Review: Black Crowes ‘amorica.(Deluxe Edition)’ – Surprisingly Good – Worthy Of Re-Appraisal (Man, Was I Wrong In ’94)

The Black Crowes just released a 3-CD (5-LP) Deluxe Edition of their 1994 album amorica, yes the one with the racy album cover (pictured above) that was banned by the prudes down at Walmart and what was K-Mart (“Blue light special,” indeed). Blame lead singer Chris Robinson for that idea. I have to come completely clean on this album – when it came out in 1994 I absolutely did not like it. It left me staggeringly cold. I think I heard all of it and I know I heard parts of it and it just sounded so druggy, kind of like Exile On Main Street, but without the epic scope. And I’m not talking about the fun drugs, I mean this sounded like a heroin record way back when, but then it was the 90s and heroin chic was in. Luckily I never dabbled in that dark corner.

By the time ’94 rolled around I was a huge Crowes fan and had already seen them live at least once. When their debut album Shake Your Money Maker came out in ’90 my buddy and I thought we had discovered our new Stones. Of course, at the time I was thinking more Faces, but let’s not split hairs. When their second disc came out, Southern Harmony And Musical Companion in ’92, I was over the moon. For me, that is their masterpiece.

Naturally, at that point, waiting for the follow up my expectations ran to the extremely high. I’ve spoken here before about the curse of expectations. If you expect too much from something you’re bound to be disappointed. And disappointed – seemingly unwarranted as I listen now – I was. We heard rumblings in the rock magazines that the Crowes wanted to “change directions.” They were purportedly headed in a more “jam band” direction. I was loving all this dirty bloozy rock, why change? I guess not every body wants to be AC/DC and just do the same thing their entire career (not that there is anything wrong with AC/DC). It reminded me of the Cars, who after two killer LPs (their debut and personal favorite Candy-O) decided to get experimental on Panorama, an album that had also left me cold.

When I heard the first single, or more likely saw the video for “A Controversy” I just scratched my head. Rich Robinson and Marc Ford (who alas fell apart eventually on, yes, heroin, but lived to tell) put their guitars right out front and that rocked but something was missing for me, maybe that connection their music always had to the blues? When the album came out, usually I’d have been at the CD store right after work with my dollars in my hand, but I balked on this one. Damn expectations. If I’d given this a little time, like I’ve done recently with this Deluxe Edition, I’d have found that this is actually a masterpiece of an album. After hearing people say for years this was their absolute “peak,” and rolling my eyes, I know have a lot of, well, crow to eat.

Beyond Rich Robinson and Marc Ford manning the guitars the Crowes in ’94 were rounded out by lead singer Chris Robinson, drummer Steve Gorman, keyboard player “Weird” Eddie Harsch, and bassist Johnny Colt. And while I still maintain this is a very druggy album, I wouldn’t call it a jam band project. There are certainly elements of that, but there’s an undercurrent of country rock, blues and even a dash of psychedelia I get from this record. The sound of the band playing together is as integrated as they ever were. Chris Robinson, in particular digs deep on the vocals and reaches a range of emotion I’m not sure I was aware he was capable of.

Disc one in the Deluxe Edition has the original album and a handful of bonus tracks that have been around for a while. The album starts with two rockers. The guitars are banging on this thing. “Gone” gives me heavier War vibes. “A Controversy,” the first single is even harder. I don’t know why I didn’t jump in on that track, I was probably put off by the video. Then we go back to that vibe again that the band War used to exude, with “High Head Blues.” I’ve always liked that one… it should have made it on to our Playlist: 4:20 Songs, the Rock Chick curated for us. “Cursed Diamond” is one of their most underrated great songs. The piano accents from Eddie Harsch really set it apart. It starts ballad and then the guitars explode.

“Nonfiction” is a straight up acoustic ballad and we didn’t get any acoustic guitar in the 80s so I don’t know how this track wasn’t everywhere. “She Gave Good Sunflower” and “P.25 London” are that nasty blues rock these guys always delivered. It’s all a bit darker but it’s great music. “Ballad In Urgency” is a shimmering beauty. It’s a real stunner. That leads right into “Wiser Time” the real classic on the album. It’s a country rock thing that just bores into my soul. I just don’t know how I could have possibly ignored this album all those years ago?

The bonus tracks have all been released before as B-sides. “Chevrolet” is a heavy Taj Mahal cover. It’s got some jump in it. And yes, we put it on our Playlist: Songs About Cars. “Songs Of The Flesh” is a slower bluesy number with some great slide guitar. And finally, “The Sunday Buttermilk Waltz” is a countrified instrumental. I don’t see going back to that one much.

The first bonus disc, disc 2 if you will, contains early versions of songs they were working out for the original concept of the album, which they called Tall. They eventually either aborted Tall or it morphed into amorica, depending on who you ask. Two thirds of these tracks can be found in one form or other on The Lost Crowes. These are supposedly different mixes. “Lowdown” is the track that eventually became “Ballad In Urgency.” “Evil Eye” didn’t see the light of day until the next album, Three Snakes And One Charm. “Dirty Hair Halo” is a great little jaunty rocker that should have made the album. “Feathers” is another great one that surprises me missed the cut.

There are three songs on disc 2 that had never been released before (although I suspect they’ve been bootlegged over the years). “Title Song,” “Bitter Bitter You” and “Paris Song.” “Bitter, Bitter You” is the pick of the litter for me. It’s a great song.

On disc 3, the Crowes eschew the usual Super Deluxe formula of adding a contemporary concert from ’94. We get two sessions, the first entitled Marie Laveau Sessions, which I think is from a studio jam in New Orleans. This part of the disc has the feel of being backstage during a soundcheck. I was prepared to be disappointed (do I ever learn?), but I really like those Laveau sessions. Again, I’m not someone whose heard any of this stuff bootlegged. “Exit” is a heavy, heavy rocker as is “Fear Years.” The Crowes were not afraid to turn it up to 11. I’m frankly not familiar with any of these tracks (other than “Exit” and “Nonfiction”) and I’m pretty well versed in the Crowes so I’m digging this quite bit.

The last few tracks are in front of an audience in London at sessions labeled “Live at AIR Studios.” AIR Studios I believe was owned/started by producer George Martin of Beatles fame. It’s a brief but blistering jam on four of the tracks from amorica. It’s all really interesting stuff.

I’m a big enough person to admit, that some 30+ years on, this was an album I shouldn’t have blown off. It feels like a date I should have showed up for…or at least showed up sober for. This package is great if you already love this album but it’s perfect if you didn’t engage with it back when it dropped or haven’t heard it yet. The only hesitation I have in recommending this one is the price. $99 bucks for a 3 CD package is pretty steep, although I know it can be found cheaper than on the Crowes’ site. Other than the price thing, this is a great road trip back to the mid 90s. Makes me wanna drive out to Red Rocks and play hacky sack. Such good rock n roll.

I guess it’s just proof that sometimes your ears have to be ready to hear something. Never fear going back and listening to something you didn’t initially get into, even if it’s years or decades later. Maybe you weren’t in a good place when you first heard it. Maybe you’ve changed and now are ready for it. Drop the needle, take the ride.

Cheers & Happy Thanksgiving to all our supporters in the States this week!