Jerry Lee Lewis- Lucille- Memphis mid-’80s

One night back in the mid-’80s, Sounds Unreel Studio co-owner/recording engineer Don Smith found himself drinking in the same Southaven MS watering hole as rock’n’roll originator Jerry Lee Lewis. When last call was announced, Don felt the he had enough liquid courage to walk over, introduce himself, and invite the legendary performer to drop by Smith’s Midtown Memphis studio sometime.

“Why not now?” replied Lewis. Don was startled, as it was 2 a.m. and they both had been in this bar drinking all night. But unwilling to tell the legendary Rock and Roll Hall of Famer “Another time, maybe” for fear of losing a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, Smith obliged and Jerry Lee Lewis and a small entourage piled into the singer’s Rolls Royce and followed the suddenly sober recording engineer to the studio. Calling veteran bass player David Cochran and rousing drummer Chad Cromwell out of bed, Jerry Lee Lewis met the two bewildered musicians for the first time and laid down this incredible version of “Lucille” in one take, straight off the studio floor. This is proof positive that he indeed was The Killer. –Redbeard