Reviews (page 7 of 10)
This wasn’t bad as an album and actually sounds pretty good for a live performance, but most of the songs sound too similar to each other. Jerry is a machine that can takes any song and make it sound like Great Balls of Fire. While there are some covers of good songs, the covers aren’t anywhere near as good as the originals. Also, the whooping growling gets old very fast, but fortunately the album is a short one!
It's alright. Enjoyable but won't listen again.
I like the high energy that this album has which is probably what you want from a live album. However he keep saying his name over and over and doing some weird growl, which I found annoying. And it does all sound sort of samey. Don't think I will listen to it ever again
Not bad, classic 60s rock, just sounded like a retarded Elvis bc he was incoherent most of the time
So this is the sound of cocaine and statutory rape... Sounds pretty cool (I mean the music, not the other stuff).
Pretty good actually. Separating art from artist, of course!
3/5. I respect the importance of Jerry Lee Lewis. He brought rock to the world. This live album was not the way to showcase him. It was really short, his singing was all over the place, and the recording quality was okay at best.
Not bad. I love the energy the live set brings to these songs. The mix is pretty wonky, but it emphasizes Lewis’ playing so it works. Wouldn’t mind playing this again at some point.
C-
Ok
If you can seperate art from artist, 5. If you can't, 2, at best. But the art is -amazing-
Sehr mitreißend
Another one where the Spotify link doesn't correspond particularly well to the Wikipedia track listing. Of the 2/3 of it that we got, it's got bags of energy, and everyone is clearly having a load of fun. Would've been an exhilarating experience to have been there (unless you were an underage girl or not white, because JLL was an abusive, racist paedophile). But it definitely lacks a bit of depth, all the songs kind of sound the same. Gets away with it given the short and sharpness of the record though, 3/5.
I'm not a big fan of rockabilly or live albums, but this had some really enjoyable tracks. That said, if it ran longer I could see it being rated lower. Favourite track: Your Cheating Heart.
Wow, so great! Didn't realize I was not familiar with the man behind so many classics. Great energy live too 😁
Fun and energetic but gets same-same-y. Also he sounds drunk
Holy hell, this guy was a train wreck and a psychopath. It's really difficult to separate the art from the artist with this one. This live album is entertaining, but I don't think it's the greatest live album ever. Is he passionate or just on lots of cocaine? His versions of these songs are good, and he's got chops on the piano, but I'd rather listen to Little Richard. The only way I can really enjoy "Great Balls of Fire" is by picturing Goose playing it in "Top Gun." 3/5
This would’ve been a blast to be at
It was easy listening, very short album
Jerry Lee Three Is.
le pone ganas el loco
Certainly lots of energy! Good live album but wasn’t really into it
Energetic. Doesn’t overstay its welcome. 3 stars.
It's just classic rock-n-roll. Good, no frills fun.
Album #11 Who did it first??? JLL is off the chains and I cannot imagine the amount of energy this man had each and every concert he did when he was young. Many of the songs I have heard by JLL and other artists so I am not sure if he did them first or he was covering songs of other artists/writers in this concert. I enjoyed this album and his energy
Not my kind of music, but this is anyway a fun live recording. Would have loved to be there at the time. Lots of energy and the best versions I’ve heard of some of these songs
BALLS. 3/5
Nice Rock‘n‘Roll, but nothing outstanding.
Holy tempo. I'm warn out just from listening to these songs, so I can't imagine how the audience in 1964 felt. Lots of covers- Money, Great Balls of Fire, Good Golly Miss Molly are 3 great songs all in a row. The other songs were mostly forgettable though. I do have to imagine it was an awesome concert to attend. 6.75/10 (3.375/5)
Old school legend. Him singing about high school has an added meaning when you know about this guy's love life.
Eipä tätä yli 23 minuuttia tarvitsisikaan: energia suorastaan hyökyy yli. Tosi raskasta, hauskaa, tää kun tanssittaa silti.
I can take The Killer in small doses. Two songs is usually enough.
Hard to pick an album from someone who made so many. This is a good choice though. I will say, I don’t listen to a lot of JLL - yeah, because of the teenage cousin thing. This is good and clearly important for the development of rock and roll. But something doesn’t hit in quite the same way as Cash’s live albums. Or anything by Elvis.
missing those concerts
Solid live album. Jerry Lee Lewis has never been a favorite, but I like him well enough and it's clear he's a great live performer.
Du bon vieux Rock’n Roll. Enorme énergie sur scène pour principalement des reprises. On le dirait possédé et frappe sur son piano comme un sourd. Intéressant mais pas forcément indispensable pour moi. Et humainement, ça avait l’air d’être une belle merde.
Liked JLLs music a lot growing up, but now he’s ok.
Very talented and entertaining, after a while though all of the songs seems to run together.
classic tunes we have all heard somewhere
Live At The Star Club, Hamburg was a pretty decent live album. The songs all sounded quite good whilst live and Jerry Lee Lewis always had an energetic and fun stage presence. The songs were a bit samey sounding to the point of being the same song just with different lyrics but i don't really know if this is the album's fault. Its still a fun live album with some very enjoyable moments Best Song: Your Cheating Heart Worst Song: Good Golly, Miss Molly
Huge influence on rock n roll music. Songs individually are great and certainly stand on their own. But an entire album of them is a little too repetitive. It is impressive that you can do an entire show on basically the same chord progression. I do like the "swing meets the blues" that is rockabilly music. Like the constant triplet feel of every song. And love when they throw the hammering piano riffs over top of it with the straight "2s" giving it that cool 3/2 groove on fills.
Jerry Lee, one of the pioneers of the early days of rock-n-roll, found something that works (High energy, faster tempo, piano-based blues) and stuck with it...over and over and over again. Everyone's 'best of the oldies' playlists needs to have at least one of his songs...but not more than one. Fun to listen to for sure and makes you tap your toe and maybe even get up and dance. Very enjoyable.
Better than his studio albums
50's rock'n'roll is like finger painting. Super simple, important for for development of skills but just a stepping stone to bigger and better art. This at least is short (8 songs in 22 minutes, punk!) and surprisingly high energy, took me by surprise. Can imagine the crowd buzzing from this. 3 stars, but only 2 if I had to listen to 23 minutes or more.
