The Louvin Brothers - Complete Recorded Works: 1952-1962

American country music duo The Louvin Brothers, composed of brothers Ira Lonnie Loudermilk (1924-1965) and Charlie Elzer Loudermilk (1927-2011) - better known as Ira and Charlie Louvin - were tagged "the most influential harmony team in the history of country music" by the New York Times. But perhaps Emmylou Harris put it more succinctly; "there was something scary and washed in the blood about the sound of the Louvin Brothers." They adopted the name Louvin Brothers in the 1940s as they began their career in gospel. They would soon move into secular music however, although many of their songs, often self-composed, were still heavily influenced by their Baptist faith and warned against sin. Despite this, Ira Louvin had a reputation for drinking, womanizing, and volcanic temper. In 1963, fed up with Ira's drinking and abusive behavior, Charlie started a solo career. Ira Louvin died in 1965 at the age of 41 after a drunk-driver struck the vehicle he was driving head-on; his fourth wife Anne was also killed in the crash. Ironically, at the time of his death, a 'Drunk Under The Influence' arrest warrant had been issued for him. The more sober lifestyle of brother Charlie undoubtedly contributed to his long life, surviving as he did until 2011, passing on at age 83 after a lengthy battle with pancreatic cancer. This 6-disc compilation contains every recording the brothers released as a duo - from their very first single, the delightful 'Get Acquainted Waltz', right through to their 1962 album Weapon Of Prayer released soon before they went their separate ways. There were numerous albums released retrospectively, many of which contained previously un-heard recordings, but it was the music that was issued during their tenure as a musical partnership that best represents the almighty influence this often troubled but always magnificent pair contributed to the Great American Country Music Songbook.

1) The Get Acquainted Waltz
2) Weapon of Prayer
3) They've Got the Church Outnumbered
4) Do You Live What You Preach
5) You'll Be Rewarded Over There
6) I'll Live with God (To Die No More)
7) Robe of White
8) The Great Atomic Power
9) Insured Beyond the Grave
10) The Gospel Way
11) The Sons and Daughters of God
12) Kentucky
13) I'll Be All Smiles Tonight
14) Let Her Go God Bless Her
15) What Is Home Without Love
16) A Tiny Broken Heart
17) In the Pines
18) Alabama
19) Katie Dear
20) My Brother's Will
21) Knoxville Girl
22) Take the News to Mother
23) Mary of the Wild Moor
24) Are You Washed in the Blood
25) Nearer My God to Thee
26) Wait a Little Longer Please Jesus
27) I Can't Say No
28) I Won't Have to Cross Jordan Alone
29) There's No Excuse
30) This Little Light of Mine
31) Praying
32) Thankful
33) Lord I'm Coming Home
34) Last Chance to Pray
35) I Steal Away and Pray
36) Don't Let Your Sweet Love Die
37) We Could
38) Tennessee Waltz
39) Are You Teasing Me
40) Too Late
41) Here Today and Gone Tomorrow
42) I Wonder Where You Are Tonight
43) Have I Stayed Away Too Long
44) Nobody's Darling But Mine
45) Why Not Confess
46) Making Believe
47) Take Me Back Into Your Heart
48) Take Me Back Into Your Heart
49) I Wonder Where You Are Tonight
50) The Family Who Prays (Never Shall Part)
51) Born Again
52) If We Forget God
53) Satan Lied to Me
54) God Bless Her (Cause She's My Mother)
55) Love Thy Neighbor As Thy Self
56) Preach the Gospel
57) Just Rehearsing
58) Pray for Me
59) Satan and the Saint
60) Swing Low Sweet Chariot
61) Make Him a Soldier
62) Are You Wasting My Time
63) If I Could Only Win Your Love
64) Today
65) Read What's in My Heart
66) I Wonder If You Know
67) Memories and Tears
68) On My Way to the Show
69) My Heart Was Trampled on the Street
70) She'll Get Lonesome
71) Red Hen Hop
72) Blue
73) Send Me the Pillow That You Dream
74) Satan Is Real
75) There's a Higher Power
76) The Christian Life
77) The River of Jordan
78) The Kneeling Drunkard's Plea
79) Are You Afraid to Die
80) He Can Be Found
81) Dying from Home and Lost
82) The Drunkard's Doom
83) Satan's Jeweled Crown
84) The Angels Rejoiced Last Night
85) I'm Ready to Go Home
86) My Baby's Gone
87) Blue from Now on
88) When I Loved You
89) She Didn't Even Know I Was Gone
90) You're Running Wild
91) Plenty of Everything But You
92) I Wish You Knew
93) While You're Cheating on Me
94) Lorene
95) I Wish It Had Been a Dream
96) The First One to Love You
97) My Baby Came Back
98) The First One to Love You
99) Weary Lonesome Blues
100) Midnight Special
101) Blues Stay Away from Me
102) Sand Mountain Blues
103) Southern Moon
104) Nashville Blues
105) Brown's Ferry Blues
106) When It's Time for the Whippoorwill
107) Freight Train Boogie
108) Put Me on the Train to Carolina
109) Gonna Lay Down My Old Guitar
110) The Last Old Shovel
111) Childish Love
112) Love Is a Lonely Street
113) If You Love Me Stay Away
114) Cash on the Barrelhead
115) The New Partner Waltz
116) The Stagger
117) Ruby's Song
118) Nellie Moved to Town
119) What a Change One Day Can Make
120) Call Me
121) You're Learning
122) My Curly Headed Baby
123) O Come All Ye Faithful
124) Silent Night
125) Away in a Manger
126) Good Christian Men Rejoice
127) While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks
128) Deck the Halls
129) It Came Upon a Midnight Clear
130) The First Noel
131) O Little Town of Bethlehem
132) The Friendly Beasts
133) Hark! the Herald Angels Sing
134) Joy to the World
135) The Weapon of Prayer
136) There's a Grave in the Wave of the Ocean
137) At Mail Call Today
138) I Died for the Red White and Blue
139) A Soldier's Last Letter
140) There's a Star Spangled Banner Waving Somewhere
141) The Great Atomic Power
142) A Seaman's Girl
143) From Mother's Arms to Korea
144) Robe of White
145) Searching for a Soldier's Grave
146) Mother I Thank You for the Bible You Gave