Life Before Insanity
album by Gov't Mule

Life Before Insanity is the third studio album by Gov't Mule. The album was released on February 15, 2000, by Capricorn Records.
The album peaked at No. 16 on the Billboard Heatseekers Album Chart.
Production
The album was produced by Michael Barbiero. Unlike the band's first two albums, Life Before Insanity utilized both overdubbing and multiple guest musicians. It was the last album recorded with founding member Allen Woody, who died in August 2000.
Critical reception
The Austin Chronicle wrote that "having Ben Harper cameo with Haynes on 'Lay Your Burden Down' is a guitarist's dream, but while the song rolls along, it never takes off—never reaches the pairing's potential." The Washington Post thought that the album "recalls the vintage blues-rock of the early Allman Brothers Band and Clapton's Cream."
Track listing
All songs by Warren Haynes unless otherwise noted.
Personnel
Warren Haynes – guitar, slide guitar, vocals
Allen Woody – bass, mandolin on "Life Before Insanity", electric upright bass on "Tastes Like Wine", rhythm guitar on "I Think You Know What I Mean", fretless bass on "Far Away", dulcitar on "In My Life"
Matt Abts – drums, djembe, ashika on "In My Life"
Additional personnel
Michael Barbiero – glockenspiel on "Far Away"
Hook Herrera – harmonica on "Bad Little Doggie" and "I Think You Know What I Mean"
Ben Harper – vocals and lap steel on "Lay Your Burden Down"
Johnny Neel – organ, Wurlitzer piano and background vocals
Production
Michael Barbiero – producer, engineer, mixing
Ray Martin – mixing, additional engineering
Warren Haynes – mixing
Brodie Hutcheson – mixing, additional engineering
Dan Jurow – additional engineering
Greg Calbi – mastering
Mark Pagliaro – guitar, bass, mandolin, amp, tech
Daniel Saratec – drum, percussion tech
References
External links
Life Before Insanity (CD liner). Gov't Mule.
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