Customer Reviews

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

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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.

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?

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

Yesterday, Jan 8, 2009 marked what would have been the seventy fourth birthday of Elvis Aaron Presley. There was a virtual plethora of Elvis movies and documentry style shows broadcast on television. I watched "Presley By The Presleys" for the first time, getting an insightful look at The King, through the perspective of Prisilla and Lisa Marie. What struck me most here was the preciptious decline of Elvis from the mid-sixties until is untimely death in 1977. Yes, there was the great Comeback Special in 1968, that found Elvis in great shape. He looked better than ever, his voice was in top form and he reached back to his catalog of great hits like "Hound Dog", "Heartbreak Hotel" and "Don't Be Cruel". Unfortunately, there's very little else Elvis did after The Comback Special that marked the genius that once was "The King of Rock 'n Roll".

So how does this help us to understand Jerry Lee Lewis and in particular "The Complete Session", recorded in London. Well to begin with, Jerry Lee too had fallen out of favour with a contemporary audience, circia late 1960's to mid 1970'S. He really hadn't a hit record, other than a few singles that made their way into the top-fourty on the country charts. And like Elvis the whole political and social upheavel taking place accross America rendered him virtually irrelevent.

Elvis chose to reinvent himself. He donned those hideous looking sequined jump suits, played Vegas to an audience of middle-aged housewives and sang those big show numbers like "You'll Never Walk Alone", "My Way" and "If I Can Dream". He continued making movies with virtually the same trite plot, movies that even he tired of. The bottom line on Elvis during this period was that he grew old before his time. The King Of Rock 'n Roll was nowhere to be found. And just who was this over the hill, out of shape character desperately trying to recapture his former glory?

And how did Jerry Lee Lewis fare during this same period? Well, of course he was no longer the wild and wooley, piano slammin', howlin' and screemin', lovable "Killer". But did he still have the chops needed to pull off smokin' versions of "Drinkin' Wine Spo-Dee-O'Dee", "Sea Crusie", "Big Boss Man", "Memphis", "Johnny B Goode", "Whole Lot Of Shakin' Goin' On", "Good Golly Miss Molly", and "What I'd Say"? You bet he did! For not only was Jerry Lee in great voice on these sessions, but he also assembled an all star group of session players, who were equally up to the task. These sizzeling hot sessions boast the colossal talents of Eric Clapton, Rory Gallagher, Peter Frampton, Albert Lee, Alvin Lee, Kenny Jones, Matthew Fisher and Gary Wright....A virtual band made in rockabilly heaven.

So the comparison here is simple. If you could go back in time to say Ceaser's Palace, Las Vegas circa 1974 and watch Elvis on bended knee, arms extended, holding one of those gaudy satin capes and belting out "In The Ghetto" or "Crying In The Chapel".....Or if you could be a "fly on the wall" in a London recording studio during these incredible sessions, while Jerry Lee and the boys are ripping their way through the likes of "No Headstone On My Grave" or "Bad Moon Rising"...Where would you rather be? I don't know about you, but unless you can guarntee me a million dollar jackpot at Ceaser's Palace...Then fly me to London and let me hear some bonifide rip roarin' rock 'n roll classics, as only The Killer and company can provide. It just dosen't get better than this. I guarntee it!

Most reviews of JLL records are written by Jerry Lee Lewis enthusiasts and I am one of them. My review might therefore be biased. What I find fascinating about Jerry Lee is that he has not lost any of the original magic during the past 50 years. Listening to records of other artists from that time period, I find the music often dated if not boring or kitsch. Strangely, this is not the case with the recordings of JLL. There is some magic quality to his work which demands respect even today. I have listened recently to many of his records and also viewed some of the movies avaiable on youtube. I recommend that you take a look at his performance of "Mona Lisa" on youtube. That movie shows JLL's great piano playing ability. Look at his left hand articulating clearly rhythm and harmonies. Then watch his energetic outbursts without compromising precision and clarity. That's a unique quality of JLL! He plays the piano almost like a drum. Pay attention to the overall clarity of sound. Jerry Lee's piano is so strong and dominating that he needs little backup - just a drum is enough. The recording under review, unfortunately, does not display these qualities as clearly as possible. The overall sound is a little bit too "thick" and noisy at times. This is the result of a too heavy electric guitar sound - the great innovation of the 70's in jazz and rock music. The sheer power of electricity employed masks some of the finer qualities of JLL's playing. In my ears this sounds today more dated than the original Jerry Lee Lewis boogie woogie sound from the 1950's which in comparison is more delicate. However, this does not diminuish the overall quality and historic value of the recording which is excellent. Highly recommended!