I’m not a huge Jerry Lee fan I get it but honestly it’s just ok with me
Meh
Too much chit chat. I need an album to be background music at work. It's a shame because the music was solid.
Track 1 - High School Confidential: Okay it’s got a lot of energy and is pretty fun. Excited to see what else is in store… Track 2 - Money: Alright kind of sounds the same, similar if not identical riffs and melody throughout. It’s a live performance, they’re warming up the crowd… I’ll let them cook. Track 3 -Great Balls of Blah Blah Blah: It’s like the same one continuous song 🙄 I would get down to it more if I was alive in the 60’s, high as a kite, sweating like I just took a hot shower in Vietnam in the humid summer delirious off watery beer and whiskey… but I’m just finding it hard to find replay value and how this made 1001 greatest albums ?? Like c’mon bruv, let’s give credit to the Black Blues artists that predate this man and who he clearly takes inspiration from. Overall, it was just cool 🤷🏻♂️
Surprisingly not too bad. I was expecting not to enjoy it but i ended up knowing a few of the songs. A short listen too
Jammin’! 3.5/5
The Star Club! Such a rad and historical venue. I had no idea this record even existed. For such a short album, there is so much energy in every song. You can feel that energy in the audience, he's really leaning into it and it compounds as the album progresses. The music is simple, but its full. However, the piano really elevates the music and brings all the energy together. Despite Jerry Lee Lewis being one of the biggest assholes in modern music, he sure knows how to work an audience and bring up the energy.
Wow this guy has a ton of energy. It was good. But most live music I listen too have 20 minute songs not albums.
Yeah, good tunes, but I’ll take Little Richard singing them over Jerry Lee Lewis any day.
Nicht ganz meine Musik
Fun upbeat old school Johnny B. Goode type songs, but live recordings aren’t my favorite. Favorite track: Great Balls of Fire
An explosion of passion. This is a really fun album. In and out in 22 mins. Sounds good for a live album too. Enjoyable.
Jerry Lee is absolutely on fire, probably would’ve been more interesting if they kept more of the set on the album rather than cut it to 22 minutes. I dont think I can give more than 3 stars to essentially a 20 min live cover album but it sure was fun.
This made a dance-adverse man dance. Generic as the songs are, the furious performance makes it great.
I have the same problems with Jerry Lee Lewis that I have with Elvis. All of his songs are not his songs. They are from Little Richard and Ray Charles and other artists. In other words, black artists. He white washes the music, which did make the music popular, because of reasons. I prefer the original versions. I am not sure why the live album was included in this list. It was not that good of a live album. I will begrudgingly round up to a 3 even though the original artists' versions are superior. Also, I did not let Jerry's awfulness as a person impact this rating.
Boy that racist paedo sure can play
I've never listened to an album by Lewis before, but this was decent. It's clear he was a skilled musician and entertainer. As far as live albums go, it didn't really present anything of the audience, so it might as well have been recorded in the studio for a little higher quality. If I am ever in a boogie-woogie mode and Little Richard isn't filling the need, I might come back to this album or artist.
It's good, but just a bit outside of what I would choose to listen to on a daily basis. I really appreciate the recording quality and engineering though.
High School Confidential - 8/10 Money - 8/10 Great Balls of Fire -7/10 Good Golly, Miss Molly - 7/10 Lewis’ Boogie - 8/10 Your Cheating Heart - 7/10 Long, Tall Sally - 7/10 Whole Lotta Shaking - 8/10 TOTAL - 53/80
"Listen, you can hear the energy!". Yeah, I can mostly hear the songs he stole from black musicians, that's for sure.
A wild burst of energy of decent songs. I'm not a fan of his music, but he knows how to play live for sure!
A great live album from one of the pioneers of Rock 'N Roll. A sample of 50s classics, and great chronicle of hard hittin' rock that was that generation's reason for pearl-clutching. The poor piano! The poor guitar solo drowned out in the mix! The very clear drumming! Money was the best track. Long Tall Sally and Great Balls of Fire were great rockers.
Another live record… a very energetic and electric performance.
Great artist, bad person? The energy on this album is bonkers, but I admit to feeling uneasy enjoying this music knowing what I know about his life.
This is a very good live recording of Jerry Lee Lewis. He and the band sound great, and I bet it was incredible to be part of the audience. It was very short, though, could have used a little more.
Jeg kan jo ikke si annet enn at dette er gøy, kult... jeg blir i godt humør, men det er jo ikke musikk jeg kommer til å ta frem for å lytte til.
Decent old school rock and roll
Don't touch it. Don't sing about touching it. Don't think about touching it. Don't sing about thinking about touching it. Or something. I thought albums had to be a minimum of 25 minutes?
Good golly. What a goddamn maniac. I didn’t know they had cocaine back then.
JLL was hoogstwaarschijnlijk rot van binnen. We gaan hier net zoals bij Michael Jackson en Marilyn Manson ons echt moeten focussen op de muziek. Een live-plaat vol rock & roll classics gebracht met de kracht van een orkaan klasse 4. Dat punkrock hier geboren wordt, ga ik niet beweren, maar The Ramones hebben hier wel best veel mosterd gehaald. Ocharme die piano. Die zal na dit concert bij het grof vuil gezet zijn omdat ze niet meer te stemmen viel. Misschien had de plaat toch ergens een rustpunt kunnen gebruiken, want nu gaat alles een beetje in elkaar over. Mijn minst favoriete grootheid uit de legendarische Sun Studios krijgt een 3.
Ew, a live album. I’m tempted to just skip this one all together. I don’t see the point. A recording captures a sub-optimal quality of the performance and conveys exactly none of the energy being there in person might give. I typically outright brush love albums off but in the spirit of this journey, am trying to give it a chance. I know the songs and enjoy this version of them. Hearing the crowds cheer and holler though, takes me away from the music. Still, there’s talent here. People just have a hard time separating the art from the artist.
Putting the personal life stuff aside for a minute.... While short, this album's ridiculous. The band is loud and brash and yet somehow simultaneously extremely tight. Another review labeled it as proto-proto-punk and that's pretty much it right there. But then you realize that Little Richard existed and did it better.
