Customer Reviews

Close Harmony

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
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This collection of 8 cd's is the entire studio recordings of the Louvin Brothers. This set also includes an album sized book which lists each recording session and gives a deep history on the brothers. Most of these great recordings can be found no where else. If you love close harmony sung with true feelings,you can't go wrong with this set. A MUST HAVE SET. GET IT WHILE YOU CAN. A Similar set by JOHNNIE and JACK is already out of print.

If you only buy one boxed set-this is the one to buy. Despite the rather high price, you get a tremendous amount of excellent music. Ira Louvin was probably the best mandolin player ever (that includes Bill Monroe) The harmonies are perfect-with Ira reaching nearly impossible "highs" to counterbalance Charlie.
If there is a weakness to these cds at all-it is probably Ira's spoken sermonizing-but in limited quantities-it has a certain appeal! The gospel and secular songs are equally great-however, if you don't like gospel music-be warned--there is a lot of it here! If you like gospel, bluegrass and country music-I give this boxed set my highest recommendation. (In fairness-my wife who doesn't like gospel or bluegrass-dislikes this boxed set--it's not her type of country music-so it may not be for modern country fans-I, on the other hand, dislike nearly everything Nashville calls "country" today)

No one's harmonies compare to the Louvin Brothers. Ask anyone who has listened widely to ALL forms of music to name the finest harmonies ever recorded and I guarantee that Charlie and Ira Louvin's names will be at the top of the list. The recent tribute CD, "Livin' Lovin' Losin': The Songs of the Louvin Brothers" was a well-made CD but not one of the duos on the CD can begin to compare its harmonies and range to what the Louvins did. That CD was shadow; on this box set is the substance. Moving easily between gospel and secular country, Ira's songwriting skill is comparable to Hank Williams' (though his occasional stab at rock'n'roll was misguided to put it kindly), while there is a sweetness and clarity in Charlie's voice matched only by its warmth. The brothers were each talented but together, just as with the Beatles, they were greater than the sum of their parts. If I could only ever own one box set in my life this is the one I would choose.

This Bear Family 8CD collection of the Louvin Brother is the most costly box set that I have purchased up to this date. I was able to get it from cdwolf for about $145.00 through Amazon. I asked my wife if this could be my Christmas present and she agreed. I have many great box sets but this one is right up there at the top. The harmony produced be Ira & Charlie is probly some of the best in the history of Country Music (the Stanley Brothers were pretty darn good too).Most decent CDs today run between 15 to 20 bucks so if you figure it that way this set is not to bad price wise. All the songs are really good and there are a lot of great Gospel songs that if you are like me these really make it a totaly complete box set well worth every penny. One word of caution: This music is not for the new or "modern" country fan, this is real country or hillbilly music as it has been so often called over the years. If you think these new stars like Garth Brooks and the Dixie Chicks are real Country this set of songs from Ira & Charlie are not for you. Ira Louvin died in a car wreck in the early 60's so all this music is well dated, but to folks like me and my wife this is the only stuff we listen too...and it sounds as good as it did when it was recorded back in the 50's and 60's. If you could only afford to buy one box set and you are a real roots country fan this is the set to own ! "Enjoy"

this box set is the best set on todays market, i used to owned a set of the louvin brothers when i was a kid but only on cassetts. i looked for this set world wide and finally found this set on cds in canada.whoever put this set together is the greatest ,,,thank you

I purchased this set some years ago, being somewhat familiar with the Louvin Brothers and knowing most of their more familiar songs. What has been most surprising and gratifying about this set is the abundant number of great, beautiful songs previously unknown to me which this set contains. You can't beat the Louvins for perfect 2 part harmony, and a great canon of original songs, many composed by Ira. Also not to be overlooked is great guitar work on many songs, by (I believe) Chet Atkins and Paul Yandell. I have never regretted the money spent on this set, and no matter the price, the musical enjoyment which this set contains makes it a bargain. I have played and re-played all of these discs many times over and enjoy it more all the time.

as soon as i can i will own this great collection of wonderful music by the louvin brothers.im glad somebody put this togeather. the louvin brothers have the best harmony i have ever listen to.

I highly recommend this set of the Louvin Brothers!

everything ever recorded in one big package that doesn't disappoint.......

on the fence?

did you like the album "Satan Is Real"?
how about the so called greatest hits collections?

this box set has even more and most all are worthy of a hit.
there isn't a slow spot on any of the discs.
every cd in this box could have been a greatest hits disc

The Louvin Brothers are now good friends of mine.

get acquainted with Ira and Charlie

Excellent collection of Louvin Brothers material. I would recommend this to anyone that likes the old style country music, and not this new over-produced stuff.

This was a Christmas gift for my dad who had most of these originally as vinyl records. Now that he has them on CD, he can listen to his old favorites again.