On his day Jerry Lee Lewis’ handling of a country song has few peers, the swagger, easy way he caresses a lyric has to one of the best, most natural sounding ever.
1-40 Country (1974) is littered with the work of fine songwriters, and with Jerry Lee in fine form, especially on the first set of songs, and the though Odd Man In (1975) has a looser feel to it and the feeling the songs are a little mismatched. His mind may not have been as focused at it might (it was during this period Jerry Lee’s drinking etc…was a greater distraction than it ever was) as a mix of new tunes and re-workings of material from his days with Sun Records “Shake, Rattle And Roll”, “Goodnite Irene” and “Crawdad Song”; as noted in Andrew McRea’s copious liner notes the latter takes on a deeper, and possibly darker meaning as if something happened there. Whatever it may be Jerry Lee even on days he might not have been in peak form he was still the master when it came to delivering the likes, and that goes for the song that the twin lp-set rests on Hank Williams’ “Your Cheatin’ Heart”, albeit the fiddle, harmonica and piano fashioned version doesn’t hold a candle to Hank’s version it is still enjoyable despite Lewis’ taking a few liberties as he is prone to indulge in
For highlights you need go no further than “A Picture From Life’s Other Side”; what a terrific version! And with him on a roll “I Hate Goodbyes” with Loveless’ tucked in the background and Jerry singing good the Rice/Foster tune finds itself a good home (the first time I heard the song was on a Bobby Bare record), and with strings, a little steel guitar and beautiful harmony vocals adding to his work “Cold, Cold Morning Light”, “The Alcohol Of Fame” and “Where Would I Be” among others set the mould as Jerry Lee spins his magic. Plus, of course you have his cousin, Mickey Gilley’s big hit “Room Full Of Roses”, and “Tomorrow’s Taking Baby Away”.
Maurice Hope