We continue our look back at the music of 50 years ago……
When Don McLean sang in American Pie about “the day the music died” he, of course was referring to the plane crash that killed Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and the Big Bopper. But he was also referring to what, in his mind was the death of the kind of music he grew up with. In 1972 many people were taking a look back. They were not enamored with glam rock or heavy metal or the more progressive elements in popular music. They wanted to re-live the days of their youth. You would soon see a full blown nostalgia craze with movies like American Graffiti and tv shows like Happy Days and Laverne & Shirley.
Now, many of the artists who had boomed in the late 50’s had all but disappeared. Yeah, Elvis was still around cranking out MOR stuff for his aging fans, but others had not been so fortunate.
In 1972, Jerry Lee Lewis, who had re-invented himself as a country artist, released an LP called ‘The Killer Rocks On”. It was his way of tapping into the 50’s nostalgia craze. It’s a mixed bag.
The stuff that works shows why Lewis was a star to begin with. The banging piano, the swagger in his voice…and that slightly lascivious edge he could give even the most innocent lyrics.
The oldies he pulls out and gives the Jerry Lee treatment include “Don’t Be Cruel,” “I’m Walkin”, “Lonely Weekends” and The Big Bopper’s “Chantilly Lace”.
He does attempt some newer material including two Joe South classics “Games People Play” and “Walk A Mile In My Shoes”. He also does a speeded up rock version of “Me & Bobby McGee” that doesnt work and a slowed down, countrypolitan version of the old chestnut “CC Rider”that sorta does.
My faves are when he gets soulful and pulls out the horns. “Turn on Your Love Light” is a perfect vehicle for him…and his re-make of his own song “Shotgun Man” cooks nicely.
Like I said in my earlier review of Elvis Presley’s 1972 LP, my friends and I did not have this stuff on our radar but I can imagine some older folks liked it
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