No disputing the 5 star ratings already given in respect of the music and JLL's performances here.

What is also worth highlighting is that the production standards of this release are exemplary; the sound is fantastic and the packaging superb - the original 'gimmick' LP sleeve is faithfully reproduced in minature but the added info about the additonal tracks has been melded in seamlessly.

One minor note of caution, though not associated with the release itself...the 'blurb' at the head of this amazon listing - and one of the enthusiastic reviewers - also perpetuates the myth that Eric Clapton was involved in this. EC fans should be aware that he isn't featured.

I am fairly new to JLL, and found out about this album by reading an online book about him. This is fantastic music. The energy pouring out of most of these songs is amazing. And I also surprisingly really enjoy the "Goldmine in the Sky" way more than I thought I would. The way his voice cracks in places, you wonder where he's been out hollerin' the previous night, but it sounds good in the songs. "The Rock Medley" is great. "Satisfaction" is great, "Be Bop A Lula" is so good, in fact almost all of the songs are great. I am very glad to have found music that is so good, with JLL still pretty young. I think this is the first time in my life I have become entranced by a musician. I first heard him on "Last Man Standing" and he was already 70, and I still recognized pretty quickly that I wanted some more of that music.

This is nothing short of a true, timeless, masterpiece. This is a "limited edition" release, so when they're gone, they're gone. This is some very important music. It's Jerry Lee at his very best, along with many,steller, guest artists that were popular when this was originally recorded back in 1973. I'll try and cover what the amazon product description, and the other reviews did not cover, so hopefully this will be a helpful review, of a very, outstanding product.

First, the product description did not detail the last track on disc 2, the Rock & Roll Medley, so here is the detail: Good Golly Miss Molly, Long Tall Sally, Jenny, Jenny, Tutti Fruti, Whole Lot of Shakin Goin' On.

Now the great guest artists:

Tony Ashton
Andy Brown
Delaney Bramlett
B.J.Cole
Tony Colton
Drew Croon
Matthew Fisher
Peter Frampton
Rory Gallager
Pete Gavin
John Gustafson
Chas Hodges
Joe Jammer
Kenny Jones
Mickey Jones
Mick Kellie
Albert Lee
Alvin Lee
Kenneth Lovelace
Brian Parrish
Pete Robinson
Steve Rowland
Ray Smith
Gary Taylor
Thunderthighs
Klaus Voorman
Gary Wright

This is one of the greatest records, from a recording session ever. Jerry Lee plays that piano like a "Rock & Roll" genius. I highly recommend it. Thanks!!!!

Hip-O has done an excellent job with the presentation of this great 2-lp set. THis was originally issued on cd in the mid-late 80's by Mercury. To make it fit on 1 cd, they cut off some great songs(3 or 4 in all). Hip-O has included all of the original tracks + added all of the cuts from those sessions. These tracks had previously only been available on Bear Family lp sets.

The photo collage has been used just like on the lps.

In spite of what some of the reviewers state, Eric Clapton nor Jimmy Page appear on this set. Hip-O erroneously states this on their site. For proof of this, the musicians are listed for each track, and neither appear. However, you do get Peter Frampton and a whole host of great musicians. If you want to hear Clapton and Page w/the Killer, look for LAST MAN STANDING.

Recorded in London circa 1973, and bolstered by british rock luminaries, Jerry Lee Lewis pounds out classic after classic, making rock chestnuts like Johnny B Goode, all his own. His piano pumping is prominantly placed in the fore front and there is no denying this is a Jerry Lee's projest. He sounds as fresh and focused as his earliest work in the 1950s. This is the first place to go after you own Lewis' golden hits collection. Fantastic!!!