Search - Jerry Lee Lewis :: Live

One of the very best JLL Live cds (that's saying something!)

tobyjason | Minneapolis, MN United States | 08/26/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"WOW! This is something. Featuring the exact same material as available on TKO/Magnum's "Live In Italy" release, I suppose we must assume that this was recorded, as that one claims, in Italy. I'd probably date it to the 70's, as Linda Gail is in tow and featured... perhaps another reviewer can comment on that.The sound is an engaging mix with just the slight amount of muddiness necessary to give this one the raucous feel it deserves -- too clean an off-the-soundboard mix makes The Killer sound unrealistically antiseptic on some live releases. There IS an annoying microphone buzz -- I believe coming off the piano mic -- which recurs between a few of the later tracks, but it happily quits whenever the songs start.On to the performances: OH MOMMA -- the performances! Jerry Lee is relaxed as can be and takes my mantra regarding his live stuff (i.e. Every one is worth it because he never does the same song exactly the same way twice) and runs to the moon with it. Several times he opens songs with a capella pick-up vocals, with the band audibly fumbling to fall in behind a man who will outrock ANY backing group until the day he dies. Improvised lyrics and often humorous interjections are everywhere and depart constantly from the canon of Killer "improvisation" (e.g. "think about it", "Jerry Lee" subbed for "me", etc.): he practically scats through an extended version of Shakin'! The Killer was having a good time throughout, and the inclusion of several songs which aren't available on more than a couple of live releases (e.g. Crawdad Song, Over the Rainbow, Hang Up Your Rock and Roll Shoes, Jerry Lee's Rock and Roll Revival Show, There Must Be More to Love Than This) make this disc even MORE worthwhile than the better-than-blow-away performaces would warrant.The first track is actually the backing band w/Linda Gail, who then introduces Jerry Lee; while this might be seen as a negative, in my book it goes a long way toward capturing the reality of a Killer show in its entirity. In a like vein: there are NONE of the annoying between-song fades that plague so many Jerry Lee live releases. Only down side is the practically de rigeur absence of liner notes and photos. Rest assured the Killer audibly bangs the piano lid up and down more than enough on this 'un to make you forgot all about that."