In 1992, the Black Crowes were about to release their sophomore album The Southern Harmony and Musical Companion. Coming off the heels of the multi-platinum success of their debut Shake Your Moneymaker, Instead of playing it safe and capitalizing on the success of the debut, the Black Crowes went into a completely unexpected direction.
Southern Harmony had the Black Crowes taking on a whole new identity. Ditching their Rolling Stones type of whiskey soaked rock n’ roll, The Black Crowes headed into a more rootsy, hippie rock kind of sound which was met with mixed results. Some fans of Shake Your Moneymaker didn’t love the “hippie” sound and look of the Crowes while other fans (like myself) happily welcomed their new direction, image, and overall delivery.
The best way to describe the growth between Shake Your Moneymaker and Southern Harmony is that it sounds like the band could only afford rotgut liquor on the debut and for Southern Harmony they could actually afford to buy really, really good weed. This was also the first album to feature former Burning Tree guitarist Marc Ford who had replaced guitarist Jeff Cease the year prior. This alone took the band to new heights.
Sting Me
This song was actually from an older song that was called “You’re Wrong” which was a live staple of the bands Shake Your Moneymaker tour usually appearing 2nd in the setlist just behind “Thick N’ Thin.” I LOVED “You’re Wrong” but “Sting Me” became a much stronger song lyrically. “If you feel like a riot then don’t you deny it…” This song definitely was a big “fuck you” to the establishment encouraging “sons and daughters better open your eyes and tell me what you’re seeing.” This song still is such a strong opener and has one of the greatest middle/guitar solo parts I’ve ever heard.
Remedy
This was the big “hit” from Southern Harmony. It was a pretty raucous rocker that had an infectious chorus and it was just such a great song. As big a song as this one was for the Crowes, this is probably my least favorite song on the album. It’s in a great place on the album as the 2nd track but again, not a favorite. Still a great song but it tells you just how awesome the rest of the album is.
Thorn in My Pride
This is another “older” song that started popping up after the Shake Your Moneymaker tour and before the release of the Southern Harmony album. I actually remember seeing Chris and Rich Robinson doing an acoustic version of this song on MTV once and I remember being floored. Everything about this song is amazing and it’s all about the vibe. The acoustic guitar intro and the floating vibe of the bass and the drums create warm, stoner experience. This is definitely my “go to” song when I want to just blaze up and be in the moment.
Bad Luck Blue Eyes Goodbye
Another mellow tune that this time around showcases the soulful playing of Marc Ford. Marc Ford is a master of creating some nice breath between the notes creating a mellow, soulful vibe that makes me close my eyes and absorb it. I don’t love Chris’ vocals so much on this song and lyrically it’s not my favorite but this song is all about the music for me. It’s such a different sound than the rest of the songs on this album. It definitely doesn’t suck by any means but lyrically and musically they just don’t mesh well with me. It’s a song that I don’t skip but it fails to keep my attention. It did back in the day and it still is the same.
Sometimes Salvation
Much like “Bad Luck Blue Eyes Goodbye” this song is much more musically strong that it is lyrically strong. From what I got out of this song, it’s about a lost soul who was pulled from their normal lives due to addiction or some other form of manipulation. While it’s a dark song, Its an optimistic song and a plea to someone to “try and find me.” It’s also kind of horrifyingly ironic being the Chris Robinson’s own struggle with hard drugs would be just around the corner and plague him for many years after.
Hotel Illness
This another one of those songs that I sometimes forget about. While I don’t think I ever would put it up in my top tier of Black Crowes songs, every time I hear it I absolutely love it. I’m sure I’ll mention this at least one or two more times before this is over but lets be honest. Black Crowes lyrics don’t make a whole lot of sense but it’s the certain lines that stick out that are prophetic. “I’ve got a head full of sermons and a mouthful of spiders. The politics of the world’s greatest liar.” Sounds like Robinson is speaking of his “I’ve had it up to here” thought regarding having religious right driven down his throat by people who do the very things they tell us not to do. Pretty heavy stuff.
Black Moon Creeping
Incredible song and one of my favorites on this album hands down. It’s angry, it’s confused, and it’s accusatory. It sounds like the story of someone being confronted by a lifetime of dark secrets that has either had a profound affect on the subject or is more of a burning, curious question. “What ya got buried in your backyard? What secrets do you sleep with when the black moon comes?” A skeletons in the close, if you will, kind of thing. Great song.
No Speak No Slave
This song title alone raised a lot of eyebrows back in ‘92 and it would do more so now. The word “slave” is met with a lot of controversy as to it’s definition. Being a slave to society, a slave to politics, and even a slave to your own demons is something everyone has a experienced. Even Prince at one time wrote “slave” on his face because he felt like he was a slave to the music industry. In this song, Robinson, in so many words, is saying “If you want change, be the change you want. Use your voice and do your part. “You say you wanna be free? Then don’t you speak like a slave to me.” Powerful song and still in my top 5 favorite Crowes songs. Also, I still think it was their best show opener of their career on this tour.
My Morning Song
Coming on the heels of such dark, heavy songs, “My Morning Song” is an amazing way to bring it all home. Much like Dylan (again), the beauty is in the song’s various parts. As a whole, I get the feeling that this is just a song about doing what makes you feel good and what takes you away from it all even for a moment. There is a part in this song that always hits me like a freight train:
If music got to free your mind
Just let it go cause you never know, you never know
If your rhythm ever falls out of time
You can bring it to me and I will make it alright
It’s a powerful statement of optimism, hope, and just reminding you to remember that you are not alone in this world no matter how shitty and hard things may be. Music is your friend and always will be.
Happy 30th Birthday to one of the greatest rock albums of my generation. 30 looks good on you.
About The Author
