Marcia returns with her best record yet, full of killer piano playing, rollicking Gulf Coast rhythms and tough 'n' tender singing. "Raucous, piano-based Dixie R&B...classic southern songcraft and passion." --CHICAGO TRIBUNE
Produced by Stephen Bruton Recorded at The Hit Shack, Austin, Texas Mixed at The Austin School of Music Engineered and Mixed by Chet Himes Assistant Engineer, Todd Dillon Additional Recording at Greenleaf Place, N. Hollywood, CA. Engineered by Ross Hogarth Photos by Mary Bruton Painting by Gordon Fowler Design by Wendy Parnell
There are so many rivers in my life. The Sabine, the Mississippi and the Colorado River of Texas where I've lived. The bottomless Atchafalaya, the Rio Grande, the Calcasieu, the Guadalupe - they plod and they rage, draw lines between us and gather us together, carry us away and home again. For every river there's a song and for every song, a writer. This record is dedicated to the songwriters. - Marcia Ball
Marcia Ball - Piano and Vocals Stephen Bruton - Electric & Acoustic Guitar, Mandolin James Pennebaker - Guitar, Lap Steel, Baritone Guitar, Fiddle Pat Boyack - Guitar on Didn't You Know, Honeypie, and 300 Pounds Of Hongry Don Bennett - Bass on Give It Up (Give In), Didn't You Know, Give Me A Chance, 300 Pounds Of Hongry, Honeypie and Baby, Why Not Yoggie Musgrove - Bass on Foreclose On The House Of Love, Dance With Me, So Many Rivers To Cross, If It Ain't One Thing Chris Maresh - Bass on If It's Really Got To Be This Way, Hurricane On China Lake, The Lowdown and The Storm Tom Fillman - Drums Keith Robinson - Drums on Honeypie Wayne Toups - Accordion & Vocal on Honeypie Johnny Nicholas - Harmonica on Give It Up (Give In) Red Young - Hammond B3 Organ Deborah Dobkin - Percussion Background Vocals: - Lisa Tingle on So Many Rivers To Cross; Malford Millican, Randy Jacobs, Alicia Jones and Kai Tolbert on Hurricane On China Lake, Dance With Me and If It Ain't One Thing and Johnny Nicholas, Randy Jacobs, Malford Millican and Stephen Bruton on Give Me A Chance. Los Angeles Horns: - Lon Price on Alto and Tenor Saxophone, Lee Thornburg on Trumpet, Greg Smith on Tenor and Baritone Saxophone, Nick Lane on Trombone on Baby, Why Not, Give Me A Chance and Foreclose On The House Of Love. Arrangements and saxophone solo on The Storm by Lon Price. Texas Horns: - Kaz Kazanoff on Tenor Saxophone, John Mills on Baritone Saxophone and Gary Slechta on Trumpet on The Lowdown. Arrangements by Red Young.
Another fine production from South Austin, Texas.
Marcia wishes to thank... My band and all the players who made this project a pleasure from start to finish. Thanks also to Stephen, Chet, Todd, Mary and Wendy, Dave Sebree, Kesha Dirkson, our Web Gator Page Hite, M.B.I.F.C. Prez Cathie Baker, Nancy Gilkyson, Bruce Iglauer and all the Alligator krewe, the Rosebud Agency, Yamaha, and, of course, Gordon and all our families for their encouragement and support. Thanks especially to the clubs, festivals and radio stations that make it possible for us to go out and play and to the music fans that keep it fun.
The producer wishes to thank... Marcia and all the musicians for their collaborative effort and vibe throughout the sessions. Also, to Chet, Todd, and Ross for their uncanny ability to capture lightning in a bottle. Special thanks to Donnie Wade, Wayne and Belinda Toups, Dumble amplifiers, and Lon Price for knowing the difference between what I wanted and what was needed on the horn arrangements.
