Customer Reviews

Live at the Star Club, Hamburg

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The title of my review does not exaggerate. This record makes "Live at Leeds" or "Get Your Ya-Ya's Out" sound like total garbage. Lewis recorded this record at the low point of his career, when he had been marginalized by The Beatles and all the other British Skiffle groups musically (It should be noted that The Star Club was one of the old hangouts of The Beatles), and his marriage to his 13 year old cousin had ruined his personal life and professional prospects.

So how did Lewis exact revenge? With this truly stunning record. The piano sounds like it's on fire, the drums crash along with incredible speed, the vocals howl like a wounded wolf, and the attitude was undeniably punk, thirteen years before punk even existed. It is no exaggeration to call this easily the best live record ever, and maybe not too much to call it the greatest rock and roll record ever.

The song set is incredible as well. Lewis has his way with all his rivals: Elvis (Hound Dog), Ray Charles (What'd I Say), Hank Williams (Your Cheating Heart), Little Richard (Long Tall Sally/Good Golly Miss Molly), Carl Perkins (Matchbox), and he blows all of them out of the water. All throughout the record you can just see it: Lewis pounding his piano, eyes shut, beads of sweat on his forehead, his incredibly outmatched band (The Nashville Teens) struggling to keep up with The Killer.

One of very few records that can be called perfect.

Totally have to agree with the previous reviewer. He said it all and I just can echo the thoughts. It's hard to believe that this was from 1964. The Killer cooks!!!!! And yes, his band does it's best to keep up with him. INCREDIBLE. A must for the music lover!!

This disc is a must-have for anyone interested in early Rock.

Jerry, having been crucified in the British press for his marriage to Myra, had nothing left but touring to make a living. To say he was mad at the world would be an understatement. And then came this night in 1964....

The back-up players were young German kids who called themselves 'The Nashville Teens'.

The Star Club was packed with very enthusiastic rock'n roll fans, and Jerry delivered a live recording for the ages that night.
He pours on the speed on his classics and those of others, singing and playing as if it's the end of his life, and letting the band hang on as best it can. The recording is pure adrenaline.

The stereo sound quality is very good, having been done in a small club under such circumstances (one of the stills on the sleeve shows a Neumann mic hanging in front of him, indicating that this was done with care and respect, not just done as a 'throwaway' live recording.) Bear Family once again does beautiful work in re-mastering this.

There have been many comments critizising The Nashville Teens as not being up to playing with Jerry Lee, and I don't understand this.

I have several live discs with the man, and I think they did fine, the drummer in particular glueing things together and keeping his mates on track.

There are mistakes along the way (I am sure rehearsal was at an absolute minimum) but even with Jerry's crazy tempo changes and his whipping the songs in general, the beat stays true and you never lose the urge to dance.
Whereever these guys are today, this is a night I am sure they must have talked about for a long time.

If you are a fan of his, get it. Just get it. If you are new to 'old' rock, just get it as well, and hear what one of the original hellraisers was all about in his heyday. This is punk before there was punk.

This is absolutely, positively the best Jerry Lee Lewis record. Period. No question. It freakin SMOKES!

Jerry Lee Lewis / Live at The Star-Club Hamburg (Bear Family Records CD with 14 tracks): This IS one of the best, most exciting Rock N Roll concerts you are EVER going to hear. The Killer, Jerry Lee Lewis, tearing it up in 1964! This disk is clean and clear and meets the extremely high standards of the Bear Family Company. This edition has the 14th cut, "Down the Line" which is missing from the CD of other companies version of this concert). Highly Recommended. Do yourself a favor and GET THIS CD (but make SURE it's from Bear Family Records)! WOW!

Fantastic live album showing Jerry Lee at his best! Great versions of his hits like "Great Balls of Fire", "High School Confidential" and "Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On". But also has some great versions of well-known songs not made popular by Jerry Lee, such as "Money (That's What I Want)" and Little Richard's "Long Tall Sally". Absolutely worth the money!!!

I found this live recording to be full of energy. Jerry Lee Lewis is furious, but in control, on the piano. I can just imagine the setting, a relatively small and smokey lounge. The American rocker comes in and raises the roof, leaving the place a disaster-without ever leaving the stage.

Oh how I would have loved to have been there to hear this wildly energetic and Jerry Lee defining performance. It is so unfortunate that the live recording is fairly muddy in spots and generally not up to current standards. Still worth the purchase.

Note: This is an import CD from Hamburg,Germany. Jerry Lee Lewis is from my home state of Louisiana. I've been to the house he was raised in, in Ferriday, Louisiana. It is now a museam. This live album, recorded on April, 5, 1964, was Jerry Lee's great "come-back", after the 1958 scandal about him being married to his 13 year old cousin, Myra Brown. In the early to mid 1960's Europe welcomed back Jerry Lee, with "open-arms". He performed to many sold out crowds in western Europe. This lead to the recording of this live album, at a wild club (The Star Club), in the "red light" district of Hamburg, Germany.

In the book "Jerry Lee Lewis, Lost and Found", by Joe Bonomo, page 119, this live album is mentioned as being one of the top 10 live albums of all time. The main focus of this book is this live album.

Jerry Lee is at his live performance peak, in this live album. He is backed by his original trio, on bass, drums, & guitar, with his father in law, J.W.Brown being the bass guitar player. Also, he is backed by an English group, "the Nashville Teens", which formed in England, during 1962.

The crowd is really into this one, and at one point in the live album, they go into chants of "Jerry, Jerry, Jerry". Plus, Jerry Lee talks to the crowd. It gives you one of those "Almost like being there", experiences.

Note: Even though this was recorded in 1964, doesn't mean it's just an oldie. This album is still as good & relavant, as any live album recorded today.

The songs include:
1.Mean Woman Blues
2.High School Confidential (Dancing at the High School Boop)
3.Money
4.Matchbox
5.What I'd Say (part 1)
6.What I'd Say (part 2)
7.Great Balls of Fire
8.Good Golly Miss Molly
9.Lewis Boogie
10.Your Cheatin' Heart (The old Hank Williams classic, performed Rock & Roll style)
11.Hound Dog
12.Long Tall Sally
13.Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On
14.Down the Line

This is a great live one, and I highly recommend it for live album music lovers, &/or Jerry Lee fans. You will not be disappointed, except for wishing it was longer.
Thanks!!!!

Live At The Star Club really captures Jerry Lee Lewis in his prime. The sound quality is great compared to some of the other live performances that are available. Recommended for any fan of rock and roll.