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.’