features in: Album Chart of 1956 ● Album Chart of the Decade: 1950s ● 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die |
Released in October, “Tragic Songs Of Life” was critically acclaimed from the off and has been held in high regard by country aficionados ever since. Ira (high-tenor vocals and mandolin) and Charlie (guitar and baritone vocals) are accompanied by Paul Yaldell on guitar and a nameless bassist and snare drummer for their debut album – a conceptual affair with the majority of the songs dealing with tragic heartbreak and general misfortune, with some good old classic murder ballads thrown for added impact. Quite good in places, but the set never grips me as much as the likes of the Blue Sky Boys (one of their influences) or the Everly Brothers (one of their influenced). Best of the bunch is “Mary of The Wild Moor”, a traditional which has been dated back to the early 19th century in England. It was first recorded and released by the Blue Sky Boys in 1940, a popular and influential duo from North Carolina. The song treats a topic well known from literature and song: the girl with child - sometimes illegitimate - is betrayed and left by her husband or lover, she wants to return home but her father despises her and in the end she and the child will die. Now that’s what I call a song of tragedy…
The Jukebox Rebel
11–Oct–2015
Tracklist |
A1 | [02:39] The Louvin Brothers - Kentucky (Karl Davis) Country |
A2 | [03:14] The Louvin Brothers - I’ll Be All Smiles Tonight (Alvin Pleasant Carter) Country |
A3 | [02:55] The Louvin Brothers - Let Her Go, God Bless Her (Traditional) Country |
A4 | [03:00] The Louvin Brothers - What Is Home Without Love (Traditional) Country |
A5 | [02:34] The Louvin Brothers - A Tiny Broken Heart (Charlie Louvin, Ira Louvin, Eddie Hill) Country |
A6 | [03:15] The Louvin Brothers - In The Pines (Traditional, Alan Riggs) Country |
B1 | [02:43] The Louvin Brothers - Alabama (Charlie Louvin, Ira Louvin, Eddie Hill) Country |
B2 | [02:34] The Louvin Brothers - Katie Dear (William Bolick) Country |
B3 | [03:16] The Louvin Brothers - My Brother’s Will (Ken Nelson) Country |
B4 | [03:49] The Louvin Brothers - Knoxville Girl (Traditional) Country |
B5 | [02:48] The Louvin Brothers - Take The News To Mother (Walter Callahan, Homer Callahan, W. R. Calaway) Country |
B6 | [03:11] The Louvin Brothers - Mary Of The Wild Moor (Traditional, Dennis Turner) Country |