Chris and Rich Robinson of The Black Crowes
The first Black Crowes album I bought of theirs was their debut, which I love, and one other that I haven’t listened to much. To be honest I haven’t listened to either lately and hadn’t heard from them in awhile. That’s why I was surprised to hear, “Wanting and Waiting” on Spotify’s Radar Release playlist recently. After multiple listens as my special SRR playlist has repeated several times now, the song has grown on me. It’s back to “hell yeah!” with them.
For those who aren’t familiar with them, this info from wiki is helpful in understanding their musical sound and path.
The Black Crowes are an American rock band formed in Atlanta, Georgia, in 1984. Their discography includes eight studio albums, four live albums and several charting singles. Their debut album, Shake Your Money Maker, was released in 1990. The Southern Harmony and Musical Companion, reached the top of the Billboard 200 in 1992. The albums Amorica (1994), Three Snakes and One Charm (1996), By Your Side (1999), and Lions (2001) followed, with each showing moderate popularity but failing to capture the chart successes of the band’s first two albums. After a hiatus from 2002 to 2005, the band regrouped and toured for several years before releasing Warpaint in 2008, which reached number 5 on the Billboard chart.
Following the release of their greatest hits/acoustic double album Croweology in August 2010, the band started a 20th anniversary tour that was followed by a second hiatus. After touring in 2013, the band announced another breakup in 2015, reforming in late 2019 to announce a 2020 tour in support of the 30th anniversary of Shake Your Money Maker. By this point the band had none of its original line-up left except for Chris and Rich Robinson, the only two constant members of the band over its entire history.
As of August 2023, the current lineup of the band includes the Robinson brothers, longtime bassist Sven Pipien, and new members Nico Bereciartua (lead guitar,) Cully Symington (drums,) and Erik Deutsch (keyboards.) Their latest album, Happiness Bastards, was released in March 2024. (Say what? It isn’t even March yet!)
The Black Crowes have sold more than 30 million albums, and are listed at number 92 on VH1’s 100 Greatest Artists of Hard Rock. They were labeled by Melody Maker as “The Most Rock ‘n’ Roll Rock ‘n’ Roll Band in the World” and the readers of Rolling Stone voted them ‘Best New American Band’ in 1990.
“Happiness Bastards” is set to release on March 15 of this year. More info on the album can be found at Billboard Magazine, Rolling Stone, and NME.
It’s been a month of Sundays since I could fake a smile
Trying to lose my lonely in self-imposed exile
Trying to stay friendly but feeling so hostile
It’s like I’m cold to touch mortuary style
If I could have one more kiss
You know, the one you miss
I’m nothing but lonely
Waiting and wanting
Wanting and waiting for you
Ooh, it’s true
Now I’m blind with no tomorrows in my eyes
The harsh sting of sorrow is one I recognize
The truth of the matter is just one you can’t disguise
I’ve been so lost on my own since the day you said goodbye
I know we don’t stand a chance
But gimme, gimme this last dance
I’m nothing but lonely
Waiting and wanting
Said, I’m wanting and waiting for you
All night
I’m nothing but lonely
Waiting and wanting
‘Cause I’m wanting and waiting for you
Oh, I’m nothing but lonely
Waiting and wanting
Yes, I’m wanting and waiting for you
Blood’s on fire
Blood, blood, my blood’s on fire
Blood, blood, my blood’s on fire
Blood, blood, my blood’s on fire
Blood, blood, my blood’s on fire
Blood, blood, my blood’s on fire
Blood, blood, my blood’s on fire
Written by: Chris Robinson, Rich Robinson
Album: Happiness Bastards
Released: 2024
Glyn is the host of Mixed Music Bag. Glyn says:
Week four of the MMB theme is once again a solo artist or band beginning with the letter A or B
Tao Talk 
Cool track, Lisa! I didn’t know The Black Crowes are coming out with a new album in March. I also really dig their first album and some other songs I’ve heard.
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I was surprised also! Didn’t know brothers feud was a barrier for them. Glad they’ve reconciled.
