Louvin goes north
Tuesday, August 3, 2010 – Charlie Louvin has signed with True North Records of Canada and will release a new album this fall.
The first album to be released under the new deal will be "The Battle Rages On," a collection of war songs dating back to the American Civil War and includes the talents of special guests Del McCoury and Jamie Dailey.
Louvin, a Country Music Hall of Fame member, released several albums in recent years on a small New York City label. He began his career as one half of The Louvin Brothers and has released nearly 20 albums over 4 decades.
True North Records is a leading independent roots music label founded in 1969, based in Ontario Canada and is home to Bruce Cockburn, Murray McLaughlan, Lynn Miles and Catherine MacLellan. The CD is distributed by E1 in the U.S. and Universal Music in Canada.
Louvin has been battling cancer.
More news for Charlie Louvin
CD reviews for Charlie Louvin
The Battle Rages On
Several years ago, a childhood hero hawked autographs during an old-timers game. Watching a once larger-than-life figure reduced to scrawling his name on penny cards for $20 was distressing, but the money was paid to a man who - it appeared - had no room in his life for false pride. The message was clear: he was doing what he needed to do.
That experience came back while listening to "The Battle Rages On," the latest from Country Hall of Fame and Grand Ole Opry member Charlie Louvin. »»» |
Charlie Louvin Sings Murder Ballads and Disaster Songs
Charlie Louvin is an old pro, and the latter term is no less true than the former. More than four decades after his brother and singing partner, Ira, met his maker on a highway in Missouri, Louvin is still churning out albums, many of them with a gospel theme. He handles the material here quite capably, but the theme might have been better suited to Ira.
Louvin's arrangements are downright buoyant and, partly for that reason, the album lacks the visceral impact its title portends. »»» |
Steps to Heaven
Charlie Louvin is back with one of the most straightforward gospel albums of his long, distinguished career, and hosannas are in order. At 81, he's hardly the same singer who elevated the art of tight harmonies with his brother, Ira, in the 1940s and '50s. However, collaboration is no less vital on this, his third studio album of the last three years(!). The Lord may have to wait a while to reclaim the younger Mr. Louvin.
Louvin is in fine voice, but it is the strident, starchy piano »»» |
Editorial: Walking the talk –
When names like Hank Williams, Johnny Cash, Waylon and the Hag are invoked, you're talking hard core country. These are the touchstones of country , the guys who made country music what it was and still is (or maybe can be). When these folks would sing about being down-and-out and the rough-and-tumble, they knew of what they were singing about. Fast forward a few years to the country singers of today. »»»
Concert Review: Music City goes (Boston) Pop(s) –
On the face of it, the idea of top shelf country songwriters coming up from Nashville to play with the Boston Pops may seem incongruous. The idea of the venerable Boston institution and fixture on the July 4 scene, playing patriotic songs doesn't have all that much to do with country.
The idea isn't without precedent, of course.... »»»
Concert Review: O'Donovan goes home –
Aiofe O'Donovan had plenty of reason to be filled with good cheer. This was a hometown gig, after all, and only three days before the release of her first full-length solo debut, "Fossils."
Joking that the audience was filled with people she knew from high school and her parents' friends, O'Donovan made it clear that Boston... »»»
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