29/09/2025
THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.
TODAY WOULD HAVE BEEN THE 90TH BIRTHDAY OF JERRY LEE LEWIS.
THE JERRY LEE LEWIS UK TOP 40 SINGLES.
Whole Lot of Shakin' Going On- 1957- Number 8
Great Balls of Fire- 1957- Number 1
Breathless- 1958- Number 8
High School Confidential- 1958- Number 12
Lovin' Up a Storm- 1959- Number 28
What'd I Say- 1961- Number 10
Sweet Little Sixteen- 1962- Number 38
Good Golly Miss Molly- 1962- Number 31
THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.
99-Jerry Lee Lewis-Great Balls of Fire.
1958-Number 1 single.
Best Bit-At 0.01. It is said that if he hadn’t have married his 13 year old cousin once removed, then he could have been as big as Elvis.
It was while touring Britain in May 1958 that the news finally became public that Jerry Lee Lewis had married a 13 year old girl by the name of Myra Gale Brown some five months earlier, and what shocked the public even more was that she was the daughter of his cousin J.W. Brown, who was also had played bass in a group with Lewis prior to Lewis signing with ‘Sun Records.’ The scandal of the marriage led to tour cancellations worldwide, while his record contracts were torn up, and radio stations refused to play his songs. Although Lewis still released new music, and toured during the 1960’s, the stigma of the past always hung over him, and it wasn’t until 1968 when the ‘Country Music’ producer Eddie Kilroy suggested to him the idea of recording in ‘Nashville’ that Lewis’ career finally took off again. Between 1968-1977 Lewis achieved 17 top 10 hits, which included four Number 1’s on the Billboard Country chart in America.
Jerry Lee Lewis (see also best songs 678 and 362) was born on September 29th, 1935, in Ferriday, Louisiana, United States, his nickname is the ‘Killer,’ and he has been described as ‘Rock N’ Roll’s’ first great wild man,’ and one of the most influential pianists of the 20th Century. The discography of Jerry Lee Lewis includes 40 studio Albums released between 1958-2014, and 77 singles issued between 1956-2009. On the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart in America six of his singles have reached the top 40, with this song charting the highest at Number 2, while in the UK he has charted on eight occasions, with this song being his most successful.
‘Great Balls of Fire’ was co-written by Otis Blackwell, (1931-2002) (see also best songs 468) and Jack Hammer, (1925-2016) and was produced by Sam Phillips (1923-2003) the founder of the legendary ‘Sun Records’ label. Initially Lewis had been reluctant to record the song having grown up in a religious household, and it wasn’t until he became embroiled in a heated argument with Phillips that he finally agreed to record the song which would become his signature tune.
‘Great Balls of Fire’ was one of the songs chosen for the 1957 black and white film ‘Jamboree.’ The movie is famous for showcasing many of the days top ‘Pop’ acts including Jerry Lee Lewis, Fats Domino, Carl Perkins, and Frankie Avalon, all lip-syncing their performances. Basically the film had a very flimsy script, and was more a promotional tool for the artists and their music.
‘Great Balls of Fire’ was recorded on October 8th, 1957, at the legendary ‘Sun Studio’ in Memphis, Tennessee. Instead of using the usual in house studio musicians Jimmy Van Eaton, (drums) and Roland Janes, (1933-2013) (guitar) Lewis was accompanied by Sidney Stokes on bass, and Larry Linn on drums. Lewis has said,’I knew Sidney Stokes, but I didn’t know him that well either, and I don’t know what happened to them people. That’s the last time I ever seen ’em. That’s strange isn’t it?’
‘You shake my nerves and you rattle my brain, too much love drives a man insane. You broke my will, oh what a thrill, goodness gracious great balls of fire.’
THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.
362-Jerry Lee Lewis and His Pumping Piano-High School Confidential.
1958-Number 12 single.
Best Bit-At 1.07. It’s ironic, because at the time Jerry Lee Lewis recorded this song he had just married his 13 year old cousin, once removed, who wasn’t even old enough to go to high school.
‘High School Confidential’ was co-written by Jerry Lee Lewis, (1935-2022) (see also best songs 678 and 99) and Ron Hargrave (1929-2023) for the opening scene of the 1958 ‘MGM’ anti drugs movie which was also called ‘High School Confidential.’ In the film the director Jack Arnold (1916-1992) had Lewis, his bass player Jay W. Brown, (1930-2021) and drummer Russ Brown lip-synch the song while performing on the top of a flatbed truck. The version performed in the movie is different to this studio version, and none of the several takes recorded were released until the early 1980’s. The original picture sleeve for the 7 inch single released on ‘Sun Records’ featured cast members from the film, behind a superimposed image of Lewis.
