Life Is Messy

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Life Is Messy is the title of the seventh studio album released by American country music artist Rodney Crowell, released in 1992 by Columbia Records. It peaked at number 30 on the Top Country Albums chart. The songs, "Lovin' All Night", "What Kind of Love", "It's Not for Me to Judge", and "Let's Make Trouble" were released as singles. This album was seen by many as a return to form after his previous album, Keys to the Highway was not characteristic of Crowell's style. Many famous musicians contributed instruments or vocals to this album such as Linda Ronstadt, Don Henley, Booker T. Jones and Steve Winwood.

"The Answer Is Yes" was covered by Michelle Wright on her 1996 album For Me It's You, while "Lovin' All Night" was covered by Patty Loveless on her 2003 album On Your Way Home.

The album was reissued in 2000 under the Lucky Dog label with a different logo and the border cropped around the picture.

Track listing

All songs written By Rodney Crowell except when noted

1. "It's Not for Me to judge" – 4:01
2. "What Kind of Love" (Crowell, Will Jennings, Roy Orbison) – 3:58
3. "Lovin' All Night" – 3:50
4. "Life is Messy" – 4:34
5. "I Hardly Know How to Be Myself" (Rosanne Cash, Crowell) – 4:45
6. "It Don't Get Better Than This" (Crowell, John Leventhal) – 2:44
7. "Alone But Not Alone" (Crowell, Larry Klein) – 5:08
8. "Let's Make Trouble" – 4:27
9. "The Answer Is Yes" – 4:19
10. "Maybe Next Time" (Crowell, Leventhal) – 4:58

Personnel

• Alex Acuña – percussion
• Eddie Bayers – percussion, drums
• Barry Beckett – organ, electric piano
• Larry Byrom – background vocals
• Marc Cohn – harmony vocals
• Vinnie Colaiuta – percussion
• Shawn Colvin – background vocals
• Rodney Crowell – vocals, guitar
• Mickey Curry – drums
• Vicki Hampton – background and harmony vocals
• Don Henley – harmony vocals
• Jim Horn – saxophone
• Booker T. Jones – organ
• Larry Klein – bass guitar, guitar, keyboards
• Jim Lauderdale – harmony vocals
• Albert Lee – harmony vocals
• John Leventhal – bass guitar, guitar, percussion, piano, keyboards, harmony vocals
• Larrie Londin – percussion, drums
• Jonell Mosser – background vocals
• Sam Phillips – background vocals
• Jeff Porcaro – drums
• Michael Rhodes – bass guitar
• Linda Ronstadt – harmony vocals
• Reginal Sales – drums
• Vince Santoro – harmony and background vocals
• Leland Sklar – bass guitar
• Steuart Smith – acoustic and electric guitar
• Jeffrey Vanston – keyboards
• Lari White – background vocals
• Steve Winwood – background and harmony vocals

Chart performance

Album

Chart (1992)	Peak position
U.S. Billboard Top Country Albums	30
U.S. Billboard 200	155
Canadian RPM Country Albums	9

Singles

Year	Single	Peak chart positions
		US Country	US AC	CAN Country	CAN	CAN AC
1992	"Lovin' All Night"	10	—	9	—	—
	"What Kind of Love"	11	9	2	47	5
	"It's Not for Me to Judge"	—	—	—	—	—
	"Let's Make Trouble"	—	—	78	—	—