One of the best live albums I've listened to. 5 stars for the music, 1 star for Jerry Lee Lewis as a person, averaging to 3.
Cool rock and rolling album
Ihan jees? Lempparit High School Confidential ja Money. Great Balls of Fire meni nii kovaa parodiahorisontin yli etten pystyny kuuntelee tosissani :D Vissii tää ukko oli joku pedofiili kans.
Tää muistuttaa mua tosi paljon BB Kingist, varmaa ku livemusaa samalt ajalt. Erittäin jees tällee ku sattuu kuuntelee mut tää ei oo sellasta mitä laittaisin taustalle ku oon yksin, ehkä jonkun dinnerin tai illanvieton taustalle. Hyvä meno!!
Loads of energy in this album, bet those concerts were class back in the day
3/5 - Many classic songs and a good performance, however live albums have to be special to elevate the studio versions and I'm not sure if this does that.
First listen Saved 4/8 Top track: Money
Not for me
22 Minuten purer Rock n Roll / Jerry Lee Lewis absolute Legende / energetisch und treibend / mich persönlich holt Rock n Roll leider immer nicht so sehr ab. 3/5
A little underwhelming, but a good listen
Krijg er veel energie van, maar na lezen Wikipedia pagina over artiest toch net iets minder fan.
Classic rock and roll experience nothing too special. I did really enjoy money from him, I felt nostalgic listening to it.
Meh
Not for me. I didn't think it was terrible or anything. It just made me think of Elvis Presley the whole time.
Liked it more than I thought I would
Good but short
I was expecting plinky plonky piano and rock n roll that I have heard to death. Then when he struck up Money, I was like yeeeeah. Jigging in my desk chair.
Don’t remember.
This dudes life story is fucking insane Been working on apps and the community college soc class for the past two days Gonna go to the sdsu football game with dad, tomas, roy tonight
A solid, but hardly groundbreaking, record. It's a good enough listen, and snappy enough to not overstay it's welcome, but I certainly don't agree with it's status as 'one of the greatest rock and roll albums ever'. Pretty basic meat and potatoes rock & roll.
A fun reminder of early rock n roll's blistering energy. Can't imagine what is was like to hear this stuff if you were a young person who grew up on Tie a Yellow Ribbon Around the Old Oak Tree or whatever. That said, 20-30 minutes of Jerry is good for me then I'm ready for something else.
Hårdeste album indtil videre. Lyder som en fyr der opfandt avantgardestøjrock ved en fejl ved at tage liiidt for mange stoffer inden han gik på scenen
Album #44 I don’t know how to rate this album. Mr. Lewis was certainly a showman, bringing rock and roll to the masses in such a bombastic way. His influence can still be heard in rock music today. It can be difficult, at times, to separate the man from the music, though. His personal life is well documented, so I will not go into it here. It was a great, quick listen, and I think that is the best way to listen to his music – especially with the live audience. 3* but I wish I could go higher
Fun sound very old school rock and roll. Performed live makes album as a whole feel like an experince not songs to listen by themselves.
Jerry Lee Lewis is one of the biggest pieces of shit to ever walk the earth. But that piece of shit sure can put on a show. If you are into 1950s cover bands Jerry Lee Lewis is best of all time. 6.5/10
It was okay, but I wouldn't listen to most of those songs again.
Why are there so many talented terrible people?
This is a fun album. Didn't know what I was getting into. I think it's good but I also don't know that I'd play it all the time. It sounds like it could easily be someone's favorite album though. I think it's going to be a good sign when a live album comes on this list.
OK, but not something I'd listen too very often.
This man had, like, one and a half speeds.
Bem divertido porém não é a minha vibe
A high-energy live performance for sure. The genre might very much be a product of its time, but this live album pulled it off well. Fav Tracks: Money, Great Balls of Fire, Good Golly Miss Molly, Long Tall Sally Least Fav Track: Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On 6/10
Super snimka za te godine pisme su mi dosadne
Not something I listen to often but had some fun while it was on
I'm sure back in 1964 this would have been an awesome gig with Jerry Lee bopping out some great 12 bar blues and what are now some iconic tracks. It sounded like a fun gig full of energy and musicianship, albeit a bit tired now some 60 years later.
I did see Jerry Lee Lewis live at one point (very late in career). However, I also saw Fats Domino the same summer. Shouldn’t make the comparison but whenever I hear Jerry Lee Lewis I immediately remember how good Fats Domino was.
This is something completely new to me really. Never listened to Jerry Lee Lewis and this live album was just straight energy. I’m not a massive fan of early rock n roll; it’s obviously pioneering and gave birth to the expansive genre but I think a lot of it is quite one dimensional and this album only supports that view. However, I’ve got to say I did have some fun listening to this one; I’ve never heard a live album with so much energy in its short runtime. Jerry Lee Lewis gives it his all on every performance and it’s really cool to listen to. The recording is great for 1964 and this is a must listen for any early rock and roll and Elvis fans. RATING: 6.1/10
Awesome
A lot of love and a lot of hate for this one. Judge the art, not the artist? Mayhaps.
He’s not bad but he’s no Little Richard
Decent tunes! Mom would like to listen
Jerry Lee Lewis may be a staple of early rock and roll, but this 22-minute live blitz admits why he’s not necessarily a legend in his own right. Songs like “Money,” “Good Golly Miss Molly,” and “Long Tall Sally” were all previously hits by Black artists, and while they aren’t poorly executed, Jerry’s versions stand no chance against the originals. There are songs to appreciate, though. “High School Confidential” sounds like Jeff Spicoli whipping his hair back and forth at the school dance while Mr. Hand stands by and shakes his head in veiled disappointment. “Lewis Boogie,” which I have to assume is a Jerry Lee original, features some of the better piano I’ve heard. “Your Cheating Heart” might just come from Tom Hanks falling across the huge piano in “Big,” but at least he falls with style. Jerry Lee Lewis is often thrown in as one of the all-time rock and roll greats, and I just don’t get it. “Great Balls Of Fire” is a good song, but it’s not enough to make him a legend on its own.
