Behind Blue Eyes

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

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

Tribute albums are rarely as good to listen to as they seem on paper. They are full of potential, but most often you are better off just getting the original tunes from the original artist. But I did not know the original songs of the Louvin Brothers. They split up musically in 1961. I just noticed that Emmylou Harris albums always had a song attributed to “Louvin/Louvin”. And I noticed a few other songs attirbuted to them. So my introduction was with these songs:

I Like The Christian Life – The Byrds

If I Could Only Win Your Love – Emmylou Harris

Satan’s Jewel Crown - Emmyou Harris

When I Stop Dreaming – Emmylou Harris

Cash On the Barrelhead – Dolly Parton

The Weapon of Prayer – The Notting Hillbillies

What I had not been prepared for was that all of the Louvin Brother's songs were designed for two voices—there was almost always a part for Charlie Louvin and a part for Ira Louvin. Carl Jackson (the producer of this record - link to his out of date web site) used that as the basis for this album. Every song is song by a duet of country stars. These harmonies are outstanding and it makes the whole album a delight. Look at these names:

• Joe Nichols & Rhonda Vincent
• Emmylou Harris & Rodney Crowell
• Alison Krauss & James Taylor
• Terri Clark & Vince Gill
• Carl Jackson & Merle Haggard
• Glen Campbell & Leslie Satcher
• Kathy Louvin & Pamela Brown Hayes
• Carl Jackson & Linda Ronstadt
  
• Jon Randall & Patty Loveless
  
• Carl Jackson, Jerry Salley & Larry Cordle
  
• Dolly Parton & Sonya Isaacs
  
• Del McCoury & Marty Stuart
  
• Johnny Cash, Pam Tillis & The Jordanaires

I don't really keep up with the new Nashville stars, but everyone (old and new) did a great job performing these songs. Plus, the musicians backing up these vocals are outstanding.

As the name of the album implies, some of these songs are real tear jerkers. For instance, these are the words of heartbreak (When I Stop Dreaming ):

“You may teach the flowers to bloom in the snow,
You may take a pebble and teach it to grow,
You may teach all the raindrops to return to the clouds,
But you can't teach my heart to forget.”

(Just a second and let me put my hanky back in my pocket.)

But it is not all sorrow and pity. One of my favorites, I Wish You Knew , sung by Pamela Brown Hayes and Kathy Louvin (Ira Louvin’s daughter) is a wonderfully upbeat (almost rock-like) with great guitar work (by Carl Jackson) to go along with the vocal harmonies.

I like every one of these songs. I could do without Johnny Cash’s spoken part of Keep Your Eyes on Jesus , but even this song has such a great old time gospel feel that I leave it on my iPod like the rest of the album.