Of all the legendary artists who laid the foundations for rock 'n' roll in the 1950s, none looms larger than Jerry Lee Lewis. In the nearly five-and-a-half decades since the Ferriday Fireball first swaggered his way into Sun Records' Memphis studio to make musical history with "Whole Lot of Shaking Goin' On," the piano-pounding wildman has lived up to his bigger-than-life image, maintaining his status as an uncompromisingly fierce rock 'n' roller with no equal, as well as a peerless vocal stylist whose deeply felt interpretations contrasts his fiery image. Now, Jerry Lee Lewis once again asserts his status as rock 'n' roll's toughest survivor with the release of Mean Old Man, a new album that teams the Killer with more than 20 of his most famous admirers, on a scorching set of new songs and classic tunes that span the worlds of rock 'n' roll, country and gospel, just as Lewis has been doing for his entire career. A sequel of sorts to his acclaimed 2006 effort Last Man Standing, Mean Old Man tops its esteemed predecessor, demonstrating Lewis' remarkable intensity and versatility.
Mean Old Man's supporting cast includes such classic rockers as Rolling Stones Mick Jagger, Keith Richards and Ronnie Wood, Eric Clapton, John Fogerty, Nils Lofgren, Robbie Robertson, Ringo Starr and the seminal rockabilly guitarist James Burton, as well as iconoclastic country icons Merle Haggard and Willie Nelson, and gospel/soul legends Solomon Burke and Mavis Staples. Mean Old Man further demonstrates Lewis' multi-generational appeal by featuring such younger performers as Sheryl Crow, Kid Rock, Shelby Lynne, John Mayer, Tim McGraw, Slash, Gillian Welch and the influential musician/producer Jon Brion.
The album's 18 songs are as varied as the guest list, with Jerry Lee demonstrating his still-formidable skills on the Kris Kristofferson-penned title song and putting a fresh spin on some of his trademark tunes ("Rockin' My Life Away," "Middle Age Crazy"). Elsewhere, Lewis puts his unmistakable stamp on some timeless rock 'n' roll classics (including Fogerty's "Bad Moon Rising," Chuck Berry's "Roll Over Beethoven" and the Rolling Stones chestnuts "Dead Flowers" and "Sweet Virginia") and country standards (e.g. Haggard's "Swinging Doors" and Nelson's "Whiskey River," both performed as duets with their respective authors).
With Jerry Lee Lewis surrounded by an incredible roster of guests and an equally impressive array of songs, the only thing that could make Mean Old Man a more authentic and rewarding listening experience is to hear this music in the medium in which the artist first became immortal: vinyl! In that spirit, Sundazed Music presents this 18-song deluxe edition of Mean Old Man in a special three-sided LP edition, pressed on high-definition vinyl, and complete with a colorful gatefold jacket. We can't think of a better way to pay tribute to the timeless musical genius of Jerry Lee Lewis!
Login
1 comment
Add tags