Peak
2
Weeks
21
Score
3,919
Chart Year
1958
Otis Blackwell, a prolific songwriter who wrote many hits for Elvis Presley, wrote this song with Jack Hammer, who at one point was a member of The Platters. Blackwell died in 2002 at age 70. The song became Jerry Lee Lewis' signature tune, a perfect fit for his incendiary style. "A person tells at least a little bit about himself in any song he cuts," Lewis said years later. Like Lewis' previous hit, "Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On," this song is filled with sexual innuendo ("let me love you like a lover should..."), which was shocking for a southern musician in 1957. Lewis grew up in a religious household and was conflicted over whether or not he should record the song. He and Sun Records owner Sam Phillips argued as Phillips tried to convince him to sing it. Tape was rolling during the spat and the exchange can be heard on some Sun Records collections. "I thought it was funny because I could see both of them," recalled house drummer JM van Eaton to Uncut magazine April 2012. "Sam's as serious as he could be, and Jerry's as heated as he could be." This song made the Top 5 on the Pop, R&B, and Country charts simultaneously with "Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On." Both hit #1 on the Country chart, and "Great Balls of Fire" went on to sell over 5 million copies. This was released in the UK the same month Lewis married 13-year-old Myra Gale Brown, the daughter of his cousin (and bass player) J.W. Brown. At the time, Lewis was headlining shows with Buddy Holly and Chuck Berry, but when the UK press found out, public outrage forced Lewis to leave the country. Back in the States, his career faltered as radio stations refused to play his records and stores refused to sell them. In the UK, a similarly raucous version by the female singer Georgia Gibbs was released in 1957 before Lewis' version was issued. It didn't chart, and Jerry Lee's recording became a huge hit, topping the UK chart and becoming the first Sun Records recording to score there. One of the many rock stars this song influenced was Eric Clapton, who said: "I remember the first Rock & Roll I ever saw on TV was Jerry Lee Lewis doing 'Great Balls of Fire.' That threw me - it was like seeing someone from outer space." >> In 1989, Dennis Quaid portrayed Lewis in the movie Great Balls Of Fire, which told the story of his life. The film took a few liberties, including a scene where Lewis sets his piano on fire while performing this song - a tale often told by Lewis but never verified. In America, the song was released on November 11, 1957, just one day before the movie Jamboree hit theaters. Lewis performed the song in the film, which gave it great exposure. Other singers appearing in the movie were Carl Perkins, Fats Domino and Frankie Avalon. In the movie Top Gun, "Goose" (Anthony Edwards) and "Maverick" (Tom Cruise) sing this while "Goose" plays a piano that still sits at the Kansas City Barbeque Restaurant in San Diego, California where the scene was filmed. The song was reprised in the sequel, Top Gun: Maverick, performed by Miles Teller, who plays Rooster Bradshaw, son of Goose. Dolly Parton made "Great Balls Of Fire" the title track to her 1979 album. Her cover was used in the 1985 Miami Vice episode "Golden Triangle (Part I)." Other artists to cover the song include Conway Twitty, Sha Na Na, Mae West, Rolf Harris and the Misfits. Jackée Harry and Rodney Dangerfield sang this in the 1992 comedy Ladybugs. Other movies to use the song include: Priest (1995) Naked Gun 33 1/3: The Final Insult (1994) BlackJack (1990) The Delinquents (1989) Stand by Me (1986) American Hot Wax (1978)
You shake my nerves and you rattle my brain Too much love drives a man insane You broke my will, but what a thrill Goodness gracious, great balls of fire I laughed at love 'cause I thought it was funny You came along and you moved me honey I've changed my mind, this love is fine Goodness gracious, great balls of fire Kiss me, baby, ooh, feels good Hold me, baby Well, I'll still love you like a lover should You're fine, so kind Got to tell this world that you're mine, mine, mine, mine I chew my nails and then I twiddle my thumbs I'm real nervous, but it sure is fun Come on, baby, you drive me crazy Goodness gracious, great balls of fire Well kiss me, baby, ooh, feels good Hold me, baby Well, I'll still love you like a lover should You're fine, so kind Got to tell this world that you're mine, mine, mine, mine I chew my nails and I twiddle my thumbs Real nervous, but it sure is fun Come on, baby, drive me crazy Goodness gracious, great balls of fire
| Week | Chart Date | Position | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nov 25, 1957 | 89 | 37 |
| 2 | Dec 2, 1957 | 57 | 69 |
| 3 | Dec 9, 1957 | 19 | 107 |
| 4 | Dec 16, 1957 | 14 | 112 |
| 5 | Dec 23, 1957 | 9 | 117 |
| 6 | Dec 30, 1957 | 4 | 122 |
| 7 | Jan 6, 1958 | 2 | 124 |
| 8 | Jan 13, 1958 | 2 | 124 |
| 9 | Jan 20, 1958 | 2 | 124 |
| 10 | Jan 27, 1958 | 2 | 124 |
| 11 | Feb 3, 1958 | 4 | 122 |
| 12 | Feb 10, 1958 | 9 | 117 |
| 13 | Feb 17, 1958 | 13 | 113 |
| 14 | Feb 24, 1958 | 26 | 100 |
| 15 | Mar 3, 1958 | 44 | 82 |
| 16 | Mar 10, 1958 | 52 | 74 |
| 17 | Mar 17, 1958 | 47 | 79 |
| 18 | Mar 24, 1958 | 52 | 74 |
| 19 | Mar 31, 1958 | 57 | 69 |
| 20 | Apr 7, 1958 | 65 | 61 |