Maps of Music

Duets: Jerry Lee Lewis and Friends (1978)

Where the lyrics of Duets: Jerry Lee Lewis and Friends take you, and where it was really made.

Most of this duets album is Jerry Lee Lewis on old recordings, with a partner's voice overdubbed on top, and that partner was never credited.

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Duets: Jerry Lee Lewis and Friends, a 1978 album credited to Jerry Lee Lewis
Nine of eleven tracks are Lewis recordings from 1960–1962 sessions with overdubbed vocals
Two tracks are authentic duets of Lewis and Charlie Rich recorded in 1959
Released in mono; the Lewis Sun sessions from 1960 to 1963 were recorded in stereo
Credited producers Sam C. Phillips and Jack Clement; compilation producers Shelby S. Singleton and Jim Wilson
Lewis performs piano and vocals; audio remixer Bob Smith

Shelby Singleton devised the project around Lewis's Sun originals
Jimmy Ellis, described as perhaps the greatest Elvis impersonator, sang the overdubs
Ellis never recorded together with Lewis
Charlie Rich was not credited on the two duets
The album pairs Lewis with an uncredited partner on most tracks

The two duets were issued earlier: in 1970 without Rich's credit, and in 1975 on a compilation crediting him
Liner notes describe the sessions behind the tracks as unclear
The mono release may relate to the lack of stereo versions of the Rich duets

American country and rock and roll pianist, singer, and songwriter, nicknamed "The Killer".
Made first recordings in 1952 at Cosimo Matassa's J&M Studio in New Orleans; early Sun Records recordings in 1956 in Memphis.
1957 hit "Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On" brought worldwide fame; followed by "Great Balls of Fire", "Breathless", and "High School Confidential".
1964 live album Live at the Star Club, Hamburg is widely regarded as one of the greatest live rock albums.
Switched to country in 1968 with "Another Place, Another Time", which revived his career; 30 songs reached the Billboard country top 10 across his career.
Last Man Standing (2006) was his best-selling release; Mean Old Man (2010) was another major seller.
Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (1986) and the Country Music Hall of Fame (2022).

Solo artist; the Million Dollar Quartet session on Sun Records included Elvis Presley, Carl Perkins, and Johnny Cash.

Mojo called it a wonderful con devised by producer Shelby Singleton
Mojo said Singleton acquired Lewis's Sun originals and persuaded Jimmy Ellis, perhaps the greatest Elvis impersonator, to imitate The King
Mojo said overdubbing did the rest and that listeners were left open-mouthed
The album was issued in 1978, with nine of eleven tracks being Lewis recordings from 1960–1962 sessions overdubbed with new vocals
The other two tracks are Lewis and Charlie Rich duets recorded in 1959, first issued in 1970 without Rich's credit and in 1975 on a compilation crediting him
The album was released in mono, though the Lewis Sun sessions from 1960 to 1963 were recorded in stereo

The two 1959 duets with Charlie Rich were first issued in 1970 on another album without Rich's credit.
Ellis and Rich were not credited on this album, so both remain unnamed, mysterious partners.
Lewis's Sun sessions from 1960 to 1963 were recorded in stereo, yet this album came out in mono.
The source suggests the mono choice may be because the Rich duets had no stereo versions.
The 1975 compilation that credited Rich was the first release to name him on these duets.