My Baby's Gone  (Click on title to listen to the song)

This song was a huge hit for Charlie and Ira Louvin (The Louvin Brothers) back in the 1950's but was not written by them. Hazel Marie Houser penned the song. Hazel was a very successful writer of gospel music back in the 50's. This session is on the California Jukebox CD by the Flying Burrito Brothers on American Harvest/Ether Record label originally and I think it is now out on The Ice House label.

The Louvin Brothers are known for having great harmony; in the class with the Everly Brothers. It is hard to beat the sibling harmony of brothers or sisters. It was a special honor for me to get to sing harmony with Charlie Louvin on this session. I was no Ira but then who is?

I did do the verses and the chorus a little different than the Louvin's version (I added an extra four chord) and Charlie called my attention to that fact. I asked if he would mind singing it my way and he said it was okay with him. He kept saying, "What ever the big man wants is fine with me". I think it was the boots, the long beard and big hat that made him think I was so big. Even today, when I see him backstage at the Op'ry he calls me "big man." I had originally sung two parts of harmony on this session, a low part below Charlie and a high part above him, but the low part was accidentally erased so we just went without it. The Louvin Brothers were a duet, not a trio anyway!   Read on...