Makin’ Honey

Backyard Bird Publishing # #BBP001
Release date: October 20, 2020
All songs written by Lauren Crane
© ℗ Backyard Bird Publishing

MAKIN’ HONEY, singer/songwriter Lauren Crane’s debut album, is like a day at the amusement park, packed with a collection of songs that offer everything but a sleeve of fat fries and a corn dog on a stick. LAUREN’S songs take you up and down and round and round, a tilt-a-whirl of folk, blues and bluegrassiness. Songs feature a blackmailing laundress, sneak-around lovers, a bovine queen, a cowboy roped at the knees, buzzing bumble bees, and a few laughs and surprises.

Makin’ Honey is a multifarious romp through musical genres delivered with a wink, a smile and, just for kicks, an occasional nod to the serious. It offers the quirky little love songs, Makin’ Honey and Out of the Blue. Straight-up folk in Souvenirs. Boozie blues in Old Washer Woman, What Do We Do About the Moon, The Ballad of Sophie and Lazy Woman. Purple Thistle throws down a foot stompin’ early rock/blues vibe. No, Carolina, boot scoots into country while The Hollerin’ Song, Love and Bliss, and Irene stir the bucket with a little bluegrass. The album ends with one for the heart in Silk and Wool, a genuine tour-de-force.

The players include ROD CAPPS on guitar, electric guitar, EBow, violin, and viola, ANNIE CAPPS on guitar, banjo, and harmony vocals, DANIEL OZZIE ANDREWS (Cold Tone Harvest, Annie & Rod Capps), on bass, AL HILL (Carlene Carter, Bettye LaVette, Whit Hill and the Postcards) on piano, JASON DENNIE (Thunderwüde, Annie & Rod Capps) on mandolin and vocals, MICHAEL SHIMMIN (Joshua Davis, the olllam, May Erlewine) on drums, percussion and hand clappin’, ANDY WILSON (Steppin’ In It, The Springtails) on harmonica, DREW HOWARD on steel pedal, SARAH D’ANGELO on clarinet, DAN HAZLETT on Trumpet. Adding harmonies and background vocals are ANNIE CAPPS, SOPHIA HANIFI (Fubar, Hoodang) and WHIT HILL (Kerrville New Folk 2012 winner, Whit Hill and the Postcards).

MAKIN’ HONEY was produced by multi-talented veteran singer/songwriter, ANNIE CAPPS, who has produced eight albums for her band, ANNIE & ROD CAPPS (AnnieandRodCapps.com). “I feel like I won the lottery, having had Annie’s creative vision, keen ear and expertise on my album,” said LAUREN. “She was an inspiring coach and a creative arranger, bringing in mind-blowing players and vocalists who are tops on my list.” The album was recorded and mixed by Geoff Michael, engineer and owner of BIG SKY RECORDING, in Ann Arbor, Michigan. “The combination of Geoff and Annie in the studio was an absolute pleasure for me. Every session was a good time and I think that shines through the songs.”