Reviewed by Dave Brassington

Anyone who has charted the six decade long career of Jerry Lee will know that the rock and roll pioneer has long been tortured by spiritual guilt. With the emergence of this album, recorded in a Memphis church in 1971, it becomes clear that for a period at least Jerry Lee left the drugs, sex and rock 'n' roll lifestyle and returned to the warm embrace of the Church. These rough and ready recordings lay in obscurity for many years and Bear Family Records are to be congratulated for rescuing them. What they show is Jerry Lee running through voice and piano renditions of many country and Southern gospel oldies. His versions of "Looking For A City", "Life's Railway To Heaven", "On The Jericho Road" and Albert Brumley's immortal "I'll Fly Away" are all sung with passionate aplomb and his take of "I'm Longing For Home" is genuinely moving. Maybe his piano isn't as unrestrained as that heard on many of his rockabilly hits but it still emotes a joyful air while his singing rings with conviction. In truth the rather crude recording quality and the fact that there is no band accompaniment means that musically this isn't going to compete with either his best studio tracks (those classics he once cut for Sun) or his best live album (the mighty 'Live At The Star Club, Hamburg) but with copious sleevenotes this is still a valuable historical document as well as being a fascinating glimpse of a singer momentarily at least finding rest for his troubled soul. Here's hoping that one day he will again return to the arms of the one in whom he half believes.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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