NEWS: Jerry Lee Lewis Recruits Friends For New Album

It's been 61 long years since famed rock & roller Jerry Lee Lewis first performed, but now at the age of 74, Lewis is set to release a new album available September 7.
The title of his new album, "Mean Old Man," isn't a reference to the Killer himself.

"No, it has nothing to do with me whatsoever," the 74-year-old rock'n'roll legend says. "It's named for the Kris Kristofferson song, which I flipped out over when I heard it. I thought it was a hit piece of material, so I cut it."

Kristofferson isn't the only celebrity guest who contributed to "Mean Old Man," it also features appearances by Eric Clapton, Keith Richards, Slash and Willie Nelson, plus a handful of younger stars including John Mayer, Sheryl Crow, and Kid Rock.

It's just a collection of people who really love Jerry and wanted to be part of the album," says Lewis' daughter, Phoebe, who manages her father's career and served as the set's executive producer. "The fact that they bring their own notoriety is just a plus. They're like the ultimate sidemen and women."

"The record goes by quick, which is a good sign," says Jim Keltner, who produced the album with Steve Bing. "The chops that Jerry Lee had as a young man, he's lost a lot of that. But now there's a depth and richness to the music. When he sits down to play, you just want to listen."

In addition to the 10-track standard edition, "Mean Old Man" will arrive in an 18-track deluxe package that includes collaborations with Shelby Lynne and Gillian Welch.