Customer Reviews

My Baby's Gone: Essential Louvin Brothers 1955-64

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

 

 

Essential American roots music. Many great songs here ("Must You Throw Dirt in My Face," etc.) Worth the price for "Christian Life" alone -- it can bring tears to the eyes of an atheist like me. If you are only familiar with the versions of "Christian Life" on "Sweetheart of the Rodeo" by the Byrds, this is the real deal. Five stars in red, white, and blue.

For those of you who don't like lengthy reviews, stop here and purchase this item. I cannot imagine anyone not liking this album.

As for those still here, this album is simply incredible. I purchased it on a whim, as I love to explore all forms of American music, and somehow the Louvin Brothers have eluded me for many years, although I have been peripherally aware of them for some time now.

I guess the recent passing of Charlie Louvin finally caught my attention enough to seek out their music, and boy, am I glad I did. This album is truly essential for anyone that likes harmony vocals, good bluegrass, gospel, murder ballads, upbeat funny songs, and oh so much more.

One of my favorite Allison Kraus songs. I Don't Believe You've Met My Baby, is actually a cover of the Louvins original included herein. Also, when you listen to this music, you can't help but notice how many of the great harmonizers must have been influenced by these guys. Unfortunately, Ira Louvin died all too young, and the duo ceased to exist, although the late Charlie Louvin performed up until his recent passing.

This truly is an essential album, and thus deserves 5 stars.

Another excellent compilation by Raven Records in Australia (see Loretta Lynn or Gene Clark: American Dreamer or Jose Feliciano). Raven: "high quality anthologies compiled and prepared with knowledge, integrity and attention to detail."

There are many Louvin collections at the moment; Raven produced three! This one includes 30 songs from their Capitol recordings, including Charlie Louvin's 1964 solo hit `I Don't Love You Anymore'. The songs are here that Gram Parsons (`The Christian Life') and Emmylou Harris (`If I Could Only Win Your Love') and together (`Cash on the Barrelhead' and "The Angels Rejoiced Last Night") let us love. Almost all the songs covered on the marvellous Light In The Attic tribute are here: Livin', Lovin', Losin'.

I heard a cut from the Louvin Brothers (Don't Laugh) on a compilation and at first I thought it was a male and a female singing, because the second voice was so high. Then I heard another cut and was intrigued further. There's just a streak of genius running through this duo. There a step above the harmonies of one of their influences, the Delmore Brothers, and a step above their most obvious peers, the Everly Brothers.