Jerry Lee Lewis
Album: I-40 Country/Odd Man In
Label: BGO
Tracks: 33
Website: http://www.bgo-records.com

A digitally re-mastered double package all on one disc, of the iconic Lewis's "I-40 Country" and "Odd Man In" 1974 and 1975 albums, and a fascinating glimpse into the musical schizophrenia that was besetting Jerry Lee during that period, along with his abuse of pills and booze.

"I-40 Country" at the time was seeing his hot streak on the country charts begin to cool, and that was hardly surprising as Lewis himself was becoming bored with the sickly schmaltzy sound that was by now dominating his albums, and the country scene in general. This album lacks energy, direction and it's clear three songs in that the great man is going through the commercial motions. Hard Country was being buried under a wash of saccharine strings and the more complicated the music, the less like Lewis it became.

"He Can't Fill My Shoes" made the Top 10 and "Tell Tale Signs" the Top 20, but their positions would be proof of the acceptance of soul-less country-by-numbers by Jerry Lee's legion of followers. And that is indeed the case for "I-40 Country" pretty much in its entirety.

However far you bury a legend under a blanket of production excess (and many regard the album as something of a low point in his career at Mercury), you just can't keep a good man down. On two songs, namely "The Alcohol Of Fame" and "Cold, Cold Morning Light" the old Jerry Lee is there. We get to hear him, no matter how ragged the edges and without his singing or playing being drenched in sweeping strings.

A year later and along comes "Odd Man In", and many heralded it as a return to form. And it's certainly true that this album is a lot more stripped back in its sound and production values. "Shake Rattle And Roll" and "Honey Hush" herald a revisiting to the house of good old fashioned rock n roll.

This incongruous follow up provides some strong newly written material, but also draws upon established trusted gems harking back to Jerry Lee's days at Sun, such as "Your Cheatin' Heart", "Goodnight Irene" and "The Crawdad Song". It's clear that on "Odd Man In" there is obviously a very much more spirited performance overall, which would suggest that Lewis was more engaged with the material and, perhaps, grateful for the fact that he didn't have to look over his piano towards half an orchestra on the other side of the studio!

Although "Odd Man In" became his worst performing Mercury album since 1965, it reflects more on the musical climate in the States at the time, where by this time he was as big a country music legend as he was a rock n roll icon. It is / was a return to some kind of roots sound, and ticks a fair number of boxes for Lewis's fans. In any event it was a vast improvement on "I-40 Country".

The accompanying liner notes by Andrew McRae are definitive in their song by song analysis and add hugely to what is an intriguing dual-package showcasing two completely different sides to "The Killer".

Ken Brown
www.squarerootspromotions.co.uk