Rock and Roll Better for Country Music
Jerry Lee Lewis was embraced not only in country music but also in the rock and roll industry. After a year and eight months when Elvis left Sun Records, Lewis entered the Billboard’s Hot 100 and the Billboard’s Country Charts simultaneously. It was with his hit “Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On” back in June of 1957. Even though his talent in piano was considered revolutionary in rock, his materials were rared better on the country music playlist. “Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On” landed on the No. 3 and his follow-up, “Great Balls Of Fire” managed to finish at the No. 2 spot. However, these songs reached more than it was supposed to in the country music charts, it reached No. 1. Both held the position of being No. 1 for two weeks. Back in 1958, Jerry Lee Lewis added two more Top Ten singles, “Breathless” and “High School Confidential.”
When Down, the Only Way is Up
After the two Top Ten, there was “The Killer.” Its momentum, however, soon dissipated because of his third marriage. It was his marriage with his thirteen-year-old second cousin, Myra Gail Brown. Because of this moral issue, he became a disgrace to the music world. It’s how the moral of the 21st century declined, If Jerry Lee Lewis has done that thing today he would’ve been like Hugh Hefner.
Putting that thought aside, before, things were different. Artist and performers alike were expected to behave themselves so as not to suffer the wrath of bad judgment and criticism. His concerts were canceled and he had negative publicity all over the place. It took about eight full years for Lewis to get completely out of that controversy. Then he finally recorded songs again. He signed with Smash Label and committed himself to record specifically for the country music industry.
Jerry Lee Lewis scored his first country hit in 1968, “Another Place, Another Time” which manage to land in the 4th spot on the charts. He followed it up with three compositions of Glenn Sutton, “What’s Made Milwaukee Famous (Has Made A Loser Out Of Me)” and “She Still Comes Around,” both finishing at #2. “To Make Love Sweeter For You” finally brought him back to the top. It was after eleven years since his last number one.
A Great Song with a Bad Melody
Glenn Sutton, the scribe behind “To Make Love Sweeter For You,” believed that it was a great song, lyrically. However, he thought that the melody of the song was weak. When Sutton took the song to staff producer, Jerry Kennedy, the problem was confirmed. Kennedy also thought that the song’s melody wasn’t great. Then he offered to redo the melody that Sutton gladly agreed. Jerry Lee Lewis did the re-work and produce an entirely new melody for the song. Thereafter, “To Make Love Sweeter For You” became a No. 1 hit. It reached the peak of Billboard’s Country Singles Chart on March 1, 1969.
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jerry lee lewis, to make love sweeter for you