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Black Crowes
Chris Robinson - Vocals
Rich Robinson - Guitars
Johnny Colt - Bass
Marc Ford - Guitar
Jeff Cease - Guitar (replaced Ford in '97)
Steve Gorman - Drums
Eddie Hersch - Keyboards (added in '94)
Some groups build a huge audience but once the hits stop, so do they. Others, like the Black Crowes, are able to establish a relationship with their audience that allows them to survive the down points in a typical Rock career. Having the Black Crowes reputation as a hot live act didn't hurt either.
Hailing from Atlanta, the Black Crowes formed in '84 but it wasn't until '90 their debut, "Shake Your Money Maker," was released. Talk about paying dues. Two charging Rockers, "Jealous Again" and a cover of Otis Reddings' "Handle With Care" made a dent.
"The Southern Harmony and Musical Companion" rolled out in '92 with "Remedy." That same year keyboardist Eddie Hersch was added.
Though it sold well enough, "Amorica," represented a steep falling off. The next effort, in '96, "Three Snakes and One Charm" won critics approval and little else. The "By Your Side" CD didn't break any new ground or build their audience.
It was time to shake things up a bit. A tour and subsequent album "Live At The Greek" with Led Zeppelin's legendary Jimmy Page reworked both Zeppelin and the Blues. Don Was, a masterful producer, was called in to lend his expertise for "Lions" released in '01
"Stay true to your vision and you shall prevail." That could be the Black Crowes motto. Woefully out of style when their debut was released, the Crowes paid no mind. Their raunchy Rock owed more to the Stones and Faces, than Southern Rock or the current trends. The Robinsons, Chris and Rich, learned their lesson well. They wrote just about every memorable and a few unmemorable Black Crowes tracks.
"Shake Your Money Maker" and "The Southern Harmony and Musical Companion" are the CDs that count. The remainder of the Crowes catalog is solid if unexceptional.
"Live At The Greek" is fun because the group is loose and Page, having some energy to play off of, responds. Nice job all the way around.
"Black Crowes: 1990-1999" covers all the bases but "Money Maker" and "Southern Harmony" will do the trick any day.
“Blur” released in ’97 came and went without much notice.
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