Fun, very short
Who gets credit, the person making a joke or the person that says it louder? Gotta have balls to open with a song about high school and married to your 13 year old cousin, so points there. Point against for this being a little Richard cover album
Tough to rate this one since it is basically a life cover album. Performance seemed crazy and fun, but I am very anti-cover and fairly anti-live album so got to give it a lower score. Not factoring in the dudes personal life in the rating, but definitely seems like a POS
Pretty good. Feels like one of those albums that would’ve been 10 times cooler to have been there in person
Solid live album, very short though. Some songs were my thing while others weren't.
*Streaming only has 8 of the 13 tracks* Knowing what we know about Jerry Lee Lewis casts a shadow on my listening experience. The music is fine, I like it actually, but it would be hard for me to listen to this again. 3/5
Not a fan of live albums, but Lewis does a good showing here.
3 is unfair - this is either a 1 or a 5 depending on your preferences. 5 - you really feel like you're there, in a small venue with everyone going crazy. At its greatest, these are some of the purest, most intense representations of rock and roll in existence. 1 - it's rough as hell. You regularly can't make out the guitar or bass,seeing as it's a live album, and every single song is just a variant of 12 bar blues, so it's very repetitive. But still...
Day 113 This is the second live album I get this week, and the third one from the sixties, all in a row; all three albums are in the blues/rock and roll/country side of the music spectrum. This one is the one I liked the most though. I like Jerry Lee Lewis when he sticks to pure rock and roll; he seems to be in a ferocious form here, almost sounding proto-punk, and keeping the set list down to his essential songs.
Great energy, as I expected.
Not bad for the day
Money is such a bop!
Du Rock & Roll à l’essence pur, sans plus
Early era, piano driven rock. Recognized great balls of fire
This was better than I expected. There was a lot of pounding on the piano.
He sounds like a terrible person, but this short album has a lot of charm
Very nice
Better than Tracy Chapman
2.5 i didn’t dislike it - i very much appreciated the musical talent here and it feels like an album my dad would like which makes me happy, but i wouldn’t choose to listen to it again simply because it’s not my style at all
Pretty good live album but I am not the biggest fan of Jerry Lee Lewis.
Swinging up-beat album all the way through. Weird the whole thing isn’t on streaming services.
Man this is some throwback recording. The right-panned mic(s) just cut in and out randomly in the first track and the drums are the quiet voice which is pretty weird. The songs are great boppin rock classics though. Really easy to bop to. I think the draw with this sort of sound and having it released as a live album is the energy, like one of those old recordings of Elvis captivating a gaggle of young boys and girls with his charismatic hip swaying and smooth and loose baritone to match. It's the bottling up of energy, having a song get quiet, then building up the volume until it explodes and everyone is on their feet and dancing their hearts out. It's great fun and something that is missing from a lot of music these days. "Great Balls of Fire" is one of my mom's favorite songs. My brother and I used to dance to this song in our basement with our mom when we didn't have anything to do on a weekend night. The downside of this album is that it doesn't have enough depth for me. It's like 70% high energy rock at one tempo+energy level with the same drumbeat and piano riff, 15% lower volume rock, and 15% (one song's worth) of a rock ballad. Not enough of a problem to go as far down as a 2/5 but it's a 3/5 for me.
Good stuff
2.5
Great set, shake he was a nonce.
Energetic rock n roll
ändå gött sväng alltså.
Music was great, especially the piano. But backing instruments also deserve credit. Some of the vocals though... Couldn't help but picture Vic Reeves doing his club singing. Reading about the album it sounds like Jerry was diddling his 13yo cousin, so there's no way he's getting 4*. Reading
Recording quality robs album of textural depth, but what else can you expect from a live album. Overall, the music itself is enjoyable. So many of the tracks featured on this album are now throughly woven into the canon of Western music, but again the live recording robs some enjoyment .
Rock and roll. Phew!
Very glad this was live, as I don’t think I would’ve enjoyed this a much as I did if it was a studio album. Should be noted that it’s a shame that he exploits/profits off of black music (and was generally a piece of shit), especially Long Tall Sally which will never compare to Little Richard’s version. Also was his concert only 22 minutes? Cause if so, what a ripoff. Overall, he seems to be a talented piano player but I can’t see how he was considered a transcendent talent in his day or a pioneer of rock music when there were so many before him doing what he does better. 6.5/10
Good Stuff!
Upbeat
Great balls of fire LIVE??!
Had a long rant about live albums before, so not going to say anything about that here. I think this type of music can slot in when in certain moods, and the concert is no doubt a real good one, Jerry seems to be on fire and you can often hear the crowd go really wild as well. Watching it live I'm sure this would be very good and have gotten higher rating, but listening to it like this gets a bit messy.
Bouncy from the start... So divergent from the ballads and melodies of the fifties
It was quick, and kinda mumbled. I probably won’t seek it out, but it was enjoyable to listen to.
A fun live rock and roll live recording from one of the very greats of the era. Even though the entire album is basically a re-jig of the blues scale, it still manages to be fun and make you want to get up and dance! Best: Great Balls of Fire Worst: Long, Tall Sally
Delivers what you expect
Probably won’t listen again
It’s weird, isn’t it, when prior knowledge informs your opinion. For lack of time and inclination, I knew nothing about Ryan Adams’ despicable behaviour or abuse allegations the other day. I based my score purely on listening to the songs. I don’t think my score would have been as positive had I known those things about him. People like Michael Jackson and today’s ‘interesting’ choice, pose more of a challenge. I know too much about them to judge them impartially. My mother is a huge rock ‘n’ roll fan and happily sings along to Jerry Lee Lewis without prejudice, or to be honest, thought. I, however, listen to these tracks and much as I appreciate they were groundbreaking and energetic and great tunes, my head rules my gut and thinks he was just a perverted nutter. I do love the song, Money, (That’s What I Want)’ but I think The Flying Lizards do it so much better.
