The (Complete) Session recorded in London w/ great guest artists

Jerry Lee Lewis | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 1, 2006)
• Number of Discs: 2
• Label: Hip-O Select
• ASIN: B000BQS6TK
• Also Available in: Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #170,625 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Jerry Lee Lewis' first trip to the United Kingdom ended in less than spectacular fashion, as the tabloids got hold of the age (and ancestry) of his young bride. In 1973, though, he returned triumphantly. His all-star backing band includes Eric Clapton, Rory Gallagher, Peter Frampton, Albert Lee, Alvin Lee, The Who's Kenney Jones, Procol Harum's Matthew Fisher, and Gary Wright, among others. Virtually all of the previously releases of these sessions were truncated in some fashion, usually to satisfy the demands of the medium (only eighty minutes on a CD, so either tracks had to go, or the number of discs had to increase). As a consequence, six songs-"Satisfaction," "Dungaree Doll," "I Can't Give You Anything But Love," "Be Bop A Lula," "Goldmine In The Sky," and "Singing The Blues" -make their CD debut on the Select release. And how does Jerry Lee sound in the company of these talented artists backing him up? Better than he had since the Fifties. Not only did he take on such early rock hits as Frankie Ford's "Sea Cruise," Johnny Rivers' "Memphis" and Chuck Berry's "Johnny B. Goode," but he also turned in creditable versions of Gordon Lightfoot's "Early Morning Rain" and Creedence's "Bad Moon Rising." He's totally on his game throughout, surprisingly laid back as he pumps the piano with virtuosic intensity, letting his fingers do the talking. The man from Ferriday, Louisiana, is rocking big time on this finally-restored-to-its-original-glory album.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The "Killer," Jerry Lee Lewis, is Alive and Smokin' on this Double CD Set, August 30, 2007

By 

George McAdams (Alabama, USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The (Complete) Session recorded in London w/ great guest artists (Audio CD)

For the longest, well since 1974 or so, I've been cradling with care "The Session" vinyl recordings from house-to-house, apartment-to-apartment. Handling the albums with care, for this is a GREAT recording. Not everyone is a winner, but there's enough wonderful tunes, played with the excitement of the moment that you forgive the "filler."

I was never what you'd call a Jerry Lee Lewis fanatic. Oh, he played well, and he had a certain amount of energy in his songs that created excitement, but he seemed to have an ego the size of a country hangover and from time-to-time he tended to do something foolish, whether it be marry his underaged cousin or get so drunk that he'd fall off the piano stool.

Then, this double album came along in 1973 or so, that I bought the following year. Joining Jerry Lee were some of the better British musicians of the time: Eric Clapton, Alvin Lee, Albert Lee, Rory Gallagher, Gary Wright (Dream Weaver), et. al., eager enough to play with Jerry Lee as to overlook his short comings.

And, while the updated liner notes tell of Jerry Lee acting sort of like a jerk, the music, nonetheless, was inspired, I think, because the Brits were playing with one of their idols.

My favorite tunes on the set are "Drinking Wine Spo-Dee O'Dee," "Memphis," "Trouble in Mind," "Be Bop a Lula," and "Singing the Blues," along with "Johnny B. Goode" and the five-song grouping at the end that consisted of "Whole Lot of Shakin' Goin' On," "Sixty-Minute Man," "Down the Line," "What'd I'd Say," and a Rock 'n Roll Medley featuring "Good Golly Miss Molly," "Jenny, Jenny," "Tutti Fruiti," and a reprise of "Whole Lot of Shakin." I get goose bumps thinking of these tunes blaring out of my old stereo, turned-up to "11" just to see if the plaster would fall off of the ceiling.

There are a lot of original recordings of Jerry Lee out there that has some of the same songs, but let me tell you, they are not played this way. And, while the liner notes discount the Killer's efforts, the music is dead on GREAT! This is a CD set for everyone who wants to recreate the energy that was the 50's and, especially, Jerry Lee Lewis.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Jerry Lee's terrifying answer to the "1968 Elvis Comeback Special", May 8, 2007

By 

Mike (San Jose, CA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The (Complete) Session recorded in London w/ great guest artists (Audio CD)

First, it's great that Amazon's offering this. It's a Hip-O Select release (Universal's answer to Rhino Records, offering Web-only collectors reissues). Second, what a lineup: Alvin Lee, Albert Lee, Gary Wright, Kenny Jones, Rory Gallagher, Klaus Voorman, Matthew Fisher, Peter Frampton and more, but Jerry Lee is the star here and he's cousin Jimmy Lee Swaggart's worst nightmare: howling, snarling, filled with rock 'n' roll fire. Highlights are Drinking Wine Spo-Dee O'Dee, No Headstone On My Grave, Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On (a truly insane, over-the-top version), and the Rock Medley (4 Little Richard hits capped by a reprise of "Whole Lotta Shakin"). No one expected this in 1972 (the original year of its release). Jerry Lee was making a name in the world of Country music. Just as Elvis reclaimed his legacy after years of bad movies by suiting up in black leather and beaming himself into America's living rooms, Jerry Lee headed "across the pond" and took back what was rightfully his...with a vengeance. The career-best version of "Whole Lotta Shakin"...with Rory Gallagher on over-amped slide guitar and Peter Frampton on rhythm...explodes as Jerry pleads "Let's go one time now...SHAKE me baby shake me...MOVE me Mama, move me....WHOOOOO, shake it baby shake it, HEE-YOW, shake it baby shake it...Come on, come on, come on, come on, come on, come on...SHAKE it baby shake it...SHAKE it baby shake it...SHAKE it baby shake it...SHAKE it baby shake it...WHOOO, Move it baby, move it...I ain't fakin', whole lotta shakin' goin' on...ONE MORE TIME NOW...I SAID, shake it baby shake it..." Seriously, folks, what are you waiting for?

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars No Comparison!, October 30, 2005

By 

Orygun Pete "melonpete" (Salem, OR United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The (Complete) Session recorded in London w/ great guest artists (Audio CD)

This is a fantastic album. It is infinitely better than any of his many others. Score it if you can!