'50's Good Music/Badboys: Elvis or Jerry Lee?

[Guest ncm2169]

While I will always enjoy Elvis' music, I will also always believe that Jerry Lee ought to have been "The Elvis."

 

IMO, Lewis had/still has more talent in his little finger and a far wider range - vocalist, pianist and guitarist - than Elvis.

 

There must be some other opinions here.

[+ purplekow]

While I will always enjoy Elvis' music, I will also always believe that Jerry Lee ought to have been "The Elvis."

 

IMO, Lewis had/still has more talent in his little finger and a far wider range - vocalist, pianist and guitarist - than Elvis.

 

There must be some other opinions here.

 

 

I believe that if they held a contest between the two today, that the results would be very close. Elvis has been dead for more than 30 years after all and I am sure his voice has suffered a bit.

[MsGuy]

While I will always enjoy Elvis' music, I will also always believe that Jerry Lee ought to have been "The Elvis."

 

IMO, Lewis had/still has more talent in his little finger and a far wider range - vocalist, pianist and guitarist - than Elvis.

 

There must be some other opinions here.

 

I grew up about 45 miles from Elvis' home and I have never undertood all the hoo-rah either. Elvis had a fine pop voice and a knack for selecting his singles, but that doesn't account for the craze. IMO, being a red hot hunk with great stage presence played some small part in his success.

 

Jerry Lee had talent dripping from every orifice, but mostly he refused to tone down his singles enough to get the radio play he deserved. And I suspect his raw edginess was a bit too scary for the teeny boppers that flocked to oogle Elvis. Given Jerry Lee's taste in wives, maybe they weren't too far off.

 

Off Topic: The Rev. Jimmy Swaggert was Lewis' close cousin. Jimmy also played a mean piano, sang well and could thump a Bible with the best of them. He was a real hoot healing the lame while speaking in tongues. Jimmy wasn't above praying on air for Jerry Lee to repent and find Jesus. Packs of his ministerial trainees used to stand outside French Quarter bars shouting down the gates of Hell. There were some really cute devils inside those gates. To me, well worth a 4 1/2 hour drive to New Orleans.

 

Ah, memories.

[Guest ncm2169]

< Rev. Jimmy Swaggert was Lewis' close cousin.

 

Isn't he still?

 

And, Mickey Gilley was/is yet another cousin of both, I believe.

 

I agree that Col. Parker likely saw Elvis "pushing the limits" of the time but still marketable, whereas Jerry would have broken all the barriers (or try to) and would have given both the good Colonel and the entire music industry major heartburn.

[JT Brooklyn]

I believe that if they held a contest between the two today, that the results would be very close. Elvis has been dead for more than 30 years after all and I am sure his voice has suffered a bit.

 

BUT oddly his Bank Account Carries on! So HE WINS!

[KMEM]

Yes, Jimmy Swaggert and Mickey Gilley and Jerry Lee Lewis are all cousins and from Ferriday, LA.

 

In the beginning Colonel Tom Parker did more for Elvis than Elvis did for him but on balance, Elvis did a LOT more for Parker than the reverse. What agent gets 50% of the proceeds? No one. But, Parker made that deal and Elvis never called him on it, although many friends suggested that he should. It is widely believed that Parker was in this country illegally and that is the reason that Elvis never toured Europe, except during his stint in the US Army when he was stationed in Germany.

 

I quite agree, Jerry Lee would probably win on talent today with Elvis' habit of hanging around donut shops ruining his voice. But, if money wins, Jerry Lee isn't even in the race.

 

Best regards,

KMEM

[SmallTownJohn]

Did Someone Mention Ferriday, Louisiana?

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lDRPsR86dII

[MsGuy]

< Rev. Jimmy Swaggert was Lewis' close cousin.

 

Isn't he still?

 

And, Mickey Gilley was/is yet another cousin of both, I believe.

 

I agree that Col. Parker likely saw Elvis "pushing the limits" of the time but still marketable, whereas Jerry would have broken all the barriers (or try to) and would have given both the good Colonel and the entire music industry major heartburn.

