When I was in college I hung out at a bar with a great jukebox — a real one, not the digital kind that litter bars these days.  My playlist usually included a gin and tonic (heh),  “Wild Horses,” something by the Smiths and a track from the Louvin Brothers’ iconic album Satan is Real (which has a crazy album cover). Ira and Charlie Louvin’s repertoire was heavily influenced by their Baptist faith and warned against sin, though they were both known to throw back some whiskey. Spreading their gospel (literally) allowed the brothers to popularize close harmonies in country, as well as some serious guitar picking and mandolin playing. Now I want to visit the Foxhead and listen to some swelling duets on the juke!

Here’s the Louvin Brothers’ version of “I Don’t Believe You’ve Met My Baby” on the Grand Ole Opry.

I also ran across a documentary on the history of country music. Check out the Louvin Brothers contribution to country music here.