No doubt Jerry Lee Lewis was exciting as hell in 1964, legendary for his live performances. His vocal range is limited, the set sounds quaint considering every song is an oldie, but back then, I can imagine this was electrifying. I expect there must be better sounding records, but this does capture the enthusiasm of the performance, and my foot was tapping throughout. Of course, there's the fact that he married his 13-year-old cousin, and given my last diatribe, does that exclude him from listening? I guess not. Maybe because they stayed together for so long? I don't know, but I gave this one a spin. For anyone interested, here's an obit I posted on the Disc Makers Blog. Jerry Lee Lewis, 87 Pianist, vocalist, songwriter — died of undisclosed causes, though he suffered from various ailments, including acute bronchitis, 10/28/22 With a career built in the late ‘50s, Jerry Lee Lewis was one part bible-school drop-out, one part boogie pianist, and two-parts rebel with a feverish belief in himself. His wild stage presence was born from his frustration with not being able to dance around with a guitar. In support of his first single, he jumped up mid-song, kicked his piano stool over, and stood up and played. Sam Phillips, record producer and owner of Sun Records, believed “the Killer” was the real thing and invested heavily in Lewis. It paid off — “Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On” was followed by “Great Balls of Fire” and “Breathless” as Lewis’ star rose high. That came to a sudden halt after he secretly married his 13-year-old cousin, which caused the banning of his records and a collapse in paying gigs. Lewis kept rocking, though, and built his career back up in the ‘70s and ‘80s, with his last release coming in 2014. Lewis was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in October 2022.
Pas mauvais, du rockabilly bien traditionnel. Faut donner à Jerry qu'il était trop solide en live. Mais ce n'est pas le genre d'album qui semble si mémorable en terme de live.
Decent live album
Even if I'm taking into account the runtimes of albums during the fifties and sixties, a 22-minute record sounds more like an E.P. to me. Plus, this is a live album, and I get the odd feeling that the writers of this list used it to sneak in a "best of" of sorts. Jerry Lee Lewis was an important figure in rock'n'roll, obviously, but for me, he was not an "album artist". Finally, this record came out in 1964, when Lewis was soon about to made irrelevant anyway. So I don't even need to point out the sort of deranged creep that he was to "cancel" him from my own list. I've got enough *other* reasons to do so. Still giving this record a 3/5 grade, though. As far as *essential* albums go, this one can't make the cut. But the performance in it sure was crazy as hell, I'm not denying anything about that. Number of albums left to review: 619 Number of albums from the list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 186 Albums from the list I *might* include in mine later on: 86 Albums from the list I will certainly *not* include in mine (many others are more essential to me): 116 (including this one)
This seems like a cocaine-fueled attempt at being cool again. Oh, wait - it is. Bobby Shad had the better performance in Walk Hard.
High energy live rock n roll baby.
A solid 22 minutes. Shame he was a pedophile.
No doubting the high energy and amazing performance of JLL in this landmark live album. I just wish it had deeper, fuller, less tinny sound. Makes me not really want to listen to it. Also his style is not really that appealing to me compared to my favourites of this period (Buddy Holly) 3.5 stars
Definitely a fun listen but I think Little Richard (and maybe some others?) have done it better. You play some old, classic well written songs with enough energy and it’ll turn out pretty well. 6/10
Worried my moods may be impacting my music enjoyment - would love to swing dance to this in person! Joyful everyday work listening, perhaps less so.
Great energy - 3 stars
Love the energy. See the album “The Killer Live 1964-1970” for a handful of songs (Mean Woman Blues, What’d I Say, Hound Dog) from the show that aren’t included on the album linked to Spotify. +1 for Money and Your Cheating Heart.
Jerry Lee Lewis stint to this German club sees him hitting the piano almost as violently as he was hitting his underage cousin-wife. Bet let’s try to set that aside for a while and focus on the music. JLL is in the zone on this live recording and the band plays focused and almost aggressively fast-paced. The main character delivers a powerful vocal performance and it’s evident from the cheering and shouting that the audience got exactly what they came for. Almost 60 years after I don’t feel half the effect that those people did back in the club. But I can’t help to admire the sheer force of entertainment that is Jerry Lee Lewis either. Did I mention that he married his 13 year old cousin?
"The Killer"! I'm not crazy about his voice, to be honest, but there's no denying he can get those keys rollicking. And the album certainly doesn't outstay its welcome, at a tight 22 minutes (edit: I see now that the album should be 37 minutes, but it appears Spotify is missing five tracks). A decent listen, if not something I'll be rushing back to listen to.
Goodness gracious great balls of fire! Honestly pretty fun live album. Sounds like a fun concert. Too bad he married his 13 year old cousin.
I tell you what, after a few shandies I would have had a good go at this Star Club gig.
Good time. Few pints at this gig and it would go off. Very Vic Reeves in Shooting Stars though I must say. Good times all round.
2.5, 3 for generosity's sake. It wasn't bad but it all sounded alike. I actually listened to the album 1.5 times before I had realized my transgression
Gotta give it up for the energy. I do think it’s funny how relieved the crowd was when he played great balls of fire. All of these are the same song but it’s a fun 20 minutes.
This man was a racist pedophile who married seven times including his 3rd wife, also his thirteen year old cousin. Creep. Also, possibly a murderer. He hated black people while building his entire career off of black musicians’ skill, talent and innovation. He died around 5 months ago and I don’t think the world is particularly worse off as a result! Didn’t like his voice and don’t think this was much different at it’s core from other music of the same rockabilly honky-tonk style genre (half the songs basically sounded the same, like Elvis but drunk). However I can certainly see how this live performance influenced rock and roll for years and years to come. To summarise: he rocked out. Won’t be listening again as this isn’t really my genre of choice and… there’s only so far I can go with the “separate the art from the artist” thing. Best tracks: Money, Great Balls Of Fire, Good Golly Miss Molly, Lewis’ Boogie Worst tracks: School Confidential, Your Cheating Heart
Some fiery live renditions of Jerry's hits, chief attraction being his rolling striding piano, a thing of much joy. At 24 mins is it the shortest album on the list?
Quick, crisp oldies rock
High energy, fun, but not totally compelling for me.
Not bad, but not for me.
Halva albumet verkar ha försvunnit från Spotify? Jag orkar tyvärr inte leta fram hela. Jag fattar grejen. Eller, I get the gist of it, som man säger i Amerika. EXTREmt tempo, känner Jerry Lee Lewis svettdroppar stänkas från bakom pianot genom högtalarna. Har inte trott att rockabilly någonsin skulle kunna vara något för mig, men måste erkänna att jag skulle älskat att vara i publiken under denna konsert. Och, det låter på inspelningen som att publiken älskade att vara just där. Star Club. Hamburg. Shit va. Bästa låt: Good Golly, Miss Molly.
