Jerry Lee Lewis: Greatest Live Performances of the ‘50s, ‘60s and ‘70s

With his unruly hairdos, wildman antics, and lamé jackets, Jerry Lee Lewis rose to prominence at a time when rock ‘n' roll fans—restless kids, mostly—didn't quite know what to make of the new sound (it's a gas watching the primitive-looking black-and-white clips of those long-ago teens gathered around Lewis' piano on Pop Shop or The Dick Clark Show trying to move to the music). Narrated, somewhat gratingly, by Van Haze, Jerry Lee Lewis: Greatest Live Performances features 19 songs, ranging from his first televised appearance on July 28, 1957 on The Steve Allen Show (where he performed “Whole Lotta Shakin' Going On”) to various appearances during the 1970s on Pop Goes the Country (including a rendition of “Me and Bobby McGee”). As Lewis became more and more popular, his band and bookings both got bigger, but very little about The Killer himself ever changed: the man was not so much a great singer or musician as an outlandish and exciting performer who brought a lot of youngsters into the rock ‘n' roll fold. This collection documents Lewis' rise and subsequent fadeout with surprisingly good sound (given the age of the clips and the original recording technology) on hits such as “Great Balls of Fire,” “Breathless,” and “You Win Again.” Sure to be appreciated by hardcore Jerry Lee fans, this is recommended. Aud: P. (M. Moore)