Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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26 of 27 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Seminal Rock 'n' Roll Recordings, December 9, 2000
Given how well anthologized Lewis' recordings for Sun are, anyone issuing yet another collection is going to find themselves the target of criticism. Why these 25 tracks? Why so much duplication of material that's readily available elsewhere? Why only one disc? Tough questions in a market that has been glutted with this material for many years.On the other hand, what Varese's included here is the Real Stuff: pristinely transferred original singles recordings. The 25 tracks include all of Lewis major chart hits (both pop and country) during his six-year tenure at Sun. All of the best-known early titles (and those most overplayed by Oldies radio) are here, "Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On," "Great Balls of Fire" (which, amazingly, makes an entire band out of only a piano and a guitar), "Breathless," and "High School Confidential." Non-charting B-sides such as his cover of Roy Orbison's "Down the Line," and previously unissued rarities like "Drinkin' Wine Spo-Dee-O-Dee" show that The Killer had more good material than radio and the public were able to soak up at the time. Throughout the recordings, the support from guitarist Roland Janes is stellar, and drummer J.M. Van Eaton mostly keeps pace with Lewis' manic performances. The wealth and breadth of material that Lewis recorded for Sun couldn't possibly be represented in only 25 tracks, and Varese clearly knows this. They've chosen to focus on Lewis' seminal contributions to the birth of rock 'n' roll, seasoned with a few ballad, pop novelties and country tunes. It's a common musical characterization of Lewis, and though perhaps not fully revealing of his talent, what's here is sure to please most listeners. As a single-disc summary of Lewis' Sun years, this is as good as any and better than many. For the whole story, save your pennies and buy Bear Family's comprehensive 8-disc box set.
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15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The place to start, December 3, 2004
For those of us who cannot afford the Box sets of Jerry Lee Lewis, this is a good place to start. It contains the early hits that JLL made when he burst upon the national scene in the 195os, and by and large it contains most of the Good sides he recorded for Sun Records. Sun records kept Jerry recording tunes throughout the fifties and early 1960s and did not release many of those sides until the 1970s or 1980s. Despite the fact that there were many great tracks there, it is a good thing that almost none of those recordings were released on this Sun Collection.
This is the stuff that broke big. Several of these songs were number one hits on the pop, country, and R&B charts at the time.
You get a lot of the youthful energy with spare production. You get just a lot of JLL here.
Jerry Lee Lewis is a serious artist. He has continued performing until today and like any serious artist he developed over time. I believe in the 1960s he was the best Rock and Roll performer ever, but unfortunately his music wasn't being picked up by many people and, sadly, Rock came to replace rock and role. Likewise, I think some of the sides he released in the 1970s which were more in a Southern groove were great music in and of themselves. Finally, his great country recordings of the late 1970s and early 1980s are among the finest recordings anyone has ever done in Country music. Finally, there are some real gems on some of the albums produced by Jimmy Burton that the Killer has released in the last 20 years.
One needs to have it all, or suffer the fact that our society is so backward as not to supply every citizen with all of the JLL that can be absorbed. However, this collection is a good place to start, a good place if you are interested in the history and development of rock and roll. Maybe you do just have to get it all!
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8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
there's a whole lotta shakin' goin' on...look out Killer!, August 9, 2001
I grew up with "Rock N' Roll"...that is to say ~ Elvis Presley, Fats Domino, Chuck Berry, Little Richard, Bill Haley & the Comets...and oh yes, Jerry Lee Lewis...when I think of all the 45 records I would cart around to different "Teen Towns"...had the best collection on the South-Side, whenever dance or special party...I was invited, would spin the top hits of the month...those were the days my friend. There was only one Jerry Lee Lewis, his style and mannerism very unique...never know what he will do next, this was his charm and drawing power...he touched on country, honky tonk, southern rock and good ole rock n' roll...take for instance "WHOLE LOTTA SHAKIN' GOIN' ON", this was an immediate hit, couldn't go anywhere and not hear this played..."GREAT BALLS OF FIRE", followed as another number one hit, the super-star could do no wrong...and this next tune was my all-time favorite by "the Killer" ~ "HIGH SCHOOL CONFIDENTIAL", co-written by Jerry Lee and Bill Hargrave, the opening lyrics is classic Lewis, he's completely in his element...next, listen to the piano style on "LEWIS BOOGIE", tickling the ivory's...as only Jerry can. Hats off to ~ Cary E. Mansfield (collection producer), Sun Records and Varese Sarabande Records/Varese Vintage...fantastic sound remastered by Dan Hersch...the energetic performances bring back so many good memories of ~ JERRY LEE LEWIS! You might try other Varese Vintage releases, all worthy of a good listen ~ "Roy Orbison Complete Sun Sessions" (302-066-233-2)..."The Champs-25 All Time Greatest Recordings" (302-066-113-2)..."The Beach Boys Surfin" (302-066-085-2)..."PHILADELPHIA U.S.A." (302-066-212-2)...please check out my reviews on amazon.com/music. Total Time: 67:06 on 25 Tracks ~ Varese Sarabande 302-066-129-2 ~ (2000)
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~ Jerry Lee Lewis
~ Jerry Lee Lewis
~ Chuck Berry
~ Hank Thompson
See all 25 tracks on this disc
by Jerry Lee Lewis 
