I started listening to Jerry Lee Lewis in late September 2021. His first few albums don't have written reviews, partly because of the lack of 50s music I knew at the time and partly because I was feeling lazy. The Essential Jerry Lee Lewis complies his best 50s recordings with Sun Records, so I listed it first despite the year of the compilation release being later than the other albums.
The Essential Jerry Lee Lewis: The Sun Sessions (2013): A
Live at the Star Club, Hamburg (1964): A
The Return of Rock (1965): B+
Country Songs for City Folks (1965): B-
Memphis Beat (1966): C+
Soul My Way (1967): B-
Another Place, Another Time (1968): A+
She Still Comes Around (1969): A
Sings the Country Music Hall of Fame Hits Vol. 1 (1969): B
Sings the Country Music Hall of Fame Hits Vol. 2 (1969): B
Jerry Lee Lewis and Linda Gail Lewis: Together (1969): B-
Another Place, Another Time (1968):
Although Jerry Lee Lewis hinted on The Return of Rock that 50s rock could continue into the 60s, his lack of sales in the new decade led him to half-heartedly attempt country and soul music on his next three albums to lackluster results. Then, in 1968, Lewis dove into country music head first and came up with Another Place, Another Time, which to everyone's surprise rose to number three on the country music charts. Although Lewis's piano playing probably peaked sometime around Live at the Star Club, Hamburg, his soulful singing peaks here and could alone place him amongst my favorite singers. Lewis had shown an affinity for country music by covering Hank Williams since his days at Sun Records, but other than "Your Cheatin' Heart," he hadn't come close to matching the power of the originals. But with a fiddle and pedal steel guitar next to him, his love of country music finally materializes into excellent records and a true mastery of the genre. A+
She Still Comes Around (1969):
Song for song, pound for pound, Lewis's country follow-up almost matches up to Another Place, Another Time. Cashing in on the surprise success of his previous album, Lewis returned to Nashville and cut eleven country covers that once again boast his incredibly soulful voice, beautiful piano playing, and an authentic country feel. Furthermore, She Still Comes Around has its own unique character without Lewis doing much to change his hardcore country formula. For those that loved Lewis's preceding album, I'm sure that could hardly excite them more. A
Sings the Country Music Hall of Fame Hits Vol. 1 (1969):
This isn't a disappointment but if Lewis is going to continue to make country records, he's got to keep the material as top-notch as his previous two records or change his formula in a more significant way. B
Sings the Country Music Hall of Fame Hits Vol. 2 (1969):
The two volumes of Lewis singing the Country Music Hall of Fame Hits was recorded in two days to fulfill contractual obligations with his label. Though the track list and the arrangements do seem to be afterthoughts on the second installment, it's no doubt that Lewis, producer Jerry Kennedy, and the session band had found a viable formula for pumping out strong, soulful covers of country standards. B
Jerry Lee Lewis and Linda Gail Lewis: Together (1969):
This brother and sister duo recorded one of the best tracks on the spectacular Another Place, Another Time ("We Live in Two Different Worlds") but they also recorded one of the worst tracks since Lewis has transitioned to country music ("Sweet Thang"). The quality of this duet album is closer than latter. Linda often shows very little control of her voice, the cover selection is fairly substandard, and this is the third country album in a row in which Kennedy and Lewis do almost nothing to change their patented formula. B-