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.They say if he hadn’t married his 13 year old first cousin once removed,he would have been as big as Elvis.
While touring Britain in 1958 the news of what Jerry Lee Lewis had done broke worldwide,this led to tour cancellations,record contracts being torn up and radio stations refusing to play his songs.It was another ten years before he managed to re-establish himself again,this time as a Country Music star.
‘Great Balls of Fire’ was first heard in the 1957 black and white film ‘Disc Jockey Jamboree.’The film is famous for showcasing many of the days top acts including Fats Domino,Carl Perkins and Frankie Avalon lip-syncing their performances.
The song was co-written by Otis Blackwell(1931-2002) and Jack Hammer(1925-2016.) Blackwell is remembered as one of the greatest R&B songwriters of all time,some of his other classic compositions include,’All Shook Up,”Don’t Be Cruel,’ and ‘Return To Sender,’ all made famous by Elvis Presley,he also wrote ‘Fever,'(see also best songs 468.)
Lewis(see also best songs 678 and 362) recorded ‘Great Balls of Fire’ on October 8,1957 at the legendary ‘Sun Studio’ in Memphis,Tennessee.The bass player was Sidney Stokes and the drummer was session musician Larry Linn,Lewis has said of them,’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.’
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The countdown continues tomorrow at 1.0.pm.