Search - Louvin Brothers :: Tragic Songs of Life

Unforgettable Finest Effort by Bluegrass Masters

James Morris | Jackson Heights, NY United States | 11/22/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"It's terrific to see that this title is still available some 50 years after its initial release. It just goes to show you that there are still a few record producers and labels who have not totally sacrificed taste and class in the name of greed. My CD collection numbers over 2,500 CD's and spans 15 different genres, including country, jazz, opera, blues, rock and roll, rhythm and blues, folk, classical, western swing, bluegrass, Latin, show tunes, Seasonal and movie soundtracks. But I will happily go out on a limb and proclaim this as one of my 20 favorite albums of all time.



A friend introduced me to the vinyl in 1978. At the time, I knew little about Country music and even less about Bluegrass. Yet the very first time I heard it, I knew I was experiencing something special. Some may find Take The News To Mother or Mary of the Wild Moor (or any of the other 12 songs for that matter) somewhat hokey, but the unadorned, raw sentiment of these heartbreaking songs is what makes this album work so well. Why do you think it's called Tragic Songs of Life?



Charlie and Ira's proficiency in guitar and mandolin will floor you, but their plaintive harmony will haunt you forever. My two favorites, A Tiny Broken Heart and the Carter Family's perennial I'll Be All Smiles Tonight are masterpieces of feeling and harmony.



A Tiny Broken Heart is particularly gut-wrenching. The story of a little boy whose first love moves away, his pleading for his father to stop the sale of the farm next door will touch even the most jaded of hearts. "Oh no, he cried, dear God don't let it be - they can't take my sweetheart away! ...Give them all my toys, that dear Santa gave; and give them the pennies in my little piggy bank, pennies that my darling helped me save". The world was a far simpler place when Charlie and Ira penned those lyrics, but time has not diminished their effectiveness one bit.



Lesser artists always change the gender when singing a gender-specific song written in the voice of the opposite sex. Like many true artists, they don't bother to alter the lyrics to I'll Be All Smiles Tonight, which is written in the first person from a female perspective. Nevertheless, their wailing will touch you in ways that are difficult to describe, even when you think (and their sincere delivery will convince you otherwise) that they are performing this material with their tongues planted firmly in their cheeks. "I'll deck my brow with roses; my true love may be there. And gems that others gave me, will shine within my hair..." the song begins. You forget instantly that the lyrics were written to be sung by a woman; Maybelle and Sara Carter were only slightly more convincing. True genius.



There is not a bad moment on this album or a bad note in their mouths. The Louvin Brothers, who are known in country history as one of the finest - if not THE finest bluegrass duo who ever lived - produced what is arguably their best album with Tragic Songs of Life. I don't expect it will remain in print forever - it's much too good. Go get it while you can.

"

STUNNING , MAGNIFICENT+ESSENTIAL

James Morris | 04/11/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"A dark and truly beautiful album, quite possibly the Louvin Brother's finest. Every song is filled with a terrible beauty that is hard to explain if you are not familiar with Ira and Charlie's work."Katie Dear" and "Knoxville Girl" are particularly memorable songs and stay with you forever! One of the greatest and totally essential."

Louvin Brothers/Trgic Songs of Life.

Ronald Vincent | Montréal-Nord, QC Canada | 01/11/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Excellent quality product. I have bought the vinyl version back in 1960, and loved it.I was very pleased to find it on Amazon."