18 Original Sun Greatest Hits Reviews

Jerry Lee Lewis played a countrified piano with a hard-rocking edge (for the ‘50s). He pounded on the piano to the point of it sounding like it was nearly breaking. It’s obvious to hear why he has become such a living legend. All of the Sun Records artists – Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash and Lewis being the three most famous – helped create new textures and attitudes in rock & roll music. His stomping piano and wild man vocals practically laid the groundwork for punk rock, or something very close to it. This is a great time and essential music. “Breathless” zips by on a rockabilly guitar-and-piano lick and sexually aggressive sighing that was lifted wholesale by bands such as X and Social Distortion. “Great Balls of Fire” and “Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On” are the most famous Sun sides, but there’s nothing resembling filler on this album. I’m not too crazy about “Lewis Boogie” but others might be. But with seventeen songs that rock with a country swagger, one I don’t care for means very little. His career extended beyond his Sun material, but this is the most famous and influential collection of songs. This is the crucial listening. DOWNLOAD: “Breathless,” “Great Balls of Fire,” “Big Blon’ Baby”