It's finally happened, Charlie Louvin's 1976 Thunderbird album is available to buy from the internet. Through Mouton Music Canada, the album was released digitally on Dec 16th 2016, with plans to issue it on a physical CD in 2019. At present the 12 track album can be purchased from CD Baby, but within a week should be available at i-Tunes and Apple Music. Follow the link below to purchase your copy.
The twelve songs of ‘A World of Give and Take,’ recorded in January 1976, Toronto, Canada.
Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain (Fred Rose) Publisher – Acuff Rose Pub., Inc (BMI) Written in 1945, this song was first recorded by Roy Acuff in 1947, Hank Williams (1951), Donn Reynolds (1957), Ferlin Husky (1959), Slim Whitman (1959), Gene Vincent (1960), Bill Anderson (1962), John D. Loudermilk (1968), Hank Snow, and Conway Twitty in 1970. It was Willie Nelson’s version in 1975 that lit the charts on fire. John D. Loudermilk was a first half cousin of Charlie E. (Loudermilk) Louvin.
A World of give and take (John K. Gulley) – Publisher – Gullco Music (SOCAN) – This song was inspired by a Kris Kristofferson song (who was discovered by Charlie Louvin in 1965) and John liked the feel and mood. At the time (1971) John was playing guitar for Alfie Fromanger. They were travelling home from a gig on the Bruce Penninsula one night and John had a chorus melody in his head and remembered driving into Wiarton and seeing a string of street lights which inspired the second verse. John finished up the song over the next day or two.
Is She Gone (John K. Gulley) - Publisher – Gullco Music (SOCAN) – This song was written while John was a member of the Alfie Fromanger band, about 1972. It was a phrase that he and Alfie Fromanger used to joke about and John thought it would make a good country song. He was right!
Our Lovin Place (Wayne T. Heimbecker) – Publisher – (SOCAN) Wayne Heimbecker was a Paris, ON native who had been a member of Maple Street, and had released an album with Marathon Records out of Toronto in August 1974. He had written one song on that album, but had a stack of others. Three of those songs were used on this Charlie Louvin record. Terry Sumsion, a former member of Maple Street, began a solo career in 1977 and used ‘Our Lovin Place’ as one of his mainstays. He finally recorded it in 1981, and it quickly became his signature song when issued on his debut album in early 1983. This is the first time Charlie’s version has seen the light of day.
If I Could Only Win Your Love (Ira & Charlie Louvin) - Publisher – Acuff Rose Pub., Inc (BMI) This song was included on the Louvin Brothers 1958 album, “Country Love Ballads.” In June 1975 Emmylou Harris released it as a single and took it to #4 on the US Country Charts.
Will You Visit Me on Sundays – (Dallas Frazier) - Publisher – Acuff Rose Pub., Inc (BMI) This song was originally recorded by Charlie solo in 1968, getting to #20. Dallas Frazier was also the writer of both Alley Oop for the Hollywood Argyles and Elvira which was later recorded by the Oak Ridge Boys in 1981.
When I Stop Dreaming – (Ira & Charlie Louvin) - Publisher – Acuff Rose Pub., Inc (BMI) This single was originally issued in 1955 by the Louvin Brothers and became their breakthrough hit getting to #8 on the country charts, their first of six top 10 singles.
Sweet Sweet Lovin (Wayne T. Heimbecker) – Publisher – (SOCAN) This is the only recording of this 1974 Wayne Heimbecker song, and it now makes its debut over forty years later. It’s possible Terry Sumsion sang it during his early concerts, but he never recorded it.
Especially For You (David E. ‘Ted’ Brown) – Publisher – Mouton Music Canada (SOCAN) Ted Brown was the family favorite within the Thunderbird organization during their first year. He wrote two songs on the 1974 Maple Street album, and the A and B sides to the first two Thunderbird singles. Especially for You was the B-Side of 'Living On Pogey,' and was issued in May 1975, performed by Dug Bond and the Maple Street Show Band. Big Jim Allison really wanted Ted to be a successful songwriter, but it wasn’t to be, at the time.
I don’t believe you’ve Met My Baby (Robert Autry Inman) – Publisher – Tree Pub. Co., Inc (BMI) Originally issued in 1955, this was the Louvin Brother’s second top ten hit, and their first and only number one single.
Hazy Thoughts (Wayne T. Heimbecker) – Publisher – (SOCAN) Terry Sumsion recorded this song for his debut album, which was recorded in 1982 and issued in early 1983.
If You Believe In Me (Linda Bookout) – Publisher – Black Wings Pub. Co. (BMI) After the failure of his Thunderbird album, Charlie re-recorded this song as the B-Side of his 1976 United Artists single, “Sweet Texas.”
Tom Ryerson’s label ‘Mouton Music Canada’ is recognized by the Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (CARAS) and the Government of Canada, and as well Tom is also a voting member with the Juno Awards, Canada’s equivalent of the American Grammy Awards. Mouton Music Canada was established in Canada on November 4th 1991 and was first mentioned in print on May 27th 1995 in Billboard Magazine when the single ‘Slacker Anthem’ was reviewed. This CD release could not have happened without the cooperation of Roger Quick and Don Oatman.
