Chris Whitley - Living With The Law (1991)

Christopher Becker Whitley (August 31, 1960 – November 20, 2005) was an American blues/rock singer-songwriter and guitarist. During his 25-year career he released more than a dozen albums, had two songs in the top 50 of the Billboard mainstream rock charts and received two Independent Music Awards. Whitley's sound was drawn from the traditions of blues, jazz and rock and he recorded songs by artists from many genres. He died in 2005 of lung cancer at the age of 45.

Chris Whitley's 1991 debut, Living with the Law, was recorded in Daniel Lanois' New Orleans mansion and was produced by Malcolm Burn. The sublimely dark, creepy, and possessed collection sounds completely out of place for the era of slick pop/rock like Milli Vanilli. The tortured album is rich with old-style sounds, from slide guitars to pedal steel. (Lanois contributes some on the album.) Living with the Law has a full, ambient feel that transports the listener into the recording.
Whitley humbly (and falsely) claims, at the beginning of the record, that "God knows it's all been done." But these 12 songs attempt an original look at an honest style and passionate mood that is lacking in much of rock music. Whitley sings of drug abuse, alienation, failure, and loneliness with a Delta blues flavor. Standout tracks include "Phone Call from Leavenworth," "Big Sky Country," and "Dirt Radio." Those who liked Whitley's Dirt Floor must own Living with the Law if they don't already. It is more of a full-band sound, but similar in tone and feel. An exceptional and mesmerizing debut, one with the potential to inspire all who hear it.
"Living with the Law", "Big Sky Country", and "Poison Girl" were released as singles.
"Living with the Law" was named ninth best album of 1991 in the Pazz & Jop critics poll. It is also listed in Tom Moon's 2008 book 1,000 Recordings to Hear Before You Die.

Track listing

01. "Excerpt" - 0:17
02. "Living with the Law" - 3:42
03. "Big Sky Country" - 4:45
04. "Kick the Stones" - 4:12
05. "Make the Dirt Stick" - 3:33
06. "Poison Girl" - 3:27
07. "Dust Radio" - 5:08
08. "Phone Call from Leavenworth" - 4:47
09. "I Forget You Every Day" - 4:33
10. "Long Way Around" - 4:27
11. "Look What Love Has Done" - 3:23
12. "Bordertown" - 4:30
13. [unnamed] - 0:18

All tracks written by Chris Whitley.

Credits
Vocals, Resonator Guitar [National Acoustic], Electric Guitar, Bass Guitar – Chris Whitley
Bass – Daryl Johnson
Drums – Ronald Jones
Guitar, Pedal Steel Guitar – Bill Dillon
Keyboards, Tambourine – Malcolm Burn
Management – Danny Heaps, Nick Wechsler
Mastered By – Greg Calbi
Photography By [Cover] – Timothy White
Photography By [Inside] – Bob Lanois, Jimmy Ienner, Karen Kuehn, Timothy White 
Engineer [Assistant] – Wayne Lorenz
Producer, Mixed By – Malcolm Burn
Production Manager – Karen Brady
Recorded By – Malcolm Burn, Mark Howard
Written-By – Chris Whitley
Art Direction – Christopher Austopchuk, Jerry Whitley, Nicky Lindeman

Additional personnel
Peter Conway - harmonica
Alan Gevaert - bass
Daniel Lanois - guitar
Deni Bonet - viola
Daniel Whitley - guitar 

Notes
Release date: July 2, 1991
Genre: Blues rock
Length: 47:02
© 1991

Label - Columbia Records