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

(Universal South)

First Appeared at The Music Box, January 2004, Volume 11, #1

Written by John Metzger

The names of Charlie and Ira Louvin, who performed as the Louvin Brothers, might not be immediately recognizable, but fans of classic rock and country have encountered the duo’s music countless times without even realizing it. The Byrds’ brilliantly covered The Christian Life on its stellar Sweetheart of the Rodeo, and Johnny Cash long considered the Louvins to be one of his biggest influences. There are countless others, too. Ray Charles, Emmylou Harris, George Jones, Alison Krauss, Leftover Salmon, Del McCoury, Mark Knopfler, Dolly Parton, Ralph Stanley, and Uncle Tupelo are just a few of the artists who have recorded renditions of the brothers’ songs. Still, it took until 2003 for anyone to bother pulling together a tribute album, but Livin’, Lovin’ Losin’: Songs of the Louvin Brothers unfortunately doesn’t do the duo’s music justice.

Perhaps the problems with this collection can be summed up simply by stating that it’s far too courteous an affair, and regrettably, there isn’t a single risk-taking endeavor contained within its 16 tracks. As a result, Livin’, Lovin’, Losin’ is ineffectually sterile, mixing mostly generic country with just a touch of twang. About the only thing that executive producers Carl Jackson and Kathy Louvin absolutely nailed was the vocal arrangements. Clearly, much care was taken in putting together the various duet teams, and the harmonies on each of the selections mirror the perfection contained within the Louvin Brothers’ original material. Still, with artists like Emmylou Harris, Rodney Crowell, Johnny Cash, Marty Stuart, Del McCoury, James Taylor, Merle Haggard, and Alison Krauss involved, this set should have had at least a little more pizzazz. ½

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46th Annual Grammy Award Winner:
Best Country Album

46th Annual Grammy Award Winner:
Best Country Collaboration with Vocals
How's the World Treating You

Ratings

1 Star: Pitiful
2 Stars: Listenable
3 Stars: Respectable
4 Stars: Excellent
5 Stars: Can't Live Without It!!

Copyright © 2003 The Music Box