CD Review: Last Man Standing

1) Rock and Roll
2) Before the Night is Over
3) Pink Cadillac
4) Evening Gown
5) You Don't Have To Go
6) Twilight
7) Travelin' Band
8) That Kind of Fool
9) Sweet Little Sixteen
10) Just a Bummin' Around
11) Honky Tonk Woman
12) What's Made Milwaukee Famous
13) Don't Be Ashamed Of Your Age
14) Couple More Years
15) Ol' Glory
16) Trouble In Mind
17) I Saw Her Standing There
18) Lost Highway
19) Hadacol Boogie
20) What Makes the Irish Heart Beat
21) The Pilgrim
After all these years, Jerry Lee Lewis has still got it. He may not be quite as wild as he was back in the early days of rock and roll, but he can still sing and bang that piano with the best of them. He proves that in this album of duets with everyone from Jimmy Page to Bruce Springsteen to the Rolling Stones.
Obviously, this legend, once a label mate of Elvis, Johnny Cash, Roy Orbison, and Carl Perkins, continues to record with good company. Despite all the big names on the back of the case, Jerry Lee remains the star. His yodel-like vocals are only slightly hampered by age, his keyboard virtuosity not hurt at all.
The biggest surprise of this disc is its diversity. The special guests are the cream of the country, rock, and blues crop. "You Don't Have To Go" is a blues jam with Neil Young, followed by a country ballad with Robbie Robertson, then a manic take on "Travelin' Band" with John Fogerty. Jerry Lee and Ringo channel Chuck Berry on "Sweet Little Sixteen". Then there's the rocking country version of "Honky Tonk Woman" with Kid Rock.
And the rockabilly. Oh, that rockabilly! After all those decades, Jerry Lee can still kick ass with killer versions of "Rock and Roll" with Jimmy Page and "I Saw Her Standing There" with Little Richard.
Isn't it amazing how Jerry Lee continues to record and tour so long after he achieved his stardom? He could have easily pulled a Sinatra and phoned it in for this record, but instead made it a classic. I give Last Man Standing five stars and Jerry Lee Lewis fifty bad ass points.
***** out of five