Who was/is Jerry Lee Lewis ? - CDs, Vinyl LPs, DVD and more

Jerry Lee Lewis

Jerry Lee Lewis - Obituary 

The Pumping Piano Man will rock the house no more.

Jerry Lee Lewis, whose youthful wildhair ways defined rock and roll as indelibly as his leering, lascivious vocals and thundering skills on the 88s, died October 28, 2022 at the age of 87. Against all odds, he was one of the last legends standing from the days when Sam Phillips built an astonishing talent roster for his Sun Records. When Lewis appeared on his doorstep in 1956, determined to show the folks in charge precisely what he could do to a defenseless piano, the Memphis label had already bid adieu to Elvis and was riding high thanks to Carl Perkins, Roy Orbison, Johnny Cash, and a posse of other raucous rockabillies. 

Still, Jerry Lee would captivate Sam—and the world--like no other, despite suffering monumental damage from a 1958 scandal involving his precocious child bride (who also happened to be his cousin) that would have ended any other performer’s career permanently. Jerry Lee, like Old Man River, just kept on rolling along, regenerating his popularity first with the rock and roll crowd and then veering into the country field with tremendous success. Long after he achieved senior citizen status (who would have ever foreseen that happening to the hard-living Lewis?), the Killer insisted on rocking as hard as his health would allow.

Born September 29, 1935 in Ferriday, Louisiana, Lewis grew up with a pair of piano-playing cousins, Mickey Gilley (who followed in Jerry Lee’s rocking footsteps) and future evangelist Jimmy Swaggart. Lewis cited country greats Jimmie Rodgers and Hank Williams as primary influences, along with a little bit of Al Jolson and some of the sweaty blues that he snuck into hear at Haney’s Big House, Ferriday’s top black juke joint. He mostly refused to admit to any pianists as role models, although his 88s-playing cousin Carl McVoy impressed him. So did sightless piano wizard Paul Whitehead when the two played together in Natchez circa 1952. A brief stint at a Texas bible college ended when Jerry Lee transformed My God Is Real into a heathenous boogie, but gospel music always remained close to his heart. 

Lewis honed his act in clubs from Natchez to Nashville prior to the auspicious trip to Memphis that landed Lewis his audition with Sun producer Jack Clement. Jack was impressed, and before long he rolled tape when Jerry Lee launched into his hot-rodded treatment of Ray Price’s recent country hit Crazy Arms. Sun pressed it up, and Lewis was on the musical map. Phillips knew he’d found someone truly special, and let tape roll whenever Jerry Lee found his way to 706 Union Avenue to pump Phillips’ studio piano. One of the many disparate songs Lewis waxed for Sun was the rip-roaring Whole Lot Of Shakin’ Going On, already waxed elsewhere by fellow piano man Roy Hall and mountainous blues belter Big Maybelle. Jerry Lee tightened up his rafter-rattling version during a long night at the Twin Gables in Blytheville, Arkansas. Then he cut it for Sun with guitarist Roland Janes, drummer J.M. Van Eaton, and Jerry Lee’s cousin, J.W. Brown, on electric bass.  

Issued as his encore single, Whole Lot Of Shakin’ was an across-the-board juggernaut during the summer of 1957. Lewis was suddenly starring on network television, headlining star-studded package shows, and raising hell wherever he went, playing pianos with his feet, kicking their benches, standing atop them and tearing them apart with the sheer ferocity of his performances. Things escalated to a fever pitch with his next Sun single, the flammable Otis Blackwell-penned smash Great Balls Of Fire. Lewis went right back to Blackwell for Breathless, another major hit. High School Confidential, the title song to the movie of the same name (in which Lewis memorably appeared on a flatbed truck under the opening credits), was on its way to similar blockbuster status when news hit of his betrothal to his 13-year-old cousin Myra Gail, bassist Brown’s daughter. Jerry Lee was instantly toxic, his career in tatters. 

Slowly but surely, he came back. Sam never gave up on him, continuing to issue a stream of Lewis platters until Jerry exited the fading label in 1963 to sign with Mercury’s Smash subsidiary. At first, Jerry Lee continued relentlessly rocking, but in ’68 he switched to country music and proved every bit as sensational as he was a decade earlier in the rock arena, posting an avalanche of hits and completing his comeback. Lewis would alternate between rock and country in decades to come, ferociously stoking his own outsized legend with seven wives, a 1989 movie based rather loosely on his life, and enough insane antics both offstage and on to fill the pages of several highly entertaining biographies. Bear Family has compiled a series of lavish boxed sets over the years covering much of the Killer’s amazing career.

