Religious discussion / Great Balls of Fire (take named (1.5) on BCD 17254)

Firstly issued in 1982 on "The Sun Years" (12 LP set). Contains a religious discussion in studio and take (net length 1:48).
Note from the back cover of Record 4 of "The Sun Years". "They approached Jerry for 'Jamboree'," recalled Otis Blackwell, "and got him, but then they wanted an original song for him. I said I didn't have anything at the time but would look around. A few days later a writer by the name of Jack Hammer brought me a song called 'Great Balls of Fire'. I said 'Give me the title and I'll write the song.' So I wrote the song around Jack Hammer's title."
By October 1958 the movie was on the point of being released and Sam needed Jerry in the studio to record the single. The song was recorded over a period possibly lasting up to three days. At least 14 takes survive and it is obvious that it was absolutely crucial to Sam that Jerry should follow "Shakin'" with another top seller. Many of the out-takes are perfectly saleable including this splendid one.
If anything, Jerry gives a more frenzied and urgent vocal performance here and Roland Janes' guitar is rather more audible but the pattern had already been set and Jerry uncharacteristically makes very few changes as he goes along. This take may have been withheld for purely technical reasons. Jerry's vocal is a little off-mike on several lines and the left hand boogie figure during the second half of his solo is rather muddy.
The take is preceeded by the famous but never before legally issued studio conversation between Jerry and Sam Phillips. Jack Clement had turned the tape off following some run throughs on "Great Balls of Fire" and we miss the start of the discussion. Jerry appears to have a fit of remorse about singing the devil's music. Possibly he had gone so far as to suggest that he wouldn't cut the song; certainly he stirs Sam Phillips into a logical and determined rationalisation of what they were attempting to do. Either Jimmy Van or Roland Janes, who were probably getting less than $50 each for the night's work and could sense this argument might last a while, can be heard saying "Let's cut it, man." Jimmy Van is banging his drums impatiently in the background.