With the recent passing of Phillip Everly (Jan. 3, 2014), we’d like to take this time to pay tribute to The Everly Brothers. If you don’t have the Everly Brothers in your music collection, you’re missing out on one of the most beautiful harmonies you’ll ever hear in music.
Early On
Don and Phil Everly started out singing as part of The Everly Family on a radio program in Iowa. When the family moved to Tennessee, Don and Phil transitioned out of the family act and into a duo.
If you think the Everly Brothers are just old-school crooners in a time when music was vanilla as vanilla ice cream, you’d be sorely mistaken. Everything we call country rock today has stemmed from the Everly Brothers’ influence.
Influence
They were the Beatles’ Beatles, gods for Simon & Garfunkel, and the wave the Beach Boys rode in on.
“Cathy’s Clown,” “Wake Up Little Susie,” “Bye Bye Love,” “All I Have To Do Is Dream,” and “Be-Bop-A-Lula” are among the Everly Brother’s 35 Top 100 songs, more than any other duo.
“Wake Up, Little Susie” was a bit controversial for the time because naysayers thought the song was too sexual. The song was banned on radio stations in Boston and other part of the country.
International Presence
Not only were the Everly Brothers popular in the United States, they were just as successful in Britain, thus the connection to the Beatles. In the U.K. they had 30 chart singles, 29 in the top 40, 13 top 10 and 4 at No. 1 between 1957 and 1984.
Accolades and Tributes
Rolling Stone has labeled them “the most important vocal duo in rock.” They have been inducted into both the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Country Music Hall of Fame.
Three Everly Brothers tribute albums were released in 2013, including Norah Jones and Billy Joe Armstrong’s “Foreverly.” There have also been several famous covers of their songs including Alison Krauss and Robert Plant’s version of “Gone Gone Gone” off the “Raising Sand” album, Reba McEntire’s “Cathy’s Clown,” and a-ha’s “Crying In the Rain.”
Although their influence runs deep through today’s music, the main reason you should add the Everly Brothers' music to your playlist is their harmony. It’s beautiful, soothing, and graceful, the perfect background for just about any day of the year.
Early On
Don and Phil Everly started out singing as part of The Everly Family on a radio program in Iowa. When the family moved to Tennessee, Don and Phil transitioned out of the family act and into a duo.
If you think the Everly Brothers are just old-school crooners in a time when music was vanilla as vanilla ice cream, you’d be sorely mistaken. Everything we call country rock today has stemmed from the Everly Brothers’ influence.
Influence
They were the Beatles’ Beatles, gods for Simon & Garfunkel, and the wave the Beach Boys rode in on.
“Cathy’s Clown,” “Wake Up Little Susie,” “Bye Bye Love,” “All I Have To Do Is Dream,” and “Be-Bop-A-Lula” are among the Everly Brother’s 35 Top 100 songs, more than any other duo.
“Wake Up, Little Susie” was a bit controversial for the time because naysayers thought the song was too sexual. The song was banned on radio stations in Boston and other part of the country.
International Presence
Not only were the Everly Brothers popular in the United States, they were just as successful in Britain, thus the connection to the Beatles. In the U.K. they had 30 chart singles, 29 in the top 40, 13 top 10 and 4 at No. 1 between 1957 and 1984.
Accolades and Tributes
Rolling Stone has labeled them “the most important vocal duo in rock.” They have been inducted into both the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Country Music Hall of Fame.
Three Everly Brothers tribute albums were released in 2013, including Norah Jones and Billy Joe Armstrong’s “Foreverly.” There have also been several famous covers of their songs including Alison Krauss and Robert Plant’s version of “Gone Gone Gone” off the “Raising Sand” album, Reba McEntire’s “Cathy’s Clown,” and a-ha’s “Crying In the Rain.”
Although their influence runs deep through today’s music, the main reason you should add the Everly Brothers' music to your playlist is their harmony. It’s beautiful, soothing, and graceful, the perfect background for just about any day of the year.
An Everly Brothers' Sampling
"Wake Up Little Susie" is a classic Everly Brothers' tune. It's catchy, clever, and quite controversial for the time. It was banned from the radio in places like Boston for its suggestive lyrics. The song has been covered by Simon & Garfunkel, the Grateful Dead, and Alvin and the Chipmunks, to name a few. If there's one Everly Brothers' tune you must have, it's this song.
If you haven't heard "Cathy's Clown" then you really need to have a listen. Not only is the song the Everyly Brothers' biggest hit, but it was also a huge influence on The Beatles, who once considered calling themselves The Foreverly Brothers. The Beatles recreated the vocal arrangement of "Cathy's Clown" in their first U.S. single, "Please Please Me."
The song "Bye Bye Love" was rejected by 30 other acts before the Everly Brothers. The song became the duo's first million-seller reaching number two behind Elvis and number 1 on the country charts. The song is catchy, which is probably why it's been covered by people like George Harrison, Simon & Garfunkel, Roy Orbison, and Ray Charles.
You gotta have "All I Have to Do Is Dream" in your playlist. It's so beautiful and relaxing and sad and soothing all at the same time. Enough said.
"Bird Dog" is a lesser known Everly Brothers' hit, but the lyrics are clever and the beat is fast-paced. The song's simple and very fun to sing. Give it a listen and you'll find yourself singing the song later on in the day.
"('Til) I Kissed You" is a must-have Everly Brothers' song. A swanky beat and beautiful harmony is at the core of this song. You'll find yourself singing this song to your significant other, if you're on good terms, as you twirl them about the living room.
"Gone Gone Gone" is a classic break-up empowerment song. If you've ever kicked someone to the curb because they treated you less than in your relationship, then give this song a listen. You'll find yourself feeling a whole lot better. As a bonus check out Alison Kraus and Robert Plant's cover of this song from their album, Raising Sand.
