Jerry Lee Lewis – Breathless

After this song his career started a decline but you could not keep this man down. He would reemerge and have a country hit filled 60s and 70s. The song swings and jumps like Jerry Lee did.

This one was released in 1958 and it peaked at #7 on the Billboard 100, #4 on the Billboard Country Charts, #3 on the R&B Charts, and #8 in the UK. It was released shortly before High School Confidential. Elvis may have had a dangerous reputation but he wasn’t…Jerry Lee was the real deal. If there was ever a wildman of rock…this man would win first prize.

We know most of the stories but forget those. It’s the music that he is remembered for. He helped shape rock and roll and it is still felt to this day. His songs even feel dangerous…he had swing in his music that carried it. He kept the same in his country songs as well.

His piano playing was different than most. He kept a boogie pattern in everything he did. He was influenced by diverse artists such as Al Jolson, Jimmie Rodgers, Hank Williams, Pentecostal preachers, and rhythm and blues music. You combine all of that and you have Jerry Lee Lewis.

On a side note…if you want to hear one of the best live albums ever…give Jerry Lee Lewis, ‘Live at the Star Club, Hamburg’ (1964) a try. It’s the same club that The Beatles played a little earlier.

Jerry Lee Lewis: “I was reading a lot of magazines about Sam Phillips and Sun Records … so I told my dad, this is the man we need to go see. And we did. We drove down from Ferriday into Memphis and pulled up in front of Sun Records. I came in and auditioned for Jack Clement, who said I could never make it playing the piano. He said rock ’n’ roll was out, cause Elvis had it all tied up. He said I could forget that. Well, I said, ‘I don’t think so.’ I said, ‘I’m a hit.’ He said, ‘They all say that, son.’ I said, ‘I’m not all. I’m different.’”

Here is another version by X.

Breathless

Now, if you love meLet’s please don’t teaseIf I can hold you thenLet me squeeze

My heart goes ’round and ’roundMy love comes a-tumblin’ downYou leave meAhhhhh, breathless-ah

Well, I shake all over andYou know whyI’m sure it’s love, honeyThat’s no lie‘Cause when you call my nameYou know I burn like wood in flameYou leave meAhhhhh, breathless

Ooh, baby! Mm-mm, crazy!You’re much too muchHoney, I can’t love you enoughNow, it’s all right to hold me tightBut when you love meLove me right

Oh, come on, babyNow, don’t be shyThis love was meant for you and IWind, rain, sleet or snowI’m gonna be wherever you goYou have left meAhhhh, breathless-ah

Oh, keep it goin’

Well, ooh, baby! Mmm-mmm, crazy!You’re much too muchI can’t love you enoughWell, it’s all right to hold me tightBut when you love meLove me right

Well, come on, babyNow, don’t be shyLove was meant for you and IWind, rain, sleet or snowI’m a goin’ to b-be wherever you goYou leave meAhhhh, breathless

…

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Author: Badfinger (Max)

Power Pop fan, Baseball, Beatles, Alternative music, old movies, and tv show fan. Also anything to do with pop culture in the 60s and 70s... I'm also a songwriter, bass and guitar player. Not the slightest bit interested in politics at all.

25 thoughts on “Jerry Lee Lewis – Breathless”

  3. Great song and performance. Jeez, when Jerry Lee Lewis got going on his piano, it was almost like watching somebody who was possessed or something – borderline frightening! I believe there are stories he sometimes hit the keys so hard he broke a string. Obviously, piano strings are nowhere close to guitar strings.

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    2. Possessed is a great word in the best possible way! He did to a piano what Townshend did to a guitar…just agressive as you can possibly be! The man was pure rock and roll.

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    1. A blogger named Pam mentioned that on the X post a couple of weeks ago so I added it to this since I already had it written. It is a really good version.

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  10. One of my favorite Jerry Lee Lewis songs. And, yes, I love the X cover. I’m glad you used the Breathless movie montage, with Richard Gere. This was my introduction to the song and subsequently, to the OG 1960 film by Jean Luc Godard.

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