After Jerry Lee Lewis' sensational successes in the 1950s for the SUN Records label, things had quietened down for 'The Killer'. In 1958, the media and fans condemned his marriage to his underage cousin. In the spring of 1964, he toured the UK and Germany, playing in small clubs accompanied by local bands. In Hamburg, his energetic performance at the 'Star-Club' was recorded and released on LP - ranked 16th in Rolling Stone's 2015 list of the '50 Greatest Live Albums of All Time'! Just a few months later, on July 18, 1964, Jerry Lee Lewis performed at the 'Municipal Auditorium' in Birmingham, Alabama, in front of 15, 000 enthusiastic fans. Accompanied by his US tour band at the time, which later called itself The Memphis Beats (with James Hutcheson - guitar, Larry Nichols - organ, Herman Hawkins - bass guitar, and Morris Tarrant - drums), the 29-year-old pianist and singer set the stage on fire! Similar to the Nashville Teens in Hamburg, the Memphis Beats in Birmingham struggled to keep up with this burst of unbridled energy. The Star-Club album may sound a little more straightforward, but otherwise 'The Greatest Live Show On Earth' is quite comparable to the legendary record from Hamburg, pounding piano, raunchy and raucous vocals, great backing.