Glad it was only 22 mins, influential rock and roller but his voice got to me after 1 song
Highlights: "Long Tall Sally," "Great Balls of Fire" This is the energy level you expect of rock music, which gets lost in the studio recordings of the time. Good listen for anyone that thinks of twelve bar blues as stiff. Lewis' vocal delivery is probably the weak point here! The drummer and pianist are actively trying to destroy their instruments. Plenty of rushing. Short and sweet.
Insane energy, by far the most energetic live album I've heard and it's both intimate and loud.
Lots of energy. So he could perform. Judging solely off of art, I’d give this a 3 on my scale. It’s just OK. Highlights: -
This would have been a blast to attend, but limited appeal on an album
He was always the 'white Little Richard', but I played Good golly miss Molly back to back with Little Richard's version and Jerry Lee is tame by comparison. He was already past his best when this was recorded and he sounds a bit jaded - even Whole lotta shakin' is laboured - but Little Richard was always head and shoulders above him anyway.
Undeniably frenzied rock 'n' roll performed by an undeniable bad egg.
There was certainly a lot of energy in this performance, but I have never been a fan of Jerry Lee Lewis’ music and I still am not a fan. Meh.
I normally judge just based on the music, but I'll make an exception here. Would get a 4, but Jerry seemed like a real piece of work...
I don't feel good giving this anything but a 3. On one hand, the performance is great, and a tight album. But on the other hand, it was frankly same throughout. And also the dude was a bona-fide nasty creature.
Föredömligt kort men nyttig historielektion
Good old rock and roll
Als je erbij was, was het legendarisch. Ik was er niet, ik had die dag wat anders. De versie op Spotify is 22 minuten en dan is het een wel leuke cafeïnepil zo op de vroege ochtend. Iedereen die meedoet beheerst z'n instrument tot in de puntjes. 3 tot 4 sterren.
Another questionable character but can't deny his talent, singing some excellent songs. And only 22 minutes. Best song is Money.
High energy
Massor av klassiska låtar. Mer rock'n roll blir det inte. Fast jag är inte så glad åt liveplattor. Det ska man uppleva på plats.
Interesting, like historically, but not something I'll listen to again
This album is ok. It's short and sweet, but all the songs blend into one, they all sound so similar. Because the album is so short, it doesn't bother as much, but I probably wouldn't be able to distinguish one song from another. Favorite song: Money, only one that has a different sound Worst song: Long Tall Sally, idk
decent live album.
A quick short album of great piano hits. Jerry Lee Lewis makes some great hits and jams on the keys. I enjoyed this album but the songs were relatively quick and the run time is only like 22 minutes. Would’ve preferred more. 7.2/10
Here’s Jerry Lee Lewis, possibly at the peak of his rock&roll capabilities, touring in Europe (while disgraced in the USA after eloping with his cousin’s 13 year old daughter, his 3rd of 7 marriages). Once again, hard to separate the man from the music. But I listened before reading, and was indeed impressed by the energy. Less so by the songs, which suffered by comparison with the Beatles versions (in all 3 cases, 2 of them also from live recordings). Worth heading, yes, but no reason for me to come back.
Bad quality but great music - remastered version would be great
Struggled to understand about 60% of what he sang, but quite enjoyed it overall. Lots more energy than I expected and enjoyed it more as it went on. Can’t shake the fact he’s a wrong’un though
It was alright, not a huge fan of elvis-era "rock n roll" but it was fairly enjoyable
A super short album but had some enjoyable rock n roll. I'm not a fan of live albums but this one sounded quite balanced between the vocals and instruments.
Classic rock and a good sounding live performance. Not really my thing but recognised most of the songs. This type of rock doesn't really exist anymore. However, unfortunately it seems he is a piece of shit....
Hög energi, rock'n'roll!
This is a really engaging and entertaining live set. A lot of established classics performed well. Shame about the performer 3/5
Okay
Surprisingly fun but short and repetitive. Can feel the energy of excitement around the new rock and roll sound
3.5/5
This isn't what I would listen to all the time but there's a lot of energy in this performance and this is what was being done in 1964. He influenced the Beatles and so many more.
Great balls of fire, feel like he was the slipknot of his day!!!
Electrifying energy from a damaged and damaging character
Controversies aside, his music performance could certainly bring a room alive. Wild, energetic and audacious. Still, controversies, eh!
3 I like a handful of JLL songs and while this started of pretty strong with solid energy, I was pretty over it by the end. The songs I was excited to hear all were better originally. Nothing special. Favorites: High School Confidential, Great Balls of Fire, Good Golly Miss Molly, Lewis Boogie
3.5 This must have been a super fun concert to be at, and I can only imagine the energy in the crowd as Jerry Lee Lewis performed. Much like James Brown and Sam Cooke’s live albums, the energy Lewis put into his performance is palpable, though I didn’t feel like this album in particular was able to capture the performer/audience relationship that benefitted and personified the aforementioned greatly. It also didn’t feel quite as rounded as Brown’s and Cooke’s albums, though you can definitely hear their influence on him (with a splash of Elvis for good measure as well). Fun through and through, but didn’t blow me away. Favorite songs: Mean Woman Blues, High School Confidential, What’d I Say
09/27/2022 Retrospective listen, haven’t been keeping up with these like I should :( This album was fun! Lots of songs I’m familiar with. Didn’t blow me out of the water, but it didn’t suck either. Seems like Jerry lee Lewis was a pretty hip white dude back in the day. I like listening to 50s music sometimes bc I think about how my grandparents were listening to the same songs decades ago :’) it makes me feel closer to them in some way. — Today was alright, but my favorite thing was that I came HOME after studio and got to be in my apartment and feel like a person. Presentation tomorrow on the Stockholm public library and the municipal library in Portugal ugh… just want the weekend to be here already
Killer piano Definitely would have lost my mind at this concert listening to him play. Very well recorded album that I can easily put myself in the room where lewis is playing. 3/5 bc no one would have cared about this album if it wasn't on this list published in 2005. There's music from this time period that remains relevant and aged better. Top review is "4/5 not bad for a pedo" should tell you everything you need to know.
