(Album ©1991, Columbia Records)
Today, it’s Chris Whitley’s debut 
album Living With The Law. Released in 1991, I heard his first single, the title track, while I was a DJ on WIZN in Vermont. We were playing it in medium rotation, so it was getting heard a bit. I grabbed a copy of the CD and fell in love with the atmospheric, beautiful, haunted vibe of the record. At that point, when the second single “Big Sky Country” was released, I really thought he was going to take off.
That didn’t happen, sadly. “Big Sky Country” is one of my favorite songs of all-time, but Chris Whitley never broke out. I remember that, when Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band started touring again in 1999, the playlist that played before every show on both the 1999-2000 Reunion tour and the 2002-2003 The Rising tour included this song, which sounds even better booming through Bruce’s sound system in any number of arenas. I felt like I might have been the only person in the place who knew the song beforehand.
Many of the other the songs were just as solid and beautiful to listen to, especially when I was in a contemplative mood. “Kick the Stones” and “Poison Girl” are especially good. Unfortunately, after struggling to find an audience over his 13 year career, he died in 2005 from cancer. I would have loved to have gotten to hear more from this immensely talented, musically unique guy.
I later found out that he recorded this first record at Daniel Lanois’ New Orleans studio, which helps to explain the lush, almost spooky sound. Do yourself a favor and check this album out. And if you do, let me know what you think.
