A Tribute to the Delmore Brothers

You could listen to music for 50 years and not hear harmonies as sweet or playing as nimble as what's on A Tribute to the Delmore Brothers. The album was one top-flight brother harmony duo paying tribute to the first great brother harmony duo in recording history. It sometimes seems like every country duo did tribute records to Alton and Rabon Delmore, and Capitol has at least one other (by Johnny Bond and Merle Travis), but this is the best one, recorded in three days, with Ira Louvin using the late Rabon Delmore's own guitar, former Delmore collaborators Grandpa Jones and Merle Travis standing by, and Chet Atkins on hand. The execution of the record is dazzling, with soaring harmonies and exquisite instrumental textures throughout — stereo was invented just for acts like the Louvins. The song selection is also impeccable (chosen with help from Alton Delmore), including "Brown's Ferry Blues," "Weary Lonesome Blues," "Midnight Special," "When It's Time for the Whippoorwill to Sing," and the hauntingly nostalgic "Put Me on the Trail to Carolina." Also included is "Blues Stay Away From Me," a future part of Bob Dylan's repertory, and a rockin' version of "Freight Train Boogie." It's only a pity that there weren't any leftover tracks from the session to include on the CD.