Just when you thought he was wreaking havoc in a rest home somewhere, the
Killer is on the loose. Jerry Lee Lewis, the sole living member of the Million
Dollar Quartet and Class of 55, has emerged from the din with Last Man
Standing, his first new album in 10 years. But this is no ordinary
comeback record; Lewis has recruited a stellar, A-list cast of supporters to
give the 21-song collection a powerful kick in the ass.
When you have a Beatle, three Rolling Stones, the lead guitarists from Led
Zeppelin, Cream, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Buffalo Springfield, and the
Band, and then top it off with people like Willie Nelson, B.B. King, and Bruce
Springsteen — among many others — it’s unfeasible to even
consider that the results could possibly be less than super fantabulous. As
perhaps the best thing Lewis could have done at this stage in his illustrious
career, Last Man Standing comes very close.
Jimmy Page scratches out a fast and furious lick to start things off with the
Zeppelin classic “Rock And Roll,” but Lewis quickly takes the reins,
making the number his own as he modestly asks “for that good something-or-other
Louisiana loving.” He teams up with John Fogerty for a rousing rave-up
of Creedence’s “Travelin’ Band,” and joins the Boss
for a crack-whipping “Pink Cadillac.” Sptingsteen’s vocal
input is minimal, but it breathes with a subtlety that brings out the best in
Lewis’ twangy voice.
Lewis and Mick Jagger crone their way through “Evening Gown,” from
the latter’s 1993 solo album Wandering Spirit, with Ron
Wood adding some tasty slide guitar. The Stones affiliation carries over to
Mack Vickery’s “That Kind of Fool,” featuring a duet between
Lewis and Keith Richards, who’s even more buried in the mix than Springsteen.
But once again, the supportive role that Richards assumes provides a rigid foundation
for Lewis to float about in his own cosmic fascination without losing track
of where the hell the song is going.
Somehow, despite the fact that a Beatle (Ringo Starr) and a few Stones appear
on the record, none of them apparently got the call for “I Saw Her Standing
There” or “Honky Tonk Women.” Those honors fell upon Little
Richard and Kid Rock, respectively, with decidedly mixed results. The real heart
of the album resides in the country material. “Just A Bummin’ Around”
with Merle Haggard trots along like a well-tempered eel, while “Don’t
Be Ashamed Of Your Age” with Geroge Jones seemingly praises the benefits
of senior citizenship, eliciting a heart-stopping backbone that could hold both
singers in contempt.
After noble alliances with Willie Nelson, Eric Clapton, and Buddy Guy, Lewis
makes a major left turn when he slow dances the jig with Don Henley on Van Morrison’s
“The Irish Heart Beat.” The infectious, lilting Celtic wisp segues
superbly into “The Pilgrim Ch. 33,” a low-key lullaby that includes
Kris Kristofferson selectively chipping in when necessary. When all is heard
and evaluated, Last Man Standing is simply a remarkable achievement
for Jerry Lee Lewis, a 71-year-old man known for numerous controversial and
miscalculated career moves. The Killer can count his blessings he still has
his health, his marbles, and plenty of friends willing to lend a hand.
~ Shawn Perry
