Favorite music

Amazing you went to school with Chris Whitley, that made me look him up:

Yeah, Chris was a great guy. He hung with a rough crowd, but got along with everyone, and was well liked. He was one of those folks who was wise beyond his years. Smoked like a chimney, even back then, which I believe is what cut his life so short. He was pretty passionate about dirt bikes too - big Bultaco fan, which is what he was riding back then (late 70's). Being a rider, I loved the line from his debut album, from, Look What Love Has Done:

Used to be when things got tight
I could bid you a well bye bye
Riding some two-wheeled sex machine
Like I don't have to try

Of all his albums, that first one, Living with the Law, remains my favorite. Love the tune, Phone Call from Leavenworth. We actually had a second celebrity in our graduating class - along with Chris there was Melissa Leo who's gone on to become a truly great actress. Also mature beyond her years, and also well-liked. This was a "progressive" public school in Bellows Falls, Vermont. I say progressive because back then they had moved into a custom made building (that still houses the school) where the classrooms have no walls (just a big open warehouse like space that is divided with movable dividers). Other than that, it was just another public high school.

PS You can find more about Chris Whitley on his website. From there:

Chris Whitley has a special connection to Rockingham and Bellows Falls; he spent his teenage years with his mother, brother Daniel and sister Bridget in a cabin on a dirt road in the back hills of Rockingham. It's where he first picked up a guitar. And it is where he returned in the late nineties to record one of his most enduring cds, the gorgeously stark and somber DIRT FLOOR.

Check out Chris Whitley's album Dislocation Blues.
It is a collaboration with Jeff Lang, who is another another guitarist from Austrailia.
It is a great album.
Glen
On the subject of Daniel Lanois, Black Dub is awesome and I think Acadie is one of the great records of all time.
It has a mood.
You can really here is production style and see how he influenced so many artists.
Glen

I swear he was channeling the ghost of Hendrix and had no idea he was that much of a guitar virtuoso.

Another guitar great, Kelly Joe Phelps, dedicated a tune on his last album, Tunesmith Retrofit, to Whitley.

Richard - good call on, Shadows and Light - one of the great live performance albums Joni did. But I thought Don Alias was on drums for that performance? I'm sure I've listened to that album fifty times or more and could swear she introduces Don Alias on drums and congos. Was it different on the vids?

Marco you are correct. It's Painting With Words and Music that I have. I always get the titles mixed up. It's an intimate performance in the round thing. Great version of Amelia and Hejira which are 2 personal favorites. Thanks for keeping me straight!