Sun Years Vol.1, The (Original Sun Recordings)

This CD is a comprehensive collective of Jerry Lee Lewis' recordings from the height of his popularity in the late '50s. It includes such classics as "Great Balls of Fire" and "Whole Lot of Shakin' Goin' On." The only noticeable absence is "Breathless." While Lewis is best known for his rock & roll hits, he also had a career on the country charts, with music that in reality isn't all that different from his rock offerings. One of the more intriguing tracks on The Sun Years, Vol. 1 is a duet version of "Save the Last Dance for Me." While peaking at number 13 on the country charts at the time, the song has circulated through underground music circles because many assumed his partner in the duet was Elvis. However it was actually the voice of Orion a country singer whose biggest claim to fame was that he sounded exactly like the King. The album also contains numerous cover tunes, many of which weren't actually released by Sun, but were recorded during his tenure their, these include "Jailhouse Rock," "Don't Be Cruel," "Johnny Be Good" and "Ooby Dooby." While not quite Lewis' style, longtime fans will no doubt appreciate hearing his interpretations of these classics. ~ Curtis Zimmermann|