Sujet: Reissue Desires: Linda Gail Lewis Dim 18 Mai 2008, 00:53
Reissue Desires: Linda Gail Lewis
May 15th, 2008 | 10:30 am est | Al Campbell
With the growl of Wanda Jackson, the controlled vigor of Patsy Cline and boogie woogie piano showmanship taught to her by older brother Jerry Lee Lewis, it’s hard to believe Linda Gail Lewis is not as revered as the aforementioned. In 1961, at the age of 14, Linda Gail was on the road providing backup vocals for Jerry Lee. By the late ’60s, she stepped into the spotlight and released two albums on Smash that unfortunately remain out of print: Two Sides of Linda Gail Lewis in 1969 and Together — with Jerry Lee — in 1970. The later disc produced a Top Ten single on the country chart, “Don’t Let Me Cross Over.” Just as her solo career was building, she pulled back, evidently content to keep out of the spotlight, but managing to record sporadically and play live gigs.
In 1993 Van Morrison met her at a Jerry Lee convention in South Wales, and having been a fan, proposed some casual gigs and studio time together. Years later, with little rehearsal or overdubs, Morrison released those sessions. You Win Again made it possible to discover, or rediscover, a strong, spirited vocalist that can still play boogie woogie piano with the best of ‘em. While Together was included in Bear Family’s massive 8 CD Jerry Lee Lewis boxset The Locust Years, fans await and look to labels like Collector’s Choice, Shout Factory, Rev-Ola or Collectables for a twofer of Together and Two Sides of Linda Gail Lewis. Much like Jerry Lee, and Van Morrison for that matter, Linda Gail can tackle rock, country, blues or gospel sung with the same Ferriday Louisiana magnitude of her older brother. Check out her version of “Rockin My Life Away.”
Sujet: Reissue Desires: Linda Gail Lewis 