A Toast To Charlie Louvin

"Cash On The Barrel Head" MP3

1/27/11

beeradvocate.com- A-

Ithaca Flower Power IPA- Bierkraft Park Slope, Brooklyn- 12oz. bottle into Belgian Tulip Glass- 7.5% ABV- Ithaca, NY has a place in my heart. We used to go to a music festival up that way called Grassroots. Saw alot of good bands: Del McCoury Band, The Campbell Brothers, Old Crow Medicine Show, The Mighty Clouds Gospel Group and the list goes on. Also we drank alot of beer, alot of beer. Not quality beer but alot of beer nonetheless. Haven't been up there in 4 or 5 years but hope to go back someday. This poured a golden, hazy almost orange with a nice two finger head. The aroma is heavy on citrus particularly grapefruit. Silky medium to light body, with a slick finish. This taste is very grassy mixed with citrus. I am really liking this beer. Probably more appropriate for spring or summer but a good IPA. This reminds me a bit of the Hop Wallop I tried a few months back but with a much "grassier" quality. I will definitely drink this again.

On the turntable is I'll Always Remember- Charlie Louvin- Recorded for Capitol Records in 1967- RIP July 7, 1927 – January 26, 2011- Mr. Louvin passed away the other day and I bought this LP last summer and had just broken it out to digitize the other day so it seemed like a fitting tribute to include this LP on tonight's blog.. Charlie Louvin was part of the bluegrass/country duo The Louvin Brothers with his brother Ira. Renowned for their vocal harmonies, they inspired many of the artists who came to prominence in the rock n' roll era. Gaining popularity in the 1950's the brother's eventually broke up in the early 60's. They also gained some amount of notoriety among vinyl enthusiasts for their strange LP cover for the album "Satan Is Real".

Ira Louvin died in a car accident in 1965. This LP is from 1967 and by the looks of the cover and the songs included this album was an inspired tribute from Charlie to his recently deceased brother. This is a good record with a nice mix of bluegrass and country songs with some arrangements that include some nice steel guitar. I have started posting songs to go along with the blogs when applicable and when the LP's are no longer in print. Today I have included the song "Cash On The Barrel Head". This song is a bit of an oddity on the album with its late 60's fuzzed out guitar and possibly an organ in the background. I nice little ode to old time justice.