songs:illinois

I’ve said my piece on Charlie Louvin back in 2006 (here) when he released a comeback record of sorts on Tompkins Square. Now it’s two years later and Charlie’s back with another set of songs that reside in the hinterland where gospel and country music come together.

The new record is called Steps To Heaven and features a small traditional gospel choir of three sisters, pianist Derrick Lee, and Chris Scruggs (from Br549) on doghouse bass and guitar (more on Chris Scruggs over at Postmodern Sounds). The arrangement on “Precious Lord, Take My Hand” showcases Charlie’s 80 year old tenor vocals. His voice crackles and creaks like only an old man’s can, and when Charlie sings “I’m tired, I’m weak and I’m worn” you really can believe it.

Look, I’m an atheist and even I get a shiver down my spine when I hear great gospel music, so take my advice and pre-order Steps To Heaven now through Amazon here.

Precious Lord, Take My Hand

Bonus song from Chris Scruggs:

Wayfaring Stranger (Courtesy of Postmodern Sounds)

Some of my all time favorite records over the last decade or five have been gospel influenced, which is strange because I’m actually indifferent about the traditional genre known as “Gospel Music”. Whether it’s Johnny Cash singing gospel hymns or Gordon Gano hashing through his religious beliefs or even Iris Dement’s small little gospel record she released five years back, these albums with their celebration of life complete with all it’s ups and downs are very attractive to me.

One of the new era gospel records I have been looking forward to is the one being put out by Signature Sounds this August by The Sacred Shakers featuring Eilen Jewell. In fact this record has more in common with early Sun Records period Johnny Cash and Elvis Presley than any of the schlock that passes for contemporary Christian music today. It’s rooted in the blues/folk and hard country of the Southern states with a healthy dose of Texas two step mixed in for good measure. It doesn’t hurt that Eilen Jewell is the lead singer on a number of these tracks, her voice is as suited to gospel as is the the alt-country she’s become known for on her solo releases. This is some of the most uplifting, heart healthy music you’re likely to hear and this is coming from a life long agnostic who’s verging toward atheism with every new calamity and moral collapse.

Pre-order this August 12 release here or here (it’s a much better deal here).

Twelve Gates to The City

The Old 97’s long awaited record Blame It On The Gravity will suck the oxygen from every other Americana release over the next month or so. Which is a shame because from the songs I’ve heard from Old 97’s bassist Murry Hammond’s new record I Don’t Know Where I’m Going But I’m On My Way deserve to be heard. Murry Hammond is the bassist in Old 97’s but he’s also connected to the new folk movement though his marriage to Grey Delisle.

The track “Lost At Sea” has a Paul Simon circa The Graduate feel. While “I Believe, I Believe” is more of an old country gospel song along the lines of something you might hear on Johnny Cash’s Hymns record. The new disc was recorded in analog which makes the slight reverb and uncompressed layering of instruments a wondeful byproduct of this technique. These songs were written during a period of time when Murry lost his parents, got married, had a child and was a leader at the Burbank Christian Church. So thematically the songs are a bit heavy, but musically they’re rather refined and quietly somber.

Rhett Miller will surely have that last laugh with the new Old 97’s record, but Murry may have made the better record. Ain’t that always the way of things.

You can buy it now here through Amazon.

Lost At Sea
I Believe, I Believe