Customer Reviews

Livin', Lovin', Losin': Songs of the Louvin Brothers

5 star:		(36)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

For years now, the hippest and most knowledgeable Acts in all areas of Country from AltCountry to Bluegrass and on down to all the Gram Parsons disciples have been mining the Louvin Brothers catalogue for a heart-breakingly beatiful ballad to add some authenticity to their take on the genre. While Parsons might have done it first, Emmylou Harris turned heads and melted hearts when she covered "If I could Only Win Your Love" early in her solo career and released it as a single. At that time (mid to late seventies) Country was moving away from Tradition and more towards handsome Studs in Stetsons, forgetting the timeless appeal of a wellcrafted tune just tailor-made for aching harmonies. Needless to say, Harris had a hit and it was not the first nor the last time that she reached deep into their Ouvre for something sublime. So, the question is... since The Louvins are so good, so cover-ready, why did it take all this time?

The answer is that the New Bluegrass revival that was well underway before OH BROTHER, WHERE ART THOU....utilized all that emerging talent just exploded with the national attention from the original soundrtrack and the followup... DOWN FROM THE MOUNTAIN. Now that "New"Grass has so many talented musicians who pay their daily respects to the history they have dusted off, shined up and offered up for our mutual enjoyement.... there are finally enough savvy music buyers to make this CD a winning proposition.

Now, the Louvin Brothers didn't write all their songs, but their distinctive harmonies remain a standard against which all duets should be measured. It was a standard Gram Parsons strove to meet when he searched for and found his perfect "Girl Singer" , Emmylou Harris. That High Lonsome sound that so many musicians talk about today was perfected and promoted by a number of past Acts inlcuding the Louvins who sang sweet duets about the Devil's temptations ( Satan's Jewel Crown) as often as they turned their talents to a Boudleaux Bryant love song like " How's the World Treating You." (Co-written with the late great Chet Atkins, no slouch when it came to writing a pretty tunune himself)

On this CD, if I single out no other song, I must say that I was literally dumbstruck with awe the first time I heard the James Taylor/Alison Krauss version as its video played on a cable music station. I didn't even look.. I just closed my eyes and wept.. that's how perfect it is. To hear Taylor singing such sweet harmony to such a well-crafted song and not his recently overly earnest attempts at rekindling his old fandom on OCTOBER ROAD was simultainiously a relief and a tremendous pleasure. Alison's voice, which is light as a feather, pure and angelic matches the timbre and quality of his voice so well that one could be forgiven for assuming that God himself ordained the pairing. Seriously, this song deserves to run up the charts and stay there a good long time. It deserves that success not just because it is a timeless display of the simplicity of harmony in service of a sweet ballad but because it reminds us what we have NOT had for years on the country charts: Actual talent and memorable songs.

The other songs on this CD are equally well-paired with nary bum cut in sight. If anything, I hunger now more than ever for MORE, more, more Louvin Brothers Tribute CDs. Call this one Volume One folks and give us some more. I would have liked to seen Jeff Tweedy, Evan Dando and some of the other regulars of Alt Country try their hand with some other Louvin material. It would also have been nice to see some of the so-called Inventors of 'Country-Rock" like Chris Hillman, Roger McGuinn, Glenn Frey and even Barry Tachin. And lastly, why oh why are Bruce Springsteen & Patti Scialfa absent? A minor quibble, but the husband and wife rockers have more than proved their country chops in concert and on other performers' CDs. Bruce & Patti have done Bluegrass versions of some of his songs with harmonies so sweet & lovely, the breath leaves your body for a while. (For example: check out the live cut of "Mansion on the Hill" from the most recent Bruce LIVE album) Ah well, maybe on Volume II should there be one. No one Tribute CD can deliver every fan's dream parings of artists with songs. This is especially true with such touchstone artists as the Louvins. Even so, anyone would be delighted with what we have here.

So, all other minor quibbles, unreasonable desires & unfulfilled dreams aside, allow me to say the following:

To my mind, this CD and all the performances on it fell like Manna from the Heavens just as some of us were starving for harmonious sustanence as we wandered this musical desert searching for the promised land. Sustain us it shall and hopefully it will encourage a Boudleaux and Felice Bryant Tribute as well (they wrote many of the Everly Bros. best songs as well as "Love Hurts"). All I can say is,in the tradition of Dickens' Oliver Twist "Please, May I have some more?"

