Louvin Brothers - Complete Recorded Works: 1952-1962 [CD]
Complete Recorded Works: 1952-1962
Louvin Brothers
CD Rel Date: 1984-08-12
American country music duo The Louvin Brothers, composed of brothers Ira Lonnie Loudermilk (1924-1965) and Charlie Elzer Loudermilk (1927-2011) - better known as Ira and Charlie Louvin - were tagged "the most influential harmony team in the history of country music" by the New York Times. But perhaps Emmylou Harris put it more succinctly; "there was something scary and washed in the blood about the sound of the Louvin Brothers." They adopted the name Louvin Brothers in the 1940s as they began their career in gospel. They would soon move into secular music however, although many of their songs, often self-composed, were still heavily influenced by their Baptist faith and warned against sin. Despite this, Ira Louvin had a reputation for drinking, womanizing, and volcanic temper. In 1963, fed up with Ira's drinking and abusive behavior, Charlie started a solo career. Ira Louvin died in 1965 at the age of 41 after a drunk-driver struck the vehicle he was driving head-on; his fourth wife Anne was also killed in the crash. Ironically, at the time of his death, a 'Drunk Under The Influence' arrest warrant had been issued for him. The more sober lifestyle of brother Charlie undoubtedly contributed to his long life, surviving as he did until 2011, passing on at age 83 after a lengthy battle with pancreatic cancer. This 6-disc compilation contains every recording the brothers released as a duo - from their very first single, the delightful 'Get Acquainted Waltz', right through to their 1962 album Weapon Of Prayer released soon before they went their separate ways. There were numerous albums released retrospectively, many of which contained previously un-heard recordings, but it was the music that was issued during their tenure as a musical partnership that best represents the almighty influence this often troubled but always magnificent pair contributed to the Great American Country Music Songbook.
Tracklist:
- The Get Acquainted Waltz
- Weapon of Prayer
- They've Got the Church Outnumbered
- Do You Live What You Preach
- You'll Be Rewarded Over There
- I'll Live with God (To Die No More)
- Robe of White
- The Great Atomic Power
- Insured Beyond the Grave 1
- The Gospel Way 1
- The Sons and Daughters of God 1
- Kentucky 1
- I'll Be All Smiles Tonight 1
- Let Her Go, God Bless Her 1
- What Is Home Without Love 1
- A Tiny Broken Heart 1
- In the Pines 1
- Alabama 1
- Katie Dear 2
- My Brother's Will 2
- Knoxville Girl 2
- Take the News to Mother 2
- Mary of the Wild Moor 2
- Are You Washed in the Blood 2
- Nearer, My God, to Thee 2
- Wait a Little Longer, Please Jesus 2
- I Can't Say No 2
- I Won't Have to Cross Jordan Alone 2
- There's No Excuse 3
- This Little Light of Mine 3
- Praying 3
- Thankful 3
- Lord, I'm Coming Home 3
- Last Chance to Pray 3
- I Steal Away and Pray 3
- Don't Let Your Sweet Love Die 3
- We Could 3
- Tennessee Waltz 3
- Are You Teasing Me 4
- Too Late 4
- Here Today and Gone Tomorrow 4
- I Wonder Where You Are Tonight 4
- Have I Stayed Away Too Long 4
- Nobody's Darling But Mine 4
- Why Not Confess 4
- Making Believe 4
- Take Me Back Into Your Heart 4
- Take Me Back Into Your Heart 4
- I Wonder Where You Are Tonight 5
- The Family Who Prays (Never Shall Part) 5
- Born Again 5
- If We Forget God 5
- Satan Lied to Me 5
- God Bless Her (Cause She's My Mother) 5
- Love Thy Neighbor As Thy Self 5
- Preach the Gospel 5
- Just Rehearsing 5
- Pray for Me 5
- Satan and the Saint 6
- Swing Low, Sweet Chariot 6
- Make Him a Soldier 6
- Are You Wasting My Time 6
- If I Could Only Win Your Love 6
- Today 6
- Read What's in My Heart 6
- I Wonder If You Know 6
- Memories and Tears 6
- On My Way to the Show 6
- My Heart Was Trampled on the Street 7
- She'll Get Lonesome 7
- Red Hen Hop 7
- Blue 7
- Send Me the Pillow That You Dream 7
- Satan Is Real 7
- There's a Higher Power 7
- The Christian Life 7
- The River of Jordan 7
- The Kneeling Drunkard's Plea 7
- Are You Afraid to Die 8
- He Can Be Found 8
- Dying from Home, and Lost 8
- The Drunkard's Doom 8
- Satan's Jeweled Crown 8
- The Angels Rejoiced Last Night 8
- I'm Ready to Go Home 8
- My Baby's Gone 8
- Blue from Now on 8
- When I Loved You 8
- She Didn't Even Know I Was Gone 9
- You're Running Wild 9
- Plenty of Everything But You 9
- I Wish You Knew 9
- While You're Cheating on Me 9
- Lorene 9
- I Wish It Had Been a Dream 9
- The First One to Love You 9
- My Baby Came Back 9
- The First One to Love You 9
- Weary Lonesome Blues 10
- Midnight Special 10
- Blues Stay Away from Me 10
- Sand Mountain Blues 10
- Southern Moon 10
- Nashville Blues 10
- Brown's Ferry Blues 10
- When It's Time for the Whippoorwill 10
- Freight Train Boogie 10
- Put Me on the Train to Carolina 10
- Gonna Lay Down My Old Guitar 11
- The Last Old Shovel 11
- Childish Love 11
- Love Is a Lonely Street 11
- If You Love Me Stay Away 11
- Cash on the Barrelhead 11
- The New Partner Waltz 11
- The Stagger 11
- Ruby's Song 11
- Nellie Moved to Town 11
- What a Change One Day Can Make 12
- Call Me 12
- You're Learning 12
- My Curly Headed Baby 12
- O Come All Ye Faithful 12
- Silent Night 12
- Away in a Manger 12
- Good Christian Men Rejoice 12
- While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks 12
- Deck the Halls 12
- It Came Upon a Midnight Clear 13
- The First Noel 13
- O Little Town of Bethlehem 13
- The Friendly Beasts 13
- Hark! the Herald Angels Sing 13
- Joy to the World 13
- The Weapon of Prayer 13
- There's a Grave in the Wave of the Ocean 13
- At Mail Call Today 13
- I Died for the Red White and Blue 13
- A Soldier's Last Letter 14
- There's a Star Spangled Banner Waving Somewhere 14
- The Great Atomic Power 14
- A Seaman's Girl 14
- From Mother's Arms to Korea 14
- Robe of White 14
- Searching for a Soldier's Grave 14
- Mother I Thank You for the Bible You Gave