‘High School Confidential’ was one of the 12 tracks (track 9) to appear on Jerry Lee Lewis’ self titled debut studio Album released on Sun Records in 1958, which was produced by Sun Records supremo Sam Phillips (1923-2003) and Jack Clement (1931-2013.) The music critic Michael ‘Cub’ Koda (1948-2000) in a retrospective review of the Album wrote the selections on the Album were ‘a curious mixture,’ with ‘a great deal of his best material being inexplicably left off,’ but the Album was still a ‘terrific debut.’ The songs he was referring to that were omitted include ‘Whole Lot of Shakin’ Going On,’ and ‘Great Balls of Fire.’ ‘High School Confidential’ is also one of the tracks (track 2) which appears on the 1964 Album ‘Live at the Star Club, Hamburg.’ Jerry Lee Lewis was accompanied by the English Rock band the ‘Nashville Teens’ who recorded the Album live in front of an audience on April 5th, 1964, the Album is critically regarded as one of the greatest live Albums of all time, not just in ‘Rock ‘N Roll,’ but in all music genres. In 1958 at the height of Lewis’ fame, his career his career was badly affected when it came to light that he had married his 13 year old cousin once removed. This caused public uproar with tours cancelled, and radio refusing to play his records, which was the reason why ‘High School Confidential’ stalled at Number 12 in the UK, and Number 21 on Billboard.
‘High School Confidential’ was co-written by Ron Hargrave, and Jerry Lee Lewis. Ron Hargrave was born Ronald Jay Hargrave, on November 8th, 1929, in Brooklyn, New York City, United States, he died on May 16th, 2023, at the age of 93. His acting and musical career began at the same time as he entered into military life. It was during his military service time, that he met up with the daughter of the American comedian, actor and producer Lou Costello, (1906-1959) and it was Lou Costello who started Hargrave off in the film industry, and got him a record deal with ‘MGM.’ Ron Hargrave appeared in the 1956 American comedy film ‘Dance With Me Henry,’ starring ‘Abbott and Costello,’ his contribution earmarked him as one of the first on screen ‘Rock and Roll’ actors, in an era that had not yet adjusted to the young attitude of Elvis Presley, (1935-1977) (see also best songs 954-664-442 and 194) or Jerry Lee Lewis. Hargrave was also an accomplished Ukulele player.
‘High School Confidential’ was produced by Sam Phillips (see also best songs 99) who was born Samuel Cornelius Phillips, on January 5th, 1923, in Florence, Alabama, United States, he died on July 30th, 2003, of respiratory failure, at the age of 80. Sam Phillips was a disc jockey, songwriter, and record producer, but is best remembered as the founder of ‘Sun Records,’ and the ‘Sun Studio’ in Memphis, Tennessee, where he produced recordings by Elvis Presley, (1935-1977) (see also best songs 954-664-442 and 194) Roy Orbison, (1936-1988) (see also best songs 657) Jerry Lee Lewis, (1935-2022) (see also best songs 678 and 99) Carl Perkins, (1932-1998) (see also best songs 664) Johnny Cash, (1932-2003) (see also best songs 857-428 and 199) Howlin’ Wolf, (1910-1976) and others. It is safe to say that Sam Phillips played a major role in the development of ‘Rock and Roll’ during the 1950’s, In 1969 he sold ‘Sun Records’ to the American record producer and record label owner Shelby Singleton (1931-2009) (see also best songs 708.) In 1986 Phillips was inducted into the ‘Rock and Roll Hall of Fame,’ he was the first non-performer to be inducted. Sam Phillips was an advocate for racial equality, helping to break down racial barriers in the music industry.
‘Open up a honey it’s your lover boy me that’s a knockin.’ Why don’t you listen to me sugar? All the cats are at the high school rockin.’ Honey get your boppin’ shoes ‘fore the juke box blows a fuse, everybody’s hoppin, everybody’s boppin,’ boppin’ at the high school hop.’
THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.
678-Jerry Lee Lewis-Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On.
1957-Number 8 single.
Best Bit-At 2.27. If I was Jerry Lee Lewis’ piano, I think I would be feeling abused.
