Great Balls of Fire Unleashed

Gibson takes a look back: Jerry Lee had moved to Memphis and was signed to burgeoning rock and roll record label Sun Records, both as a session pianist and solo performer. His first hit, "Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On," was an R&B tune that Lewis had tailored to his own, propulsive style during his live shows. The lyrics contained their share of sexually suggestive content and Sun founder Sam Phillips thought the single might be pushing it too far. But, he was proven wrong when the song hit #3 on the pop charts, and #1 on both the country and R&B charts.

With "Shakin'" a proven blockbuster, Phillips encouraged Jerry Lee to repeat his success with another daring song � "Great Balls of Fire." The tune, co-written by Otis Blackwell (who had penned Elvis Presley's "Don't Be Cruel" and "All Shook Up") was based on a Southern expression, considered by some Christians as blasphemous. "Great Balls of Fire" refers to a point in the Bible when the Holy Spirit manifested as "cloven tongues as of fire." - more on this story

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