Search - Louvin Brothers :: Tribute to the Delmore Brothers

Love-letter to inspiration

hyperbolium | Earth, USA | 01/26/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"It's hard to imagine so many things coming together to bless a recording session as did for this 1960 outing. Not only were the Louvin Brothers at the peak of their musical powers and popularity, but their label actually asked them to come up with some ideas for concept albums. A tribute to the Delmores was as natural a choice as could be. Not only had the Delmores invented the brother country harmony act, they were childhood heroes of the Louvins, and had produced a tremendous catalog of original songs to be covered.As if that weren't enough to get the sessions off the ground, the surviving Delmore, Alton, worked with the Louvins to refine the song list, and, in a truly inspired act of generosity, lent them his deceased brother's guitar for the sessions. Once underway, the recordings were further enhanced by the presence of original Delmore band members, Merle Travis and Gran'pa Jones. Though Travis was too ill to actually play on the album, he provided moral support, and gave Louvin's guitarist, Jimmy Capps, an occasional in-studio lesson on just how it was done back when.With such a perfect combination of songs, singers, players, instruments and supporters (including head of the then-rival RCA label, Chet Atkins), it's no wonder that the resulting twelve tracks provide such an incredible wallop. It's exactly what a tribute album should be: the sound of one great act magnifying the brilliance of another.The Louvin's exquisite harmonies, forged from their childhood fascination with the music of the Delmores, were destined to sing these songs. Titles like "Midnight Special" (with a verse added by Alton Delmore) and Delmore originals like "Blues Stay Away From Me" and "Freight Train Boogie" (with a verse about the Delmores added by the Louvins!) show off how fluidly the Louvin's vocals intertwined, and the innovation they'd added to the Delmore's original work. All twelve tracks are standouts.Louvin biographer Charles Wolfe augments Merle Travis' original liner notes with an excellent essay that places the album (along with the Delmores and Louvins) in historical context. Perhaps this package's only disappointment is that its reproduction of the original landmark album's 33-minutes leaves one wishing the Louvins had taken the time to cover another dozen classic Delmore tunes!"