Tragic Songs of Life/Satan Is Real

Louvin Brothers | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (July 31, 2007)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Raven (Aus)
• ASIN: B000QFAEPU
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #171,403 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Kentucky

2. I'll Be All Smiles Tonight

3. Let Her Go, God Bless Her

4. What Is Home Without Love

5. A Tiny Broken Heart

6. In the Pines

7. Alabama

8. Katie Dear

9. My Brother's Will

10. Knoxville Girl

11. Take the News To Mother

12. Mary Of the Wild Moor

13. Satan Is Real

14. There Is a Higher Power

15. The Christian Life

16. The River Of Jordan

17. The Kneeling Drunkard's Plea

18. Are You Afraid To Die

19. He Can Be Found

20. Dying From Home, And Lost

See all 28 tracks on this disc

Editorial Reviews

These two classic, iconic albums from THE LOUVIN BROTHERS have certainly stood the test of time. Raven presents them on one brilliant CD, proving that Tragic Songs of Life (1956) and Satan is Real (1960) sound as thrilling today as ever. With their impassioned gospel themes, these two LPs capture the very essence of the brothers at the peak of their powers. Charlie and Ira's sublime harmonies and hard-driving take on traditional country provided the blueprint for future generations of country and rock musicians. From the enigmatic Gram Parsons and his protege Emmylou Harris to a long list of contemporary adherents (including Uncle Tupelo, Hank Williams III etc), the legend and influence of the Louvin Brothers continues unabated. Tragic Songs of Life contains some of their most powerful and emotive singing on ‘Kentucky', ‘Katie Dear' and the hit single ‘Knoxville Girl'. With its striking cover and even more startling contents (‘The Christian Life', ‘Satan's Jeweled Crown', ‘There is a Higher Power'), Satan is Real became a signature release for the duo. With four bonus tracks from the period, this outstanding value 2-for-1 CD delivers 28 of the very best from the brothers' deep catalogue of classic songs.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great taste of the Louvin Brothers, November 27, 2007

By 

Bob Wood (Little Rock, AR USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Tragic Songs of Life/Satan Is Real (Audio CD)

Many people have never heard of the Louvin Brothers, and that's a shame. This double-record CD is a good introduction, along with the "greatest hits" selection found on the CD, "When I Stop Dreaming." I found out about them by listening to Emmylou Harris's covers of their songs, which are beautiful and haunting.

The Louvins first sang gospel songs then moved into country. They popularized a style of singing called "close harmony" that was later refined by the Everly Brothers. What makes them fascinating to me is the dramatic contrast between their songs and their personal lives. As I listen to "I like the Christian life" (from "Satan is Real"), I can't help but think of Ira Louvin's alcoholism, fighting, and vicious personality (people around the brothers commonly referred to Ira as "mean as a snake"). As well as the fact that, when he died in a drunken automobile crash with his fourth wife, Ira still had four bullets in his back from when his third wife shot him.

It's that kind of incongruity that makes the Louvins fascinating to me. They were excellent musicians and songwriters, but Ira was also an extraordinarily conflicted individual. That had to color his artistry. And, it gives their music a depth and texture that transcends, at least for me, the religious themes that may put some others off.

You might want to give the Louvin Brothers a listen.

0 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars gospel cd, October 25, 2011

By 

sigskimo - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Tragic Songs of Life/Satan Is Real (Audio CD)

i ordered this for a gift, the person thanked me for this cd and remarked that this didn't take the long

3 of 37 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars white bread christian, August 23, 2007

By 

catherine reagan "music ho" (little rock, ar) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Tragic Songs of Life/Satan Is Real (Audio CD)

a little too jesusie for my taste.
but u gotta love those louvin bros.