 

Yep, Jimmy's still above ground, still T.V. preaching & still has his Bible college. For some reason, I never remember Gilley being kin too.

 

Without claiming any inside knowledge, Jerry Lee strikes me as the kind of

'fuck you' redneck who would burn down his own barn with the mule still in it rather than bend a knee to anybody. Just not an easy to manage kind of guy. Judged on his own terms, he had a good career and, if memory serves, handed out plenty of heartburn along the way.

[kjun]

He is an asshole and never was a nice guy. I still enjoy his music.

[KMEM]

kjun-

 

You are correct and being polite. He was more like a runaway freight train in his personal as well as professional life. Bankrupt, using people, not honoring commitments, etc. and, as you say, an asshole. Still, made good music. I suppose history and Cleveland will make the next judgement.

 

Best regards,

KMEM

[MsGuy]

kjun-

 

You are correct and being polite. He was more like a runaway freight train in his personal as well as professional life. Bankrupt, using people, not honoring commitments, etc. and, as you say, an asshole. Still, made good music. I suppose history and Cleveland will make the next judgement.

 

Best regards,

KMEM

 

History and Cleveland have spoken. Jerry Lee was inducted in 1986 in the same class as Elvis and Little Richard.

 

I remember watching Elvis on the Sullivan show and wondering why all the adults were so upset with him. I also remember not having any doubt as to why grown-ups were getting so cranked up about Jerry Lee.

[KMEM]

I suppose I was too busy trying to make a living to notice back then. Thanks.

 

Best regards,

 

KMEM

[MsGuy]

I suppose I was too busy trying to make a living to notice back then. Thanks.

 

Best regards,

 

KMEM

 

Hell, KMEN, I can't remember what I ate for breakfast. I just googled the R&R web site. Tidbits: As a teener, Jerry Lee enrolled in and was expelled from the Southwest Ministerial Institute. And, per Wiki, Sam Phillips, producer for Jerry Lee & Elvis, tried to sign Swaggert to start a Gospel music line at Sun Records.

 

Maybe I'm starting to get the hang of this web stuff. Now if only I could figure out how to post a link. :o

[KMEM]

I usually just look at the front of my shirt. If it is yellow, I probably had eggs. If it has crumbs on it, I probably had toast. If it has syrup on it, I probably had pancakes or waffles.

 

Best regards,

KMEM

[orbital sander]

Thank you so much for this thread.....

 

I am so happy, all of this shit is way before my time.

Perhaps I can get an opinion out of my mom. I will be happy to share that most of the musicians I like credit Elvis or the Beatles (who often credited Elvis) more than anyone else.

Now all you oldies go have a water bottle and a nap

[KMEM]

If you didn't like the thread, why did you read it, much less post on it?

 

As far as being old, you have two choices: grow old one day or die young. What is your choice?

 

Best regards,

 

KMEM

[orbital sander]

If you didn't like the thread, why did you read it, much less post on it?

 

As far as being old, you have two choices: grow old one day or die young. What is your choice?

 

Best regards,

 

KMEM

 

I loved the thread...perhaps you missed the smile Icon at the end of the posting...

 

Jesus Christ......

[MsGuy]

I usually just look at the front of my shirt. If it is yellow, I probably had eggs. If it has crumbs on it, I probably had toast. If it has syrup on it, I probably had pancakes or waffles.

 

Best regards,

KMEM

 

I happily used your method for years, until some young fart like O. Sander pointed out I was forgetting to change my shirt.

 

Now, if I can just find my water bottle, I need to take a nap break.

 

I know I had it. It was right here. Somewhere.

 

Looking...

 

Looking...

 

Still looking...

 

Will one of you nice people please remind me what I was looking for?

[KMEM]

I loved the thread...perhaps you missed the smile Icon at the end of the posting...

 

Jesus Christ......

 

I didn't miss what I considered disparagement at the beginning of the post and it could be that I thought the smilie mocking rather than in fun. Sorry if I misunderstood you. One only has the words without much knowledge of the poster, smilies or not.

 

Maybe that is what happens when one is suddenly awakened from a nap, so be careful of old folks. Did you understand that smilie?

 

Best regards,

KMEM