Jerry Lee Lewis album to be released in September

It has been over half a century since true American original Jerry Lee Lewis first rocketed to the top of America’s pop, country and R&B charts with “Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On” and “Great Balls of Fire.” While those iconoclastic performances still define the essence of rock ‘n’ roll for millions, The Killer himself continues to thrill audiences around the world with his unique, scorching blend of rock, blues, country and gospel. Music icon Lewis will continue this legacy with his new CD, “Mean Old Man,” which was produced by Jim Keltner and Steve Bing in Memphis and LA, and is being released by Verve/Universal Music on September 7th. This is Lewis’s much-anticipated follow up to his 2006 release “Last Man Standing,” which continues to sell consistently with sales of over 500,000 worldwide.

“With a lifetime of triumph and tragedy to draw from, Jerry Lee Lewis sings and plays with the seasoned wisdom of a man who has seen it all and the savvy confidence of a performer who knows that music—and the emotional truths it carries—is the thing that matters most,” commented Bruce Resnikoff, President & CEO Verve/Universal Music Enterprises. “Verve/UMe is proud to be releasing Jerry Lee Lewis’ first new country-inspired CD in decades.”

In addition to Lewis’ many rock hits, he also paid homage to his deep country roots throughout his career. GRAMMY®, Lifetime Achievement winner and Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame inductee, Lewis has had over 30 Top 10 country hits including “Another Time, Another Place,” “To Make Love Sweeter For You,” “There Must Be More To Love Than This,” “Think About It Darlin’,” “What’s Made Milwaukee Famous (Has Made a Loser Out of Me),” “She Still Comes Around (To Love What’s Left of Me),” “Once More With Feeling,” “Would You Take Another Chance on Me” and “Me & Bobby McGee,” among others. “Mean Old Man” continues that spirit with a number of country influences as well as the compelling force of his signature rock, blues and gospel style.

Some of the greatest group of sidemen and women ever assembled join Lewis on the “Mean Old Man” 18-track deluxe and 10-track standard CDs. The following is a list of the tracks and the guests on each:

18-track deluxe
1. “Mean Old Man” w. Ronnie Wood (written by Kris Kristofferson)
2. “You Can Have Her” w. Eric Clapton/James Burton
3. “Dead Flowers” w. Mick Jagger
4. “Middle Age Crazy” w. Tim McGraw/Jon Brion
5. “Rockin’ My Life Away” w. Kid Rock/Slash
6. “You Are My Sunshine” w. Sheryl Crow/Jon Brion
7. “Swinging Doors” w. Merle Haggard/James Burton
8. “Hold You In My Heart” w. Shelby Lynne
9. “I Really Don’t Want To Know” w. Gillian Welch
10. “Railroad to Heaven” w. Solomon Burke
11. “Sweet Virginia” w. Keith Richards
12. “Roll Over Beethoven” w. Ringo Starr/John Mayer/Jon Brion
13. “Bad Moon Rising” w. John Fogerty
14. “Please Release Me” w. Gillian Welch
15. “Whiskey River” w. Willie Nelson
16. “Sunday Morning Coming Down”
17. “Will The Circle Be Unbroken” w. Mavis Staples/Robbie Robertson/Nils Lofgren
18. “Miss The Mississippi and You”

10-track standard
1. “Mean Old Man” w. Ronnie Wood (written by Kris Kristofferson)
2. “You Can Have Her” w. Eric Clapton/James Burton
3. “Sweet Virginia” w. Keith Richards
4. “Rockin My Life Away” w. Kid Rock/Slash
5. “Roll Over Beethoven” w. Ringo Starr/John Mayer/Jon Brion
6. “Bad Moon Rising” w. John Fogerty
7. “Dead Flowers” w. Mick Jagger
8. “You Are My Sunshine” w. Sheryl Crow/Jon Brion
9. “Whiskey River” w. Willie Nelson
10. “Middle Age Crazy” w. Tim McGraw/Jon Brion

iTunes Bonus track:
11. Here Comes That Rainbow w. Shelby Lynne

“Million Dollar Quartet” is a new Tony-nominated Broadway play inspired by the Memphis jam session in 1956 with Lewis, Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash and Carl Perkins. Actor Levi Kreis, playing Lewis, recently won a 2010 Tony Award for “Best Featured Actor in a Musical.”