without love

I have been through a lot in my life, and to me, real love is not sappy sentimentality, cloying need, or coercive caretaking. Love is respect, appreciation, acceptance, support, understanding, and genuine positive regard. It is expressed by direct action, and safe, respectful affection. It is nurturing and healing. Without it, babies die. Without it, we get sick. Without it, fortune and fame seem dull. Love is connectedness—and that's what life is really all about.

Feeling and expressing real love has transformed my life. I deeply thank all those who have shown me love and continue to do so.

This song touches on almost all of my musical influences. Pushed in one direction it could be The Beatles, in another it could be gospel, in another it could be R&B, in another it could be a folk hymn. I am glad Jesse used acoustic upright bass on this track—the woody growl and rattling strings bring the song down to earth. Peter is solid as can be, and Jane's harmony extends the melodic range. The guitar, opened tuned to E and capoed up three frets to G, gives an ethereal feeling to the piece. I decided to use both piano and organ, à la Procol Harum, and Drew's solo is the emotional heart of the song for me.

Sam Turton: vocals, acoustic rhythm guitar
Jesse Turton: upright acoustic bass
Peter Grimmer: drums
Drew McIvor: acoustic piano, Hammond organ
Jane Lewis: harmony vocal