The induction of Jerry Lee Lewis into the Country Music Hall of Fame renewed interest in his 40th studio album “Mean Old Man.” Released on Verve Records in 2010, the album featured many collaborations with noteworthy musicians. The title track, “Mean Old Man” was written by Kris Kristofferson.
Jerry Lee Lewis was officially inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame on October 16, 2022 along with Joe Galante and the late Keith Whitley. Better late than never, I suppose. Unfortunately an illness kept him from attending the ceremony, but Kris Kristofferson was able to present Jerry Lee with the award later.
There have been but a few people in American music that have accomplished what he has. If you’re considering the legends still with us, he’s in a class alone. To borrow the title of the album immediately preceding this one, he’s “the last man standing.”
Jerry Lee Lewis is in a select group that effortlessly fits into the rock and country worlds. It’s nothing manufactured, it’s just how he is. Credited as a pioneer of rock and roll, his devoted fans also know that he can embody a country song like nobody’s business. Yet, he never gave up on rock either.
Jerry Lee Lewis never retired
His former drummer Tarp Tarrant said of him: “He was a rock star 24/7. You cant just put it on and take it off, you got to live it, eat it, sleep it, dream it, walk it and talk it.” You get the idea that the star role is something Jerry never shed. Even to this day. It wasn’t long ago, September 29th to be exact that Jerry Lee celebrated his 87th birthday. Nevertheless, he has a gospel album coming out soon. Few have that kind of longevity.
I’ve given a very close examination of Jerry Lee’s catalogue. I love it. That’s the most accurate way to put it. Going back to the 50s, Lewis has kept all of his records to a very high standard, but his most recent records are overlooked.
“Mean Old Man” was released in 2010
I’d like to take a close look at “Mean Old Man” in particular. Produced by the late Steve Bing and drummer Jim Keltner “Mean Old Man” came out in 2010, on Verve Records. The cover shows the Killer stepping out of an old car flanked by a couple of damsels. Although I enjoyed the album upon first listen, my appreciation for “Mean Old Man” has only grown through the years.
The deluxe edition of “Mean Old Man” has 18 tracks
Recommendation. If you’re going to listen to “Mean Old Man” go with the deluxe edition. It’s got some of the best tracks missing from the standard version. You’re going to hear 18 tracks, almost entirely featuring Jerry Lee Lewis joined by icons and stars ranging from Merle Haggard and Willie Nelson to Sheryl Crow and John Fogerty.
There’s a lot of country classics on “Mean Old Man.” Lewis has been familiar with a good number of these songs like “You Can Have Her” and “Release Me”for decades. Jerry Lee Lewis has tended to revisit material through the years, interpreting the same song different ways.
I was able to interview the legendary studio drummer Jim Keltner who co-produced the “Mean Old Man” album. Keltner remarked: “All the material he knew well enough that he was very much at home with.” In listening to the songs, you’ll notice how relaxed Jerry Lee Lewis seemed.
Keltner went on to recall: “The actual tracking with Jerry Lee went a lot smoother than I expected.” The album was recorded across 2008 to early 2010. Sharing his opinion on the album, Keltner commented: “I’m proud of my work on those records. I’m proud of the way Jerry sang and played.”
There are some great duets on this album
Here are some of the tracks on “Mean Old Man” that I’ve come to really love.
On “Rocking My Life Away” he’s joined by Kid Rock with Slash on guitar. This is a Mack Vickery song, and not Jerry’s first attempt at the song. He did it with a different tempo back in 1979. This version has a live feel to it, with Kid Rock proclaiming his singing duet partner as “the real deal.”
“Hold You In My Heart” is an exemplar track on the album. Jerry’s playing and singing is great, but I think Shelby Lynne could have been a little more prominent like she was on the album that followed this one. They sing so well together.
