Solomon Burke: Nashville
Short review this week...You have to check out 60's soul legend Solomon Burke's foray into country, Nashville. The sound comes completely naturally for Burke and the sparse instrumentation showcases his warm voice. Fantastic collaborations abound here including songs with Gillian Welch, Emmylou Harris and Dolly Parton. Buddy Miller handles the production. Nashville, like the past couple albums in Burke's recent "comeback", is an excellent listen for a lazy Sunday.
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The Black Crowes - Lost Crowes
It goes without saying that the Black Crowes aren't what they used to be. In the early days, fueled by ganja, piss, and vinegar, the band, led by the brothers Robinson, was out to conquer the world as a loud-mouthed, boot-stomping Southern rock outfit. Like many "Amoricans", I feel that the Crowes' strongest period lies somewhere between the second and fourth studio record. During this time, two sessions, which could have easily become albums, were scrapped and forgotten about for the most part.
The Tall Sessions and
Band Sessions seemed like only pieces of folklore to the Black Crowes faithful. That is, until the arrival of
The Lost Crowes. This two-disc set, finds the Crowes during these sessions, before Johnny Colt cut his hair, hung up his boots and left to join the rock and roll powerhouse known as Train, and before Marc Ford was asked to leave the band due to his strong passion for the needle.
The Tall Sessions feature a good deal of material that eventually ended up on the
Amorica record, in their earliest stages, and even a track that would eventually end up on
Three Snakes and One Charm. Songs such as "A Conspiracy", "Hi-Head Blues", and "Wiser Time" are featured on the project, sounding a bit more laid back and less produced than what eventually ended up on
Amorica. Beyond the eventual album tracks, these sessions produced many greats that have indeed been lost Crowes tracks, only getting airtime during live shows. These tracks cover the entire spectrum of what the Black Crowes sound truly is. "Dirty Head Halo" leans heavily on the Gram Parsons influence that was ever-present during the band's
Amorica or Bust period. "Tied Up and Swallowed" falls into the balls out, rowdy sound that Chris Robinson liked to strut to. However, the most remarkable track from these sessions would have to be the dark-themed "Feathers", an almost seven-minute ballad that features wonderful Rhodes work by none other than Eddie Harsch.
1997's The Band Sessions features more of the better-known tracks that never made it to the studio releases. The opening two songs, "Paint an Eight" and "Another Roadside Tragedy", are both songs that fans have likely heard live. Both continue to be kept in the live rotation to this very day, and for good reason. Unlike the Tall Sessions, these sessions only contain one piece, "If It Ever Stops Raining", that would eventually be renamed as "By Your Side", the title-track to the Crowes' fifth studio release. The two tracks that really set these sessions apart are definitely, "Wyoming and Me" and "Grinnin'." "Wyoming..." is a down tempo love ballad that is very much like Chris Robinson's New Earth Mud material, while "Grinnin'" hints at a future Crowes sound unheard at that point.
The Black Crowes today are not what they were fifteen or even ten years ago. Both Marc Ford and Eddie Harsch have both left the band recently, leaving only the Robinson brothers and drummer, Steve Gorman in the fold. Oh well, I guess this will be the last thing that we Amoricans can treasure from the original line-up from what once was and will always be one of the most rock-and-roll of rock bands. ---Andrew Bryant
(P.S., be sure to check out the Disc Exchange website for great holiday gift ideas!)
