The new album from Jerry Lee Lewis [ tickets ] is called "Last Man Standing" for a reason. The Killer is the last living member of the inaugural class of rockers from the 1986 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and the disc is a reminder of why Lewis remains one of the genre's greats.

You might think the cast of fellow hall-of-famers alone--from BB King and Eric Clapton to Neil Young and Ron Wood--is what makes "Last Man Standing" a must-have. You'd be wrong. What really makes this disc worthwhile is the music. Loud, rowdy and passionate, Lewis' covers of these classic tracks are undeniable.

Some of the artists wisely hang in the background, letting the Killer handle piano and vocal duties, creating new Killer classics, while others stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the legend, making a great song even better. Springsteen's "Pink Cadillac" falls into the first category, while The Band's "Twilight," with Robbie Robertson, is given a fresh, ear-catching treatment. Same for "Rock N Roll," with Jimmy Page, where the two rework the track into a boozy pub-shaker shot out of Memphis, circa 1959.

On "Last Man Standing," the Killer assembles a virtual "who's who" of rock and roll, including Buddy Guy ("Hadacohl Boogie"), John Fogerty ("Traveling Band"), Little Richard ("I Saw Her Standing There"), Willie Nelson, Ringo Starr, Merle Haggard, Don Henley, Kris Kristofferson, etc ... To his credit, no matter whom he pairs with, Lewis always plays the lead.

Not many people can get all those guys together for a duets album. "Last Man Standing" does, and it is easily among the year's best--and probably most important--rock albums. The Killer is clearly alive and well.