Lewis was joined by well-known country singers
“Swinging Doors,” is an old Merle Haggard song. Merle Haggard and Jerry Lee Lewis were well suited duet partners. It makes me so glad they made this record, because it preserved duets like this. The same could be said of the pairing of Jerry and Willie Nelson on “Whiskey River.” I enjoyed “Whiskey River” so much so that I could imagine an entire collaborative album of Jerry Lee Lewis and Willie Nelson.
“Middle Age Crazy,” was written by the great Sonny Throckmorton. The song has great lyrics, and Jerry was still middle aged the first time he recorded it back in 1977 on his “Country Memories” record. On this version, he’s joined by Tim McGraw. I love the tune, but it feels like a bit of a duet mismatch.
Gillian Welch sings with Jerry on two songs
He sings the classic song “Please Release Me” with Gillian Welch. This old song has been done by so many great singers from Elvis Presley to Engelbert Humperdinck and quite a few country singers ranging from Ray Price and Dolly Parton to Johnny Paycheck. The song and Jerry Lee Lewis go way back. Jerry Lee has been known to rush his performances, something he is aware of. This is his third time recording it, the best interpretation, each version getting a slightly different tempo.
Welch joins Jerry Lee Lewis on “I Really Don’t Want to Know,” a song many associate with Les Paul and Mary Ford. Although the recording is high-fidelity, it’s dripping with sentimentality.
Jerry Lee Lewis knows his gospel
One thing is certain from this album: Jerry’s natural ability at performing gospel music. He introduces the song “Railroad to Heaven” as one he used to do when he was a kid at a small Assembly of God Church in Ferriday, Louisiana. With backup vocals from Solomon Burke, Jerry remarked “it was good then, and it’s good now.” His familiarity with the song is evident.
The group effort of “Will The Circle Be Unbroken” has even more meaning now that Jerry Lee Lewis is an inductee of the Country Music Hall of Fame. He’s joined by Mavis Staples, Robbie Robertson and Nils Lofgren.
If you like Jerry Lee Lewis’s interpretations of gospel music, you’re in luck. There’s a solo gospel record coming out soon. It’s been much anticipated.
“Miss the Mississippi and You” is the grand finale of the record
The absolute gem on the record is the last track “Miss the Mississippi and You.” It’s also the most pared-down—Jerry Lee Lewis alone, just piano and vocals. It’s a song most associated with Jimmie Rodgers, who recorded it back in 1932, 90 years ago.
It’s not a very well known song, but I think Jerry Lee has done it better than anybody, all by his lonesome. He’s made his home at the Lewis Ranch in Nesbit, Mississippi for more than 40 years. Jerry’s performance of this song is a heartfelt tribute to his longtime Magnolia State abode. Jerry Lee Lewis solo is an under appreciated listening experience, and I’m thrilled there will be more of it.
Jerry Lee Lewis’s later records will grow in esteem
Jerry Lee’s contemporaries left the world exceptional material. With Fats Domino, Little Richard and Chuck Berry no longer with us, Jerry Lee remains the last man standing. He’s the only survivor of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame’s inaugural 1986 class.
Although there is a tendency to pay attention to all of the records from the 50s and 60s, it’s certainly a mistake to overlook these star-studded later albums from Jerry Lee Lewis.
Producer Jim Keltner told me about how these 21st century records of Jerry Lee Lewis will perceived in years to come.He said: “Over time people will go, as times goes on, people will say: ’Jerry Lee Lewis’ Okay well, there he was when he was a a very, very young man. What did he do later on in life? And they’ll listen to those records and they’ll really love them.”
Give “Mean Old Man” a close listen. There’s plenty of brilliance, and nothing artificial. Despite all of Jerry Lee Lewis’s swagger and image, his music is at the forefront. Jerry Lee put it plainly: “I want ‘em to remember me simply for my music.”
Title: Mean Old Man
Artist: Jerry Lee Lewis
Producers: Steve Bing & Jim Keltner
Label: Verve
Release date: September 10, 2010
18 songs
