Livin', Lovin', Losin': Songs of the Louvin Brothers is a tribute album to the music of The Louvin Brothers, released in 2003.

The Louvin Brothers were an American country music duo composed of brothers Ira Louvin and Charlie Louvin. They helped popularize close harmony, a genre of country music. Their partnership ended in 1963 with Charlie continuing a long and successful career as a solo artist. Ira died in an automobile accident in 1965 and Charlie died in 2011 from pancreatic cancer.

History Ira Louvin's daughter, Kathy Louvin, approached producer Carl Jackson with the idea of a Louvin Brothers tribute album. Jackson then enlisted the various artists who performed on the tracks. The project was kept a secret from Charlie, the surviving Louvin Brother, until he accidentally heard about it and later became involved in the sessions.

Guest vocalists include Glen Campbell, Johnny Cash, James Taylor, Emmylou Harris, Alison Krauss, Vince Gill, Merle Haggard, Linda Ronstadt, Dolly Parton, and many others.

The recitation on "Keep Your Eyes on Jesus" was one of the last sessions Cash did before his death.

Reception

At the Grammy Awards of 2004, Livin', Lovin', Losin won the Grammy Award for Best Country Album and James Taylor and Alison Krauss won the Grammy Award for Best Country Collaboration with Vocals for their duet on "How's the World Treating You". In 2004, it won the International Bluegrass Music Association Award for the Recorded Event of the Year.

While applauding individual performances in his Allmusic review, Thom Jurek stated "[The Louvins] were successful during their era, the 1950s and early '60s, for a reason: they offered a view of life, love, loss, and the ever-present and eerie power of a God just beyond the pale with genuine wonder, fear, and pathos. Performed by superstars, legends, and others, most of the 16 tracks on Livin', Lovin', Losin' add nothing to the originals and, if anything, make somewhat generic what was special in its iconoclasm. The Louvins would not have a recording contract in this day and age, and any attempt by Carl Jackson to make them sound contemporary enough to be relevant in the stupid paranoid world of Nash Vegas country music circa 2003 is just ridiculous."

Conversely, Hank Kalet in his PopMatters review stated "The disc... [creates] a rarity of sorts: a fully fleshed out, perfectly executed tribute disc that captures the spirit of the recording artist it means to honor while also offering a collection of contemporary performances that are worth listening to on their own merit. The playing is flawless, the vocals inspired and the song selection a perfect glimpse into what made the Louvins one of the most influential acts in country history."

Track listing

Personnel Harley Allen – vocals Dierks Bentley – vocals Bruce Bouton – pedal steel guitar Glen Campbell – vocals Johnny Cash – vocals Terri Clark – vocals Larry Cordle – vocals J. T. Corenflos – guitar Tony Creasman – drums Rodney Crowell – vocals Glen Duncan – fiddle Ronnie Dunn – vocals Vince Gill – vocals Emory Gordy – bass Kevin Grantt – bass Mike Bub – bass Merle Haggard – vocals Emmylou Harris – vocals David Harvey – mandolin Pamela Brown Hayes – vocals Rebecca Lynn Howard – vocals Roy Huskey, Jr. – bass Sonya Isaacs – vocals Carl Jackson – vocals, guitar, banjo, mandolin, percussion Mike Johnson – pedal steel guitar The Jordanaires – vocals Randy Kohrs – dobro Alison Krauss – vocals Kathy Louvin – vocals Patty Loveless – vocals Catherine Marx – piano Del McCoury – vocals Joe Nichols – vocals Martin Parker – drums Dolly Parton – vocals Jon Randall – vocals Matt Rollings – piano Linda Ronstadt – vocals Jerry Salley – vocals Leslie Satcher – vocals Adam Steffey – mandolin Marty Stuart – vocals, mandolin, electronic drums James Taylor – vocals Pam Tillis – vocals Steve Turner – drums Jim Van Cleve – fiddle Rhonda Vincent – vocalsProduction notes:' Carl Jackson – producer, executive producer, vocal engineer, song notes Kathy Louvin – executive producer John "Babbacombe" Lee – engineer Luke Wooten – engineer, vocal engineer Jim Brady – vocal engineer John Carter Cash – vocal engineer Hank Williams – mastering Tom Wilmeth – liner notes Richard Pimsner – assistant Beth Middleworth – art direction, design Susan Levy – art direction

Chart performance Chart (2003) Peakposition U.S. Billboard Top Country Albums 44

References

External links Country Standard Time Retrieved January 22, 2010.