Tragic Songs of Life is a landmark 1956 Capitol album (T-769) by the Louvin Brothers, reissued in 1981 on Rounder Records (SS 12). Charlie Louvin (guitar, vocals) and Ira Louvin (mandolin, vocals) compile a program of murder ballads, disaster narratives, and heartbreak songs drawn from the Appalachian tradition—a genre the brothers referred to simply as "tragic songs." The album distills the high lonesome sound of mountain close-harmony singing into some of its most emotionally direct recorded expression, and its influence on subsequent generations of country and Americana artists has been profound. The Rounder reissue made this essential recording accessible to the folk revival audience of the early 1980s.
Tracklist
- 1 Kentucky - The Original Album 2:40
- 2 Knoxville Girl Source Recording 3:48
- 3 I'll Be All Smiles Tonight - The Original Album 3:14
- 4 Let Her Go, God Bless Her - The Original Album 2:55
- 5 What is Home Without Love - The Original Album 3:01
- 6 A Tiny Broken Heart - The Original Album 2:33
- 7 In The Pines - The Original Album 3:15
- 8 Alabama - The Original Album 2:44
- 9 Katie Dear - The Original Album 2:34
- 10 My Brother's Will - The Original Album 3:16
- 11 Knoxville Girl - The Original Album 3:49
- 12 Take the News to Mother - The Original Album 2:48
- 13 Mary of the Wild Moor - The Original Album 3:13
- 14 Satan Lied to Me - Religous Overtones 2:21
- 15 Pray for Me - Religous Overtones 2:53
- 16 Lord, I'm Coming Home - Religous Overtones 3:15
- 17 Thankful - Religous Overtones 2:56
