Charlie Louvin Releases Two New Ablums

Charlie Louvin, of the legendary Country duo, The Louvin Brothers, is set to release two new albums on the New Tompkins Square label. The Country Music Hall of Famer will release Steps to Heaven on Sept. 16, which features 10 traditional gospel songs and two Louvin Brothers songs, and on Dec. 9, he will release Charlie Louvin Sings Ballads & Disaster Songs. In speaking about his September release, Louvin said, "I did things on the gospel record I had no idea I could do. I'd be thinking along the way, ‘How can I do things I've never done before?’ And I did it." Steps of Heaven was recorded with a live gospel choir, with gospel pianist Derrick Lee and Chris Scruggs on doghouse bass and electric guitar.  Louvin's second 2008 release, Charlie Louvin Sings Ballads and Disaster Songs, may sound depressing, but the album can be linked to the first Louvin Brothers album from 1956, titled Tragic Songs of Life. The original inspiration for his new album came from Tomkins Square's recently Grammy-nominated 3 CD box set, People Take Warning! Murder Ballads & Disaster Songs, 1913-1938. Louvin will be on tour with Old 97’s in October and can be heard on Lucinda Williams's new album, due out Oct. 14. In 2007, at the age of 80, Charlie released his first album in 10 years. The self-titled album was Grammy-nominated for Best Traditional Folk Album.