Louvin Bros. song

Subject: Another Louvin Bros. song?
From: Jim Krause
Date: 19 Oct 00 - 12:34 PM

I woke up this morning with a song going round and round in my head. This is not an infrequent occurance. So, I looked it up in the DigiTrad. What I remembered was:

Oh Katy dear, go ask your father
If you can be a bride of mine...etc.

According to a former post, Ian and Sylvia recorded this song. But I thought it was a folk song recorded a long time ago by the Louvins, or maybe the Blue Sky Boys.

Subject: RE: Louvin Bros. song
From: GUEST,Pete Peterson
Date: 19 Oct 00 - 01:08 PM

Blue Sky Boys recorded it back in 1935 or so; it was on the first LP reissue (list price $1.98 back in 1963 or so) as Katy Dear. I can hear them singing it in my head; thanks! I am less sure of the Louvins.

Subject: RE: Louvin Bros. song
From: GUEST,Gene
Date: 19 Oct 00 - 04:06 PM

Found at: * BLUEGRASS LYRICS SITE *

Katy dear

Oh Katy dear go ask your mother
If you can be a bride of mine
If she says yes come back and tell me
If she says no we'll run away

Oh willie dear I cannot ask her
She's in her room up taking a rest
And by her side is a silver dagger
To slay the man that I love best

Oh Katy dear go sak your brother
If you can be a bride of mine
If he says yes come back and tell me
If he says no we'll run away

Oh Willie dear I cannot ask him
For he's there to up taking a rest
And by his side that silver dagger
To slay the one that I love best

Then he picked up that silver dagger
And stove it through his weary heart
Saying goodbye Katy, goodbye darling
At last the time has come to part

Then she picked up that bloody dagger
And stove it through her lilly white breast
Saying goodbye Willie, goodbye mother
I'll die with the one that I love best

Subject: RE: Louvin Bros. song
From: StandingBear (inactive)
Date: 19 Oct 00 - 04:15 PM

*NOTE TO LOUVIN BROTHERS FANS* ******************************

Ira Louvin's grandson is auctioning a whole lotta stuff that was bequeathed to him on the passing of Ira... it's all on eBay (at least so far an old, VERY nice bowl-back mandolin is there) so go search on ebay under Louvin (be sure to check the little box that says search both TITLES and DESCRIPTIONS)

Just thought this stuff might be of interest.

Peace on you,

'Bear

PS Where do i begin with getting the Louvins' best songs? I have heard SO much about them, but have never heard many of their songs. Where do I begin?

Subject: RE: Louvin Bros. song
From: tar_heel
Date: 19 Oct 00 - 04:37 PM

there is a box set of cd's(6 i think)that has every song the louvin bros.,recorded on them...contact county records floyd,virginia 540-745-2001

Subject: RE: Louvin Bros. song
From: Stewie
Date: 19 Oct 00 - 06:37 PM

If you want a single CD, there's a good 24-track compilation on Razor and Tie: 'When I Stop Dreaming: The Best of the Louvin Brothers' Razor and Tie RE 2068. The box set mentioned by Tar Heel consists of 8 CDs and a 52 page book - it is on the German label Bear Family and is titled 'Close Harmony'

--Stewie.

Subject: RE: Louvin Bros. song
From: Callie
Date: 19 Oct 00 - 06:42 PM

"Katie Dear" was written by William Bolick (what an unfortunate surname) and recorded by the Louvin Bros in 1956. I have it on a very fine recording of theirs called "Tragic Songs of Life".

I heard an American singer called Ron Sexsmith (another unfortunate surname!) play in Sydney a few years ago and he sang a few Louvin songs. the really surprising thing was how many (young) people in the audience knew all the Louvin songs and called out Louvin requests!

Callie

Subject: RE: Louvin Bros. song
From: Dale Rose
Date: 19 Oct 00 - 06:52 PM

Hey there, Callie, depends on where you are! Never thought anything about Bill Bolick's last name. He is still alive, by the way, and by all reports is a fine gentleman who always credited his sources. I have the CD in question ~~ he and his brother Earl, who died within the last year or so, recorded it about 1938. Unfortunately, the notes are not to be found at the moment, so I cannot give you his exact take on where they got it. More than likely the Louvins credited him with the version that they used, rather than actual authorship.

Subject: RE: Louvin Bros. song
From: Dale Rose
Date: 19 Oct 00 - 07:12 PM

I have uploaded the Blue Sky Boys (Bill and Earl Bolick)version of Katie Dear ~~ January 25, 1938, to my website. There are no other links except here. The Real Audio will completely download before playing, so be patient. It is from the CD Within The Circle/Who Wouldn't Be Lonely, BSR CD 1003/4. I understand that it is out of print, but I have seen copies for sale recently, but cannot remember where.

About continued availability of the file, at present I have no plans to take it down, but cannot vouch for the future.

Subject: RE: Louvin Bros. song
From: Callie
Date: 19 Oct 00 - 07:49 PM

Dale: do you mean it's "trad" and therefore not attributable to Bill, but the Louvins recorded his version & thus the acknowledgment?

Callie

ps: no offense meant regarding Mr B's surname: I'm at work and seeking creative diversion.

Subject: RE: Louvin Bros. song
From: Dale Rose
Date: 19 Oct 00 - 08:05 PM

I think you probably got that right, Callie, like I said I don't have the BSB notes handy, and of course, On Tragic Songs of Life, there really are no notes worth mentioning. No doubt one of the REAL scholars here could clear up the history of the song in short order. In fact, it may already be here, possibly under Silver Dagger, I haven't looked.

Oh, I know what you meant, it is just that things mean different things to people in different countries ~~ I am in Arkansas, USA. I meant no offense either, just a weak attempt at humor. (or is it humour?)

Do take the time to listen to the Blue Sky Boys version when you get a chance, you'll hear what a great debt the Louvins owed to the Bolicks for their sound on songs of that nature. The Bolicks who were only teenagers when they first recorded in 1936, recorded some of the Louvin compositions later on as well.

Subject: RE: Louvin Bros. song
From: Callie
Date: 19 Oct 00 - 08:12 PM

I've never heard the Blue Sky Boys, but the cd notes to "Tragic Songs ..." pay homage to them, if only in passing. Thanks for the new lead - I'll go hunting for them!

Subject: RE: Louvin Bros. song
From: Stewie
Date: 20 Oct 00 - 04:44 AM

Callie, when you do go searching, give consideration to the Rounder set 'The Blue Sky Boys' Rounder CD 0052. The booklet has a short essay by Bill Malone. As Bill says: 'The Blue Sky Boys' sound - mandolin, guitar and 2 voices - may suggest an earlier phase of American existence, but the sentiments they express are timeless. They speak directly to our hearts, if we will but listen, as few entertainers in country music history have done'.

The CD is a fine introduction to their beautiful music.

--Stewie.