The Louvin Brothers are set to be the subject of a new compilation selected by Mark Lanegan, Devendra Banhart and more.
Country music is littered with stars who attempted to chose to between the Bible and the bottle. Two siblings from the deep South, The Louvin Brothers are arguably the most affecting display of the dichotomy which exists in American music.
Real names Ira and Charlie Loudermilk, The Louvin Brothers were celebrated for their harmonies. A mixture of high, keening country notes and sheer Southern gothic the duo’s output earned them a place at the Grand Ol Opry.
Feted by country music greats, the duo’s interest in the Bible took them down some stark roads. The cult album ‘Satan Is Real’ was released in 1959, arguably containing their finest and most potent songwriting.
Set to be re-issued via Lights In The Attic, ‘Satan Is Real’ will be joined by a second disc of Louvin Brothers material. The compilation has been selected by some important songwriters, with the full list containing (deep breath): Mark Lanegan, Graham Nash, Beck, Emmylou Harris, Will Oldham, Lucinda Williams, Jim James, Kris Kristofferson, Devendra Banhart, Chris Hillman, Zooey Deschanel, The Black Angels, Dolly Parton and M. Ward.
Here’s some selected quotes…
Emmylou Harris on ‘I See A Bridge’
“It was Gram Parsons who first introduced me to the sound of the Louvin Brothers in 1972. I was stunned by their harmonies and began my search for everything they ever recorded, not the least of which was my own copy of Satan Is Real. It remains a treasured part of my record collection and I’m delighted to be a part of its resurrection with this reissue.”
Will Oldham on ‘Alabama’
“Why did the Louvin Brothers sing ‘Kentucky’ on Tragic Songs of Life? In order to rope in such souls as mine, and begin exposing such souls to the wild lyrical adventures delved into throughout the record. And the anchor/answer was their own ‘Alabama’, teaching me about Bama agriculture, and at the same time importing songs of homes, of state-love, of satisfaction, longing and nostalgia into the otherwise harrowing jams on that record. I came to the Louvins via the Everlys, and so the bridge from Kentucky to Alabama buttressed.”
Sadly, The Louvin Brothers were not to have a happy ending. The brothers were driven apart by Ira’s alcoholism, and the ill-fated country singer perished in a brutal car crash in 1965.
‘The Louvin Brothers: Satan Is Real & Handpicked Songs 1955-62’ is due to be released on November 7th.