He was more familiar in recording in Tennessee. He had an all-star band backing him up, and his son,
Jerry Lee Lewis Jr. participated as a drummer. Jerry Lee told his son, after seeing the long-haired musicians around him,
"Boy, have I made a mistake comin' over here." His temper was even testedn - infamous, with the booze and pills. His
temper was no stranger to those who knew him. There is no mistake... This live album is great. It's Rock & Roll, Country,
Blues. Jerry Lee Lewis style. Definitely more on the Country side. No mistake. Attitude and Style. Jerry Lee Lewis,
Killer. He left us in 2022. His music still lives on. Whether it be his music from the beginning of Rock & Roll, or in
his later Country years. A true legend. A Rock & Roll Legend. Thanks for the music, Jerry. Still waiting for the movie
on the "Million Dollar Quartet."
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