In the meantime, spread the word and enjoy each and every song, over and over. You might even lay this CD on your parents or grandparents if they, like my older family members, nearly cried for joy when the OH BROTHER... Soundtrack came out. This is THAT good. Enjoy!

The Louvin Brothers are one of the most influential country acts ever to appear in this wonderful music business. Their incredible harmony has influenced lots of people like for example Emmylou Harris, Everly Brothers and even The Beatles! This tribute-Cd to the hall of fame brothers is well overdue!!! I want to send a big thanks to producer Carl Jackson who really understand what was great about the Louvin's original versions of songs like "Keep Your Eyes On Jesus", "Are You Teasing Me" and "Must You Throw Dirt In My Face". But the stand out among the songs is easily Glen Campbell and Leslie Satcher's wonderful cover of "When I Stop Dreaming". And second is Merle Haggard with Carl Jackson on Bill Anderson's brilliant song "Must You Throw Dirt In My Face"...but actually there isn't a single bad song on this CD!!! If you intend to buy just one more record this year - then buy this one, you won't regret it!

I generally do not care for a lot of tribute albums. But after reading the other reviews written on this album, I decided to check the listing of artists performing on this album. And I was anxious to hear their renditions of these great songs so I bought it last week. THERE IS NOT ONE BAD SONG ON THIS ALBUM. I have already played it through at least 5 times in only 2 days.

I believe that Ira and Charlie Louvin were the first duo who really kept close harmony on their recordingss. The Everly Brothers came along later in the 50s, and took much of their phrasing and style from the Louvin Brothers.

Ira and Charlie would really be proud of what Carl Jackson did with this production. He has captured the essence of the Louvin Brothers perfectly. I hope that he produces a second volume of their work in the near future.

This was a difficult project for Carl Jackson to undertake. Many of us hold those old chestnuts by the Louvins, with their old scratches from the Opry broadcasts and the vinyl records, pretty seriously. Having others record them could border on sacrilege. And I wasn't too sure about this one when I heard the CD the first time. Especially when I heard -- GASP! -- the Brothers' own voice introducing the first song. Blasphemy, to trick us like that, Mr. Jackson! But the delivery of these songs is so clear and so pure that all the stock and trade Louvin flavor comes out: the tongue-in-cheek humor of "Cash on the Barrelhead," the anxious hope of "If I Could Only Win Your Love", the roller coaster emotions of a lover seeing his girl with another man in "I Don't Believe You Met My Baby"...and the surprise ending.

The choice of artists is superb. Johnny Cash is pleased, I know, that not only was his last earthly performance a gospel number, but one written by two gems in country writing. Merle Haggard, I understand, recorded "Must You Throw Dirt In My Face" in a hotel room with Jackson's recording equipment...the only way the two could meet up given Haggard's crazy schedule. You would not know that from the professionallism of the recording, but on the other hand it brings in the old Haggard train-hopper/trucker/ex-con persona. (Welcome home Merle!) The only ones who are not here are possibly those who are seen as glamorous now by the well-heeled crowd, but whose talents are propped up by a pop management team.

One song I hoped would be on this album wasn't: when I was a girl, my grandmother used to sing me to sleep with a song called "Cowboy Jack", written by the Louvins. It's quite rare, but I heard it played a few years ago on a folk show out of Arkansas on public radio, God bless it. (Pledge drives are now, by the way!). Carl Jackson, if you have a Volume II of the Louvins in mind, maybe Sheryl Crow & Kid Rock, or Dolly Parton & Emmylou Harris, could do some nice harmonies with this Marty Robbins-esque ballad about a star-crossed couple.

Kelly Norman

Having been a long-time fan of the harmonies of the Everly
Brothers, then reading a biography on the Everlys that noted
their affinity for the Louvin Brothers, then seeing the afore-
mentioned video of Allison Krauss and James Taylor on CMT, lead
to a quick search and purchase of "Livin' Lovin', Losin'".
The Krauss-Taylor duet on "How's The World Treating You?" blew
me away on television and captivated me on CD. Other 'ear candy'
from this tribute compilation: Emmylou Harris/Rodney Crowell
on "My Baby's Gone" (like it even more than Krauss/Taylor duet);
"Are You Teasing Me?" (Patty Loveless/Jon Randall); and
"Cheater's Waltz" with Linda Ronstadt and CD producer Carl
Jackson. A terrific and welcome addition to my own ecletic
collection. Not a country music or bluegrass or gospel fan,
but as 'tribute' collections go ("Common Thread"), this one's
top drawer.

