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J. Hayes · June 17th, 2008, 11:19 AM

if some of you guys (and girls) haven't heard them you're really missing something. They were originally gospel in nature but evolved into a secular act and had some good size hits on Capitol Records.

Ira Louvin was the high voice and played one of the sweetest mandolins I've ever heard on record. He had the most "country" voice of the two and usually was the main voice on their "recitation" type recordings.

Charlie was the lower smoother lead voice of the two and went on to a nice career after Ira's death in the mid sixties. He's still active and performs on the Grand Ol Opry as well as other bookings.

The main reason I'd like you guys (and girls) to check out their recordings is the instrumentation. The leads are mostly done on fingerstyle Atkins style guitar and acoustic mandolin. Ira of course does the mandolin work but the lead guitar was Paul Yandell (known for his work with Chet Atkins) and later Jimmy Capps (after Paul was drafted). I was in Germany the same time as Paul was and got to hear him play a bit over there. Jimmy Capps has been a staff guitarist on the Opry for many years and for an old dude (like me) he's pretty current on his chops. He can chicken pick with the best of 'em and play distorted rock licks like a 25 year old if he wants. I really respect a picker who stays on top of musical trends and doesn't live in the past. Paul is still in Nashville and gigs from time to time and is still one of the premier finger stylists in the world, too bad he was always in Chet's shadow as he was his own man......

The Louvin recordings had some of the sweetest guitar tones ever recorded IMHO. Check out the lead break in "You're Running Wild" for a pretty slow ride with some great harmony choices. For a medium tempo finger style jewel try "I Wonder Where You Are Tonight". The first part of the break comes in with the mandolin and the last half is Chet tone but more in the Merle Travis style on guitar.

All in all, the Louvin recordings a wealth of great guitar playing and harmony vocals. Gram Parsons used to send people out to look for Louvin Brothers records when he'd come to a town and he also turned Emmylou Harris on to their sound. Their gospel records also had the same instrumentation. Check out "River of Jordan". It has a "call and response" style break between mandolin & electric guitar which is wonderful.........JH in Va.

June 17th, 2008, 11:19 AM	#10 (permalink)
J. Hayes Tele-Holic Join Date: May 2005 Location: Virginia Beach, Va. Posts: 973	"Speaking of the Louvin Brothers"........... if some of you guys (and girls) haven't heard them you're really missing something. They were originally gospel in nature but evolved into a secular act and had some good size hits on Capitol Records. Ira Louvin was the high voice and played one of the sweetest mandolins I've ever heard on record. He had the most "country" voice of the two and usually was the main voice on their "recitation" type recordings. Charlie was the lower smoother lead voice of the two and went on to a nice career after Ira's death in the mid sixties. He's still active and performs on the Grand Ol Opry as well as other bookings. The main reason I'd like you guys (and girls) to check out their recordings is the instrumentation. The leads are mostly done on fingerstyle Atkins style guitar and acoustic mandolin. Ira of course does the mandolin work but the lead guitar was Paul Yandell (known for his work with Chet Atkins) and later Jimmy Capps (after Paul was drafted). I was in Germany the same time as Paul was and got to hear him play a bit over there. Jimmy Capps has been a staff guitarist on the Opry for many years and for an old dude (like me) he's pretty current on his chops. He can chicken pick with the best of 'em and play distorted rock licks like a 25 year old if he wants. I really respect a picker who stays on top of musical trends and doesn't live in the past. Paul is still in Nashville and gigs from time to time and is still one of the premier finger stylists in the world, too bad he was always in Chet's shadow as he was his own man...... The Louvin recordings had some of the sweetest guitar tones ever recorded IMHO. Check out the lead break in "You're Running Wild" for a pretty slow ride with some great harmony choices. For a medium tempo finger style jewel try "I Wonder Where You Are Tonight". The first part of the break comes in with the mandolin and the last half is Chet tone but more in the Merle Travis style on guitar. All in all, the Louvin recordings a wealth of great guitar playing and harmony vocals. Gram Parsons used to send people out to look for Louvin Brothers records when he'd come to a town and he also turned Emmylou Harris on to their sound. Their gospel records also had the same instrumentation. Check out "River of Jordan". It has a "call and response" style break between mandolin & electric guitar which is wonderful.........JH in Va. __________________ Ralph Mooney rules!!