Hresst, en öll lögin hljóma eins og hann er barnaníðingur.
Great Balls of Fire is a fun song, and the others are pretty good. Can’t support Lewis though.
Great live album, man is a wazzard on the keys, shame he was a nonce.
Streaming services do not have this whole record available, I assume it's performance royalty issues on some of the cover songs, but was able to find a playlist on YouTube and soldiered through despite the occasional ad to skip through. This album rips! Pretty energetic from the performer and the crowd, and very distinctly rock n roll, which is not really what I was expecting.
Powiew swiezosci z old skulowym rock&rollem w wykonaniu pana Jerrego Lee Lewisa, krazek z 64, bedacy zapisaem wystepu z star clubu w hamburgu, pan Lewis poza wokalami na plycie udziela sie rowniez na pianinie, ktorego brzmienie jest centralnym punktem albumu, towarzysza mu The Nashville Teens w skladzie elektrykowa gitara, bas i drumy, wiekszosc granego materialu to klasyki rocka lub rockabilly, zagrane w bardzo zywym wykonaniu, jakosc nagrania rowniez wyjatkowo dopisala jesli patrzec na rocznik, jest tutaj wszystko co powinno byc na takim nagraniu, czyste instrumenty i sluchalny wokal pelny zycia, kontakt z publicznoscia nawet jest, ale nie ma halasowania z drugiej strony, wiec dobrze zrobione cuty, ze slychac to co trzeba, a nie wszystko i nic, jakosciowe nagranie zamykajace sie w 37 minutach, na plejke raczej nic nie dodam, bo jednak livowy material, ale raczej bede pozytywnie wspominal dzisiejszego picka
Non stop audio assault. Relentless energy start to finish. It must have been something to have been there to see this man live. He went 100 miles an hour his whole life and didn't care who he pissed off.
Super fun album. Felt like I was there and could see it being a blast. However he pretty much just a cover artist soo 3/5. I’d listen to it again if it was on.
It would have been wild to have seen this live.
60+ years of great music to choose from with many, many studio albums and they pick a live album from the 60's that sounds like it was recorded by some guy holding a microphone stageside
Good, not great.
Spiraling madness turned absolute classic. Rock n' roll broke ground for generations of music, while this is not my cup of tea, one has to resonate in the shear musical talent these pioneers cultivated. It's too bad this guy is labeled for eternity as a creep...
He was a talent and a showman. A good blast from the past but not something I’d seek out. Average 3*
Yeah it rocks a lot
Jerry Lee Lewis is awesome - this as an album is average. The songs are good the performance nice and raw but nothing to write home about - though I like the fact it’s a short 24min.
pretty fun hard to separate how much is being stolen from the art though 3.5
I know of Jerry Lee Lewis, but I don't think I've listened to a full album from Lewis before. For a live album, Live At The Star Club, Hamburg is pretty good. The energy that Lewis puts into a performance is clearly displayed. Most of the music is pretty good. "Mean Woman Blues" is a prime example of why I'm not quite sure what to do with Lewis. For a piece of music history this listen was a good experience but I'm guessing I won't come back for a re-listen.
So I guess I know most of these songs 😅
Enjoy the originals more but still fun and nice and short
Prefer the originals of most of the songs but still good to have a little bop to
He sounds kind of funny to me. But it’s nice and short eh
I like this music but it’s getting samey.
Surprisingly enjoyable. Actually scratches the rock 'n roll itch way more effectively than Elvis.
It's got a tremendous amount of energy but that doesn't make up for the fact that I just don't like this style of music much.
It's like that scene in Back to the Future "Your kids are gunna love this" A great performance indeed.
Great showman, energetic rockabilly. Blessedly short.
Definitely some old rock & roll classics on here and would be great for something like a honky tonk bar, or live music at a lively bar. Without that setting its not something i'd regularly listen to, but would be very enjoyable with the right setting.
It is clear why this live album has status but I am not convinced live albums should belong to the list - this and the overfamiliarity of the material (I dont think I will listen to it again) make the album a bit hard to rate..
No denying the force. Kooky guy. One of those shows that would be great to say "I was there". Even tho I wasn't born yet.
fun live album, good job Jerry.
bara fínt sko
This was actually surprisingly fun, considering I usually loathe live albums (screaming, clapping, generally worse singing). Veered dangerously close to country (Your Cheating Heart) and of course there's the whole pedophile thing... Purely musically, I enjoyed the album, but I'm still not sure I'd put it on again (see: screaming, clapping).
Pretty fun, but feels stale for 64. Wonder why they didn't choose something from earlier in his career?
The energy from Jerry Lee Lewis is the sole reason why I think this album should be on this list. The songs are mainly covers with some duds in this 22 minute album, and the vocal range of Lewis isn't great, but my god it's an entertaining ride for the most part and the piano skills on him is very good. So summarised its an entertaining but unoriginal album.
Bello, sinceramente mi aspettavo un po' meglio, però ci sono dei pezzi veramente godibili. 3/4
Classic Rock'n'Roll/blues live album. Nicely played and great energy. Only problem is the lack of variation, which prevents this from being a truly great album. 3/5
3?
I never cared a great deal for JLL's style, but always recognized that it was a significant contribution. It was a fun listen.
Lively. Interesting backstory
An entertaining listen and great performance from Jerry Lee Lewis and his band, but my stance on live albums being included on this list still stands. There are a lot of catchy songs here that are full of energy that can't always be captured within a studio environment; however, these are all songs that already existed through very solid recordings by both Lewis and other artists at the time (there are way too many covers here considering the album's short length). Overall, this is a good live album from one of the most memorable acts of the 1950's, but I don't see myself coming back to it again. 3/5.
Teetering on the edge of chaos for 40mins without ever completely losing it. This is that real, scare your parents, start a riot, lose your mind rock and roll that few will ever equal (sorry Beatles)!
I have heard of Jerry Lee Lewis, but I have never been a fan. The album was okay. It was some energetic early rock-n-roll. I am sure there was crazy dancing and partying in the place. Just not enough in the music to make it not sound like Jerry Lee Lewis.
Exploding with energy, nice songs (especially the covers...). Ultimately, though, it's hard for "piano driven music" to really get to me.
