The moods and feelings evoked by Live to Love run from the playful opening track through the serious introduction to Homage to New Orleans, which evolves into New Orleans funk before becoming a brass band street parade, to the proclamation of joy by the woman who is able to stand on her own after leaving an abusive relationship, to the political message of Loading the Boats to America. With vocalist Lori Brenner for the first time on record, this album contains one jewel after another.
Assisting are long-time Crawdads and former Ragin' Texans guitarist Gordon Bonham and drummer Tim Brookshire, Craig's son Nate on bass, funk guitarist T.J. Jones, a horn section of Joe Donnelly on saxes, Forrest Means on trumpet and Dave Pavolka on trombone, Dena El Saffar on viola and David Wierhake on accordion. The cover portrait is by artist Joel Washington, based upon a photo by Jeff Hammond, with CD layout and design by Sarah Roffman. Jacob Belser of Farm Fresh Studios recorded and mixed the CD.
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