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I knew they had been on bad terms. Looks like it’s their first new album in 14 years. That’s a really long time!
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They’ve been touring for the 30 year anniv of Shake Your so it gave them time to be friends again :)
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I like it! :-)
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Oh yeah! They are as good as the Stones afaic.
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I LOVE the Black Crowes. They had me listening to mainstream radio again at the time. I can’t tell you how much I liked this band when they released their debut album. It was like 1972 suddenly reappeared and rock and roll was back in style again on modern radio.
Fantastic post Lisa.
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Thanks, Max. When I listen to these playlists I’m not looking at who’s doing them — unless they catch my ear. I heard this and said wow, and when I saw who it was I said WOW. They are up with the Stones imo. They don’t have the # of excellent songs but what they do have is up there. It doesn’t surprise me you love them.
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There is a reason they sound like the Stones at times…this will bore you…but Keith plays in open G on guitar…only 5 strings. Rich Robinson learned that and plays it also…even Keith said…”that guy has me down pat”
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AHA! No, it doesn’t bore me at all. Good to know. The secret recipe revealed.
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I could show someone how to play 70 percent of the Stones catalog on 5 string G Tuning…I play it a lot…it makes a certain sound.
I tell you a song that has it…Rock and Roll All Nite by KISS.
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A good band, and more country than anyone wants to admit. Speaking of Crows, I have a flock of them that come to my feeders every morning. Peanuts is all they will eat, and they like a shiny trinket once in a while. Good story on the band, I didn’t know they were from Georgia or had that many albums.
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The crows where you are at are a lot bolder than the ones around here. They might take a chance at the feeders once or twice a year but any sign of humans they quickly skeedaddle. People around here shoot them so maybe that’s why.
Glad you found out some info on them you didn’t have before. They are sounding really good on this cut and hope the rest of the album is as good.
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Our area is a sanctioned bird sanctuary so they feel emboldened and have the attitude to boot.
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Great song, Lisa! I’ve got a little backstory (what else is new? lol) Our pain management doctor’s daughter Emma Robinson, a professional cosmetician in Connecticut, is the ex-wife of Chris Robinson. It’s these little 6 degrees of separation that I find so fascinating! I am easily amused.
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Wow! No wonder why his hands always looked so nice! That’s so cool, Nancy. Is 6 degrees of separation the same as the Kevin Bacon thing?
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Haha!! Yes, but 6 degree was an expression before Kevin Bacon came on the scene. That’s so funny!
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:)
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I do like their work.
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To give credit where credit is due, “Shake Your Moneymaker” is a 1961 song by Elmore James. He is the slide guitarist whose sound is so iconic that everyone copied it (including Jeremy Spencer of Fleetwood Mac, and my friend Fred who fronted a blues band in the late 60s and was known locally for this song). Fred played a brand-new (at the time) Les Paul Custom, which I see would be worth about $20,000 if he still had it. I saw him last summer and asked him – he doesn’t.
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Here’s the song by El: https://youtu.be/aOCAhpgrAfE?si=2OOIjYex7XKc4pLC
from wiki:
The album is named after a classic blues song written by Elmore James. The Black Crowes have played the song live many times over the years, but it is not included on this album.
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p.s. Thanks for the additional info, Steve!
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First time I’ve heard they have new music coming out, and I plan on checking it out!
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Same here :)
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Great track. I’ll be getting the new album. I bought the first four Black Crowes albums on cassette tapes and still have them. I’ve got the rest, apart from their last two albums, on CD. I also have some singles on 7″ and 12″ vinyl and A few CD singles.
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Glyn, delighted to hear you’re a big fan :)
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This is good. Who can keep up with all the new…everything, really. Way beyond ” information overload” at this point. K)
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Yes it is! And I hear you. The release radar has 30 new songs a week, which has been ok for listening but not learning much about each.
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Love the Black Crowes. Thanks for sharing!
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No covers this week ;) Thanks, Dale!
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😉
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this is some awesome music, I didn’t know of this band, but I like their sound!
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So happy to introduce them to you. They make good music, you’re right :)
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