Enjoyable, but probably won't go back and re-listen to it.
This is how a classic rock'n'roll album should be: recorded live in front of an enthusiastic audience, and over in under 23 minutes. Well played.
he stole rock n roll!
Bit of weird guy. But he can play a piano kinda like it.
20 minutes long. It is exactly what you’d expect.
Idk ok i guess
Great, but he was a loon.
3.3 - High energy performance of what I think is mostly rock ‘n’ roll covers of the day. Interesting as a timepiece and solid as a recording but nothing mind-blowing.
Wow this is fun. Full energy live Jerry Lee, what's not to like? There's a reason why people call this guy "Killer," and this is Exhibit A. Lean, mean, foundational rock and roll. Fave Songs: Long Tall Sally, Great Balls of Fire, High School Confidential
Una presentación en vivo bastante corta. Buena ejecución y buenas canciones pero hasta ahí. A veces no se entiende qué está cantando. Songs: Your Cheating Heart, High School Confidential, Great Balls of Fire
Ok, yeah it's great rock and roll. But, seriously, a song called "High School Confidential" by a guy who married his 13 year old cousin? That's f'd up. Deducting 1 star for creepiness.
Good energy but super short! I feel like the fans at this live show got shafted.
High quality recording of some classic songs. Has aged a bit but a fun little bop.
So much energy! Songs are lively, driven by heavy piano, Jerry’s awesome raspy voice hammering out punchy rhythms, and winding bass lines. Liked this a lot.
rock and roll, fast loud, but a bit boring and not the best sound
6/10
Big energy and all about the top gun reference
Auch Rock‘n‘Roll ist ja nun nicht gerade mein Steckenpferd. Hier ist der zeitliche Kontext ebenfalls wieder interessant: Album ist von 1964, als die Hochzeit des Rock‘n‘Roll längst vorüber war. Und da sitzt ein Mann am Klavier und rockt. Muss man so auch erst mal hinkriegen.
The mix is terrible but IT DOESN'T MATTER because this is pure amphetamine rock 'n' roll. Jerry Lee Lewis is an absolute madman, and a 12-bar blues never sounded so fuckin' wild. Completely unhinged, and I'd've been disappointed if it was any other way.
A rip-roaring tour through the high points of rock and roll: raw, raunchy and demanding to be played loud. Adrenaline courses through the whole performance and the songs really benefit from a live recording, where they aren't stifled by any limitations of the studio at the time. "Good Golly Miss Molly" and "Money" in particular felt like they could raise the dead. Ultimately though, I couldn't escape the feeling that on record, it's all style and not loads of substance (a statement to enrage the guardians of old time rock and roll). Yes, it's a relentless, thrilling performance. Yes, I'm sure it was an amazing night for everyone at the Star Club, and yes, of course I wish I'd been there. But it's all about the electric atmosphere. Once you've heard this riotous take on one or two rock and roll numbers, there isn't much else to be uncovered. Everything is pumped up to 11, the piano is by and large the only instrument to be foregrounded, and every solo on there is a massacre of repeated notes and frenzied glissandos. It's wild, but some more light and shade (beyond "slowing it down" with "Your Cheatin' Heart") would have helped it as a listening experience. Live, this would very likely be a 5* gig. In the right mood, it would be a 4* album for me. It's an undeniably great starting point to unearth the spirit of rock and roll, and glimpse what it must have been like growing up as a teenager in the late 50's/early 60s. Oh, the wild abandon of it all!
It's short and sweet. It didn't blow my mind, and some of the mixing was weird with the guitar and bass seeming too quiet a lot of the time, but Jerry Lee is an undeniably great performer and that comes through here. Props to the drums for sounding deadly here too
Really happy musix
A zippy live album for sure. There's no dynamic contrast or distinction to be found, but the rollicking energy of Lewis and the crowd still provide an enjoyable listen.
More artists should take note of the two minute songs and 22 minute album. It's like being ambushed by rock n' roll, it runs in, assaults you briefly, then disappears again. This guy must have been mindblowing in his time, but it's hard to escape what a terrible human he was. But still, catchy as hell throughout, a fun interlude.
Sweetness to my ears
Ihan vekkuli, mitäpä muuta sitä sanomaan...
Tiukkaa tykitystä. Ois ollu nastaa olla tolla keikalla, vaikka aika lyhyt oli. Kuitenkin sopiva.
Married his cousin, still rocks that piano
Classics, but live recordings are the worst
Its incredible how a live performance from nearly 60 years ago can make its way to streaming platforms with this level of sound quality. The energy contained on this album is extreme, the piano is killer, but Jerry Lee Lewis' voice on some songs is really not for me. I think being at the Star-Club in Hamburg at that time was a legendary experience, and I appreciate the fact that I can hear the best parts from that moment at any time. 3/5.
Classic songs, recording is a little rough and performance is a bit sloppy but love the energy. Would really be 2.5
The man sure can play the piano. He slurs the lyrics to most of the songs though.
Meh. My parents’ music and hard to look past the weird personal life.
I should preface my comments by saying I wasn't a hugeJerry Lee Lewis fan, but as far as a live album goes this album really captures the urgency and energy of early Rock and Roll! JLL pretty much destroys the piano the way he is pounding out the songs and the urgency behind his delivery. At the time this was recorded JLL pretty much was running out of favour in the U.S. market but not so in Europe. People were still hungry to hear early Rock and Roll from the U.S., especially in a small club. The energy between the artist and audience is intense! The piano and drums take center stage in the mix, maybe to much so, but that is a minor complaint considering this was straight in your face Rock and Roll. I love the way he delivers Your Cheating Heart and feel that this is more the lane that he is best suited for, country honky tonk with a touch of blues. He ended up going in that direction later producing some of his best stuff. Favorite Songs: Your Cheatin Heart and Lewis Boogie. Give it a 3.5
Really surprising addition to this list, but I'm glad they did. This album is electric, and Jerry Lee Lewis' backing band somehow manages to match his energy. It's essentially a greatest hits record, which Lewis keeping the set short, and the backing band keeping things loose, but on the edge of things falling into chaos. Fav Tracks: Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On, Long Tall Sally and Great Balls of Fire Rating: 3.5/5