No pianist ever rocked a boogie-woogie with more single-minded panache than the Killer. He was truly one of a kind.       --Bill Dahl

Copyright © Bear Family Records®. Copying, also of extracts, or any other form of reproduction, including the adaptation into electronic data bases and copying onto any data mediums, in English or in any other language is permissible only and exclusively with the written consent of Bear Family Records® GmbH.

More information about Jerry Lee Lewis on Wikipedia.org

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The Complete Session - Recorded In London With Great Guest Artists, Vol.2 (LP
Jerry Lee Lewis: The Complete Session - Recorded In London With... Art-Nr.: BFX15241

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(Bear Family Records) 11 tracks, gatefold cover
$28.24
The Complete Session - Recorded In London With Great Guest Artists Vol.1 (LP)
Jerry Lee Lewis: The Complete Session - Recorded In London With... Art-Nr.: BFX15240

Ready to ship today, delivery time** appr. 1-3 workdays

(Bear Family Records®) 13 Tracks Gatefold Cover
$33.89
The EP-Collection Vol.2...plus (CD)
Jerry Lee Lewis: The EP-Collection Vol.2...plus (CD) Art-Nr.: CDSEE397

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(See For Miles) 29 tracks - including rare versions
$18.05 $20.31
Last Man Standing (CD)
Jerry Lee Lewis: Last Man Standing (CD) Art-Nr.: CDAF001714

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(Shangri-La) 21 tracks (66:43)
$20.31
Mean Old Man (CD, Deluxe Edition, US)
Jerry Lee Lewis: Mean Old Man (CD, Deluxe Edition, US) Art-Nr.: CD1467502

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(2010/Verve/Universal) 18 tracks (59:49) digisleeve (car picture, color) with 36x46 cm poster.
$20.31
Rockin' My Life Away (CD, Cut-Out)
Jerry Lee Lewis: Rockin' My Life Away (CD, Cut-Out) Art-Nr.: CDR270392-C

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(Tomato) 15 tracks, sealed US Pressing, 1cm cut in jewelbox
$20.31 $22.58
EP-Collection
Jerry Lee Lewis: EP-Collection Art-Nr.: CDSEE307

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CD on SEE FOR MILES RECORDS by Jerry Lee Lewis - EP-Collection
$14.66 $33.89
Great Balls of Fire - Live (CD)
Jerry Lee Lewis: Great Balls of Fire - Live (CD) Art-Nr.: CDSL21242

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(1995/Retro Music) 10 tracks
$16.92 $19.18
Who's Gonna Play This Old Piano - Sometimes A Memory Ain't Enough
Jerry Lee Lewis: Who's Gonna Play This Old Piano - Sometimes A... Art-Nr.: CDBGO1174

only 1x still available
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(2015/BGO) 22 tracks, slipcase packaging. Two Country albums for the Mercury label from 1972 and 1973. Both albums reached the top 10 US country charts and brought the hits ' ' No More Hanging On ', ' Sometimes A Memory Is not Enough ',...
$19.18
I-40 Country - Odd Man In (CD)
Jerry Lee Lewis: I-40 Country - Odd Man In (CD) Art-Nr.: CDBGO1216

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(2016/BGO) 22 tracks Digitally remastered containing a pair of fine Jerry Lee Lewis albums from 1974 and 1975 on one disc!
$20.31
Four Jerry Lee Lewis Albums (2-CD)
Jerry Lee Lewis: Four Jerry Lee Lewis Albums (2-CD) Art-Nr.: CDBGO1276

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(2017/BGO) 43 Tracks - Smash and Mercury masters 1969-1978!
$20.31 $22.58
French EP Collection (2-CD)
Jerry Lee Lewis: French EP Collection (2-CD) Art-Nr.: CD3931099

only 1x still available
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(Magic Records) 52 tracks Jerry Lee Lewis, one of the five greatest pioneers of rock'n'roll, passed away on October 28, 2022. He left behind many rock nuggets and numerous hits. This 2-CD box traces the most important moment of his...
$22.58
Another Place Another Time & She Still Comes
Jerry Lee Lewis: Another Place Another Time & She Still Comes Art-Nr.: CDBGO659

