THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

678-Jerry Lee Lewis-Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On.

1957-Number 8 single.

Best Bit-At 2.27. If I was Jerry Lee Lewis’ piano, I think I would be feeling abused.

Jerry Lee Lewis (see also best songs 362 and 99) was born on September 29th, 1935, in Ferriday, Louisiana, United States, on February 28th, 2019, he had a minor stroke, which caused him to cancel several appearances. He died on October 28th, 2022, at the age of 87. Jerry Lee Lewis was the last surviving member of the legendary ‘Million Dollar Quartet,’ who recorded for the ‘Sun Record’ label. On December 4, 1956, Elvis Presley (1935-1977) (see also best songs 954-664-442 and 194) dropped in on Sam Phillips, (1923-2003) the founder of ‘Sun Records,’ to pay a social visit while Carl Perkins (1932-1998) (see also best songs 664) was in the studio cutting new tracks with Jerry Lee Lewis, who was backing him on piano. Johnny Cash (1932-2003) (see also best songs 857 and 428) was also there watching Perkins. The four then started an impromptu jam session, and Sam Phillips left the tape running. These recordings were not made available until 1981, of which almost half were Gospel songs, and were released on CD as the ‘Million Dollar Quartet.’ These tracks also include Elvis Presley’s ‘Don’t Be Cruel,’ and ‘Paralyzed,’ and cover versions of Chuck Berry’s ‘Brown Eyed Handsome Man,’ and Pat Boone’s ‘Don’t Forbid Me.’

‘Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On’ was probably co-written by Dave ‘Curlee’ Williams, and James Faye ‘Roy’ Hall (1922-1984,) but it has always been open to dispute, as both have been solely named on various recordings. The reason probably being that Hall had to sign over the royalties from the song to his ex-wife, so legalities probably played a big part. The inspiration for ‘Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On’ came about when both were on vacation, Hall has said, ’We were down in Paokee, on Lake Okeechobee, out on a damn pond, fishin,’ and milkin’ snakes. This guy down there had a big bell that he’s ring to get us all to come in to dinner, an’ I’d call over and say, ’What’s goin’ on?’ Coloured guy said, ’We got twen’y-one drums, we got an old bass horn, an’ they even keepin’ time on a ding-ding,; see, that was the big bell they’d ring to get us t’come in.’

‘Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On’ was first recorded on March 21st, 1955, by the American R&B singer Big Maybelle, (1924-1972) on the ‘Okeh Record’ label, with the track being conducted and arranged by Quincy Jones. James Faye ‘Roy’ Hall recorded ‘Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On’ himself in September 1955, for ‘Decca Records,’ saying at the time that he had written it, and had secured the legal copyright as co-writer, under the pseudonym of ‘Sunny David.’

‘Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On’ was the second single released by Jerry Lee Lewis, from April 1957, it was issued as a stand alone single, before appearing on his compilation Album ‘Original Golden Hits, Vol. 1,’ in 1969. The song was issued on ‘Sun Records,’ with the writing credited to both Dave ‘Curlee’ Williams, and James Faye ‘Roy’ Hall. The production was by Jack Clement, (1931-2013) who produced for many of the legendary names on the ‘Sun Record’ label.

Jerry Lee Lewis had been performing ‘Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On’ for quite a while in his stage act before recording a studio version. Lewis radically changed the style of the song from how it was originally conceived, by adding ‘boogie piano,’ played by Lewis himself. The other performers on the track were J.M. Van Eaton, who played the drums, and Roland James, (1933-2013) who played the guitar. Jerry Lee Lewis who added some new suggestive lyrics, has said,’I knew it was a hit when I cut it. Sam Phillips thought it was gonna be too risqué, it couldn’t make it. If that’s risqué, well, I’m sorry.’

Jerry Lee Lewis is recognised as one of the first ‘Rock N’ Roll’ stars, and ‘Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On’ is recognised as one of the first ‘Rock N’ Roll’ breakthrough hits. Lewis and the song were propelled to stardom after Lewis’ ‘wild’ performance on the American variety television programme broadcast by ‘NBC,’ ‘The Steve Allen Show,’ in 1957. In America on the Billboard Hot 100 ‘Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On’ peaked at Number 3, and Number 1 on the magazine’s R&B record chart, it also reached Number 1 on the Billboard ‘Hot Country Songs’ chart.

‘Well, I said come on over baby, we got chicken in the barn. Come on over baby, I got the bull by the horns. We ain’t fakin, a whole lotta shakin’ goin’ on.’