Jerry Lee Lewis (see also best songs 362 and 99) was born on September 29th, 1935, in Ferriday, Louisiana, United States, on February 28th, 2019, he had a minor stroke, which caused him to cancel several appearances. He died on October 28th, 2022, at the age of 87. Jerry Lee Lewis was the last surviving member of the legendary ‘Million Dollar Quartet,’ who recorded for the ‘Sun Record’ label. On December 4, 1956, Elvis Presley (1935-1977) (see also best songs 954-664-442 and 194) dropped in on Sam Phillips, (1923-2003) the founder of ‘Sun Records,’ to pay a social visit while Carl Perkins (1932-1998) (see also best songs 664) was in the studio cutting new tracks with Jerry Lee Lewis, who was backing him on piano. Johnny Cash (1932-2003) (see also best songs 857 and 428) was also there watching Perkins. The four then started an impromptu jam session, and Sam Phillips left the tape running. These recordings were not made available until 1981, of which almost half were Gospel songs, and were released on CD as the ‘Million Dollar Quartet.’ These tracks also include Elvis Presley’s ‘Don’t Be Cruel,’ and ‘Paralyzed,’ and cover versions of Chuck Berry’s ‘Brown Eyed Handsome Man,’ and Pat Boone’s ‘Don’t Forbid Me.’
‘Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On’ was probably co-written by Dave ‘Curlee’ Williams, and James Faye ‘Roy’ Hall (1922-1984,) but it has always been open to dispute, as both have been solely named on various recordings. The reason probably being that Hall had to sign over the royalties from the song to his ex-wife, so legalities probably played a big part. The inspiration for ‘Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On’ came about when both were on vacation, Hall has said, ’We were down in Paokee, on Lake Okeechobee, out on a damn pond, fishin,’ and milkin’ snakes. This guy down there had a big bell that he’s ring to get us all to come in to dinner, an’ I’d call over and say, ’What’s goin’ on?’ Coloured guy said, ’We got twen’y-one drums, we got an old bass horn, an’ they even keepin’ time on a ding-ding,; see, that was the big bell they’d ring to get us t’come in.’
‘Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On’ was first recorded on March 21st, 1955, by the American R&B singer Big Maybelle, (1924-1972) on the ‘Okeh Record’ label, with the track being conducted and arranged by Quincy Jones. James Faye ‘Roy’ Hall recorded ‘Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On’ himself in September 1955, for ‘Decca Records,’ saying at the time that he had written it, and had secured the legal copyright as co-writer, under the pseudonym of ‘Sunny David.’
‘Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On’ was the second single released by Jerry Lee Lewis, from April 1957, it was issued as a stand alone single, before appearing on his compilation Album ‘Original Golden Hits, Vol. 1,’ in 1969. The song was issued on ‘Sun Records,’ with the writing credited to both Dave ‘Curlee’ Williams, and James Faye ‘Roy’ Hall. The production was by Jack Clement, (1931-2013) who produced for many of the legendary names on the ‘Sun Record’ label.
Jerry Lee Lewis had been performing ‘Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On’ for quite a while in his stage act before recording a studio version. Lewis radically changed the style of the song from how it was originally conceived, by adding ‘boogie piano,’ played by Lewis himself. The other performers on the track were J.M. Van Eaton, who played the drums, and Roland James, (1933-2013) who played the guitar. Jerry Lee Lewis who added some new suggestive lyrics, has said,’I knew it was a hit when I cut it. Sam Phillips thought it was gonna be too risqué, it couldn’t make it. If that’s risqué, well, I’m sorry.’
Jerry Lee Lewis is recognised as one of the first ‘Rock N’ Roll’ stars, and ‘Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On’ is recognised as one of the first ‘Rock N’ Roll’ breakthrough hits. Lewis and the song were propelled to stardom after Lewis’ ‘wild’ performance on the American variety television programme broadcast by ‘NBC,’ ‘The Steve Allen Show,’ in 1957. In America on the Billboard Hot 100 ‘Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On’ peaked at Number 3, and Number 1 on the magazine’s R&B record chart, it also reached Number 1 on the Billboard ‘Hot Country Songs’ chart.
‘Well, I said come on over baby, we got chicken in the barn. Come on over baby, I got the bull by the horns. We ain’t fakin, a whole lotta shakin’ goin’ on.’
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For a list of all the best 1000 songs Google Barry Philips Discos Blog.