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(2005/BGO) 21 tracks Mercury/Smash 1960s
$20.26
The Story (plus CD ROM)
Jerry Lee Lewis: The Story (plus CD ROM) Art-Nr.: CDEMI6022

the very last 2 available
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Die EMI 6000 Serie enthält Originalaufnahmen und eine CD ROM mit Bildschirmschoner, Fotos, Bio- und Discography in Deutsch New series with original recordings and CD ROM in English, German, Espanol & Francais. Contains: Screensaver,...
$9.00 $18.05
Rare Tracks (CD)
Jerry Lee Lewis: Rare Tracks (CD) Art-Nr.: CDRN70899

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(1989/Rhino) 18 tracks AAD, original Sun recordings remastered by Bill Inglot. Sealed, new stock copy - original US Longbox packaging with SUN Records Logo.
$30.50 $33.89
Live At Third Man Records, Nashville,TN 2011
Jerry Lee Lewis: Live At Third Man Records, Nashville,TN 2011 Art-Nr.: CDTMR60030

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(2012/THIRD MAN) 12 tracks - digipac. What an amazing evening! Also available as limited vinyl album (LP TMR 104).
$19.18
Great Balls Of Fire (CD Album Soundtrack, Japan Edition)
Jerry Lee Lewis & Others: Great Balls Of Fire (CD Album Soundtrack, Japan... Art-Nr.: CDP25P20282

the very last 2 available
Ready to ship today, delivery time** appr. 1-3 workdays

(2001/Polydor-Japan) 12 tracks, original motion picture soundtrack as Japan edition!
$39.55
Jerry Lee's Greatest (LP)
Jerry Lee Lewis: Jerry Lee's Greatest (LP) Art-Nr.: LPORGM470257

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(2017/ORG) 12 tracks Jerry Lee's Greatest! is the second album from rock & roll's first great wild man, originally released in 1961 by the legendary Sun Record Company. The album includes Lewis's biggest hit, "Great Balls of Fire," which...
$33.89
The Greatest Live Show On Earth (LP)
Jerry Lee Lewis: The Greatest Live Show On Earth (LP) Art-Nr.: BFX152104

Ready to ship today, delivery time** appr. 1-3 workdays

(Bear Family Records) 10 tracks Archive copy from the 10-LP box BFX15210 'The Killer 1963-68' 1986 Mint Copy
$22.58
Sing The Country Music Hall Of Fame Hits 1&2
Jerry Lee Lewis: Sing The Country Music Hall Of Fame Hits 1&2 Art-Nr.: CDBGO561

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CD on BGO RECORDS by Jerry Lee Lewis - Sing The Country Music Hall Of Fame Hits 1&2
$18.05 $21.39
Boogie Woogie Country Man & The Killer Rocks
Jerry Lee Lewis: Boogie Woogie Country Man & The Killer Rocks Art-Nr.: CDBGO635

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(2004/BGO) 23 tracks 1960-1974 Mercury/Phonogram
$21.39
Last Man Standing (EU) - Jewelcase (CD)
Jerry Lee Lewis: Last Man Standing (EU) - Jewelcase (CD) Art-Nr.: CDGO70322

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(2006/Shangri-Las) 21 tracks
$9.00
Live At The Starclub Hamburg - 1964 (CD)
Jerry Lee Lewis: Live At The Starclub Hamburg - 1964 (CD) Art-Nr.: CDR270268

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$20.31 $22.58
The Platinum Collection
Jerry Lee Lewis: The Platinum Collection Art-Nr.: CDRN74052

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(2007/RHINO) 20 tracks Elektra/Asylum & Sire 1980-1995 !
$11.26 $16.86
Original Classic Albums 1965-69 (2-CD)
Jerry Lee Lewis: Original Classic Albums 1965-69 (2-CD) Art-Nr.: CDRV357

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(2012/RAVEN) 58 tracks, feat the following albums:'I'm On Fire','The Return Of Rock', 'Memphis Beat (part I)', 'Memphis Beat (part II)', 'Soul My Way' and 'Together' featuring Linda Gail Lewis! 12 page booklet.
$28.24
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