Will the Circle Be Unbroken

Background

Tom Jones, Solomon Burke, Norah Jones, Buddy Guy, Chris Isaak, Ron Wood, Merle Haggard, Ivan Neville, Kris Kristoferson, John Fogerty, Willie Nelson, Don Henley, Kid Rock and Ken Lovelace were invited to join the recording session of the live album by Jerry Lee Lewis at Sony Studios in New York and Henson Studios in Hollywood in late 2006. Besides sessions were released on the Last Man Standing Live CD+DVD, the concerts were also broadcast by the PBS in the USA next March. 

John Fogerty contributed with three performances: "CC Rider", "Will the Circle Be Unbroken" and "Good Golly Miss Molly". On the old Christian hymn, "Will the Circle Be Unbroken", Lewis played piano and Fogerty provided guitar licks. Lewis, Fogerty and Kris Kristofferson shared vocals.  

First time Fogerty and Lewis shared the stage dates back to the final jam of the Rock And Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony in 1986 when Chubby Checker performed "The Twist" together with Lewis, Fogerty and others.  Fogerty also appeared on Lewis' albums Last Man Standing ("Travelin' Band") and Mean Old Man ("Bad Moon Rising"). Furthermore, he performed with Lewis and Little Richard at 50th Grammy Awards aired in the USA in February 2012. 

Personnel 

Vocals, piano: Jerry Lee Lewis

Vocals, guitar: John Fogerty

Guitar: Ken Lovelace, Jimmy Rip

Organ, vocals: Ivan Neville

Bass: Rick Rosas

Drums: Jim Keltner

Backing Vocals: Charlotte Gibson, Maxayn Lewis, Stacie Plunk

Trivia 

Charlie Chaplin founded his studios (now Henson Recording Studios) at 1416 N La Brea Avenue, Hollywood in 1917.  Herb Alpert and Jerry Moss and their record company A&M Records took over the Chaplin Studios in 1966. Artists recorded at A&M included John Lennon, Carol King, Joni Mitchell and others. In 1999, A&M Records was purchased by The Jim Henson Company. Henson Recording Studios was established in 2000 (Henson Recording Studios).

Critical reception

"Fogerty broke into a wide grin at the start of “Will the Circle Be Unbroken,” but like Kristofferson, he kept his eyes trained intently on Lewis, searching for enough signs of feedback to gain some level of comfort. Fogerty began the song rather demurely but slowly built in volume and confidence. By the time he ripped through “Molly,” he was thrusting his right hand in the air and letting out a Little Richard whoop." -Tom Roland, Country Music TV, October 16th, 2006. 

Fans' views

"The first two songs (Will the Circle Be Unbroken, C.C. Rider) were kind of boring to me, except for the fact that John was playing." 

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