As one who buys many Bluegrass and Country Music CDs throughout the year, I agree with the reviewers who say this is the best of 2003! Produced by Carl Jackson, musician and singer extraordinaire in this own right, these songs have stood the test of time. Performances are by many of the best singers in country, bluegrass or any other music genre. Alison Krauss and James Taylor's hauntingly beautiful rendition of "How's The World Treating You" has to be one of the outstanding collaborations this year. Glen Campbell and Leslie Satcher are another outstanding duo on a favorite Louvin tune "When I Stop Dreaming." Merle Haggard even steps up to sing with producer Carl Jackson on a sassy tune penned by Bill Anderson, "Must You Throw Dirt In My Face." Two angelic voices in the form of Dolly Parton and Sonya Isaacs take time out to sing "The Angels Rejoiced". Better harmony cannot be found that this. If you're a Johnny Cash fan, you will love his touching recitation on Pam Tillis' contribution "Keep Your Eyes On Jesus." It has to become part of the great legacy Johnny leaves for us all. It caps off an excellent tribute CD to two of country music's treasures, Charlie and Ira Louvin. Do yourself a huge favor and add this CD to your collection. It won't leave your CD players for long. My Christmas shopping list is also now shorter.

Alison Krauss & James Taylor sing "How's The World Treating You" on this CD. This alone is worth the cost of the whole CD. Great music!

If you've ever enjoyed high harmonies in gospel, country, or bluegrass you can thank Charlie and Ira Louvin. The Louvin Brothers inspired a young Johnny Cash to wait on the side of the road for them to pass by. Gram Parsons scoured used record stores for Louvin Brothers albums. Charlie and Ira were pioneers in the music industry; this album is a tribute to their work.

A mixture of gospel and country make up this excellent anthology. An all-star line-up pays tribute to Ira and Charlie's work. Highlights include James Taylor singing Charlie's melody and Alison Kraus on Ira's harmony on "How's the World Treating You" (mentioned in an earlier review as worth the price of the album). In a motel room in Mississippi, Merle Haggard recorded Charlie's melody "You've already put big old tears in my eyes, must you throw dirt in my face?" Elsewhere Vince Gill, Terri Clark, Glen Campbell, Linda Ronstadt, and Ira's daughter Kathy Louvin add their voices. Johnny Cash, in one of his last recordings, adds the spoken word to Pam Tillis's melody on "Keep Your Eyes on Jesus." Dolly Parton offers the tale of a father's turn from Satan on "The Angels Rejoiced." This is a fine album, worthy of more attention than it will probably receive.

The Louvins split up in 1963 and Ira was killed in 1965, but the music they offered was timeless. There was a time when music like this would cause me to cover my ears. No longer!!! This is American music at its best. BUY THIS ALBUM!!!

Fantastic set of tunes, either written or made popular by Country legends (but largely forgotten by Country Top 40 audiences) The Louvin Brothers. If you appreciate great songwriting, singing and playing - and real soul music - this is one you can't pass up. Whether it's the haunting voices of James Taylor and Allison Krauss on "How's The World Treating You" or the bluesy "Cash On The Barrelhead" (Joe Nichols and Rhonda Vincent), this CD is about very talented people (imagine that!) making great music. Glen Campbell and Leslie Satcher's version of "When I Stop Dreaming" is the standout tune here....a standout among standouts!

I was excited to hear "Songs of the Louvin Brothers", a tribute album featuring the works of legendary old time country duo, Charlie and Ira Louvin. I was impressed with the consistency of Carl Jackson's production, the songs seemed to all work well together. Also, there is a nice line up of country stars, some of my favorites being: Terri Clark, Emmylou Harris, Merle Haggard, Dierks Bentley, and Johnny Cash. Tracks: "How's the world treating you", "Must you throw dirt in my face", "I don't believe you've met my baby", and "Keep your eyes on Jesus" were my favorite cuts off of the album, and I would highly recommend them. Overall, this cd is a wonderful tribute collection, containing soothing vocal melodies of traditional and bluegrass country that will appeal to country music lovers young as well as old.