Charlie Louvin Explores Heaven and Hell On Two New Releases




Country Music Hall of Famer and half of the legendary country duo The Louvin Brothers, Charlie Louvin will release two new albums. Steps to Heaven, due September 16th, 2008, features 10 traditional gospel classics including two Louvin Brothers songs. The release will be followed by Charlie Louvin Sings Murder Ballads & Disaster Songs, coming December 9, 2008. Both albums were produced, recorded and mixed by Mark Nevers (Bonnie "Prince" Billy, Andrew Bird, Bobby Bare Sr.).

Steps to Heaven was recorded live with a gospel choir comprised of three sisters, journeyman gospel pianist Derrick Lee, and Chris Scruggs adding doghouse bass and guitar. Louvin had never recorded with black gospel musicians before, and in doing so discovered a new musical path. "I did things on the gospel record I had no idea I could do. I’d be thinking along the way, ‘How can I do things I’ve never done before?’ And I did it."

Although some might be surprised at a thematic Charlie Louvin album dealing with death and destruction, one needn’t look any further than the very first Louvin Brothers album to find a connection. Tragic Songs of Life, released in 1956, is full of emotional songs detailing heartbreak, betrayal, violence and loss. Inspired by Tompkins Square’s recent Grammy-nominated 3CD box set People Take Warning! Murder Ballads & Disaster Songs, 1913-1938, Louvin reached back for a couple of songs from that first Louvins album, and pulled nine songs from the box set to create a moving and sometimes raucous new take on traditional songs of tragedy.

2007 saw Louvin celebrate his 80th birthday amidst a swirl of activity around the release of his first studio album in 10 years, Charlie Louvin. Grammy-nominated for Best Traditional Folk Album, the disc features George Jones, Wilco’s Jeff Tweedy, Will Oldham, Elvis Costello and many others. Louvin toured and recorded with Lucinda Williams, made a video for the song "Ira," released a field recording of one of his many in-store performances, Live at Shake It Records, played over 100 concert dates sharing stages with Ryan Adams and Neko Case, appeared on giant festivals like Bonnaroo and Hardly Strictly Bluegrass, and placed a medallion around Emmylou Harris’ neck inducting her into the Country Music Hall of Fame. The self-titled album earned 4 out of 5 stars in Uncut and Mojo magazines, and sparked a bevy of great press and renewed interest in his fascinating career.

For more info see:  http://www.charlielouvinbros.com/

Related Content

Recent Posts

New to Glide

Keep up-to-date with Glide

Twitter