Sam & Jerry Lee: Live Concert Gems

Posted: March 6th, 2026 | Filed under: Ruminations | 2 Comments »

You a rock & roller?

Itching for a fight?

You’re hangin’ with pals who love the tuneage as much as you do.

Here’s a sure fire starter.

Throw out a declaration, a definitive statement, a proclamation that XXXXXX is The Best Live Album of All Time.

Here’s a suggestion. For your own personal safety.

But sure to take a step back.

Hell hath no fury — to coin a phrase — like a lifer whose favorite has been dissed.

Trust me, I’ve been in a few of these colloquies. Kevlar vest not a bad idea.

It really is very personal, mostly subjective, though technical and creative standards are relevant.

If we have bands we love beyond any other, and they’ve made a  terrific live album, it surely rock(et)s to the top of our list.

Those best of lists Rolling Stone and Paste promulgate are nothing but conversation starters. I’ve been in more than a few of those. One time, I ended up in therapy, so exasperated was I. So scary my reaction. True,

So, yeah.

My list of Best of Best starts with Allman Brothers “Live at Fillmore.” And James Brown’s “Live at the Apollo.”

In recent times, I’ve come to the “conclusion” that Tedeschi Trucks Band’s “Layla Revisited” is the best set of music I’ve ever heard, live or recorded.

Thus the Best Ever.

Hold your horses, those of you in the “Kiss Rocks Vegas” camp. I will cede that’s just my opinion.

Sorta.

Today I toss out for your perusal, a couple of somewhat under the radar gems.

 * * * * *

First, Jerry Lee Lewis’s “Live at the Star-Club Hamburg” recorded in 1964.

It is relentless.

Just the conjured visual of the German youth moshpitting to The Killer brings a smile.

Here’s a video of Jerry Lee on a British TV show about a week before that gig in Hamburg.

It will give you a sense of the mayhem and crazy of Jerry Lee and his fans back when.

 * * * * *

Then there’s a stunning Sam Cooke set from 1963.

“Live at the Harlem Square Club” in Miami.

What sets this apart is how different Cooke’s performance is from his reputation as a smooth soulful crooner.

He’s all that, but this is juke joint Sam, rawer, workin’ to make it work.

Try to listen without getting up and dancing. I’ve never been able to.

This snippet will give you a sense of it.

 * * * * *

So, there ya go.

Check out the whole albums.

— c d kaplan

---