It’s the reunion that just keeps giving. Given their history, the Black Crowes could very well be walking on thin ice when it comes to their ongoing survival. This time, however, the reunited Robinson brothers and their latest crew of Black Crowes might have a fighting chance. After the pandemic delay, the ensemble took to the road in the summer of 2021, and won over the audiences far and wide with their unique style of retro rock that’s come into vogue in this day and age, thanks to New Wave of Classic Rock (NWOCR) bands like Greta Van Fleet and Dirty Honey. Writing a new album is the next logical step, though it appears the Crowes have taken a slight detour to keep the party going in 2022 by paying tribute to the influential artists who made their best music 50 years ago. That’s what the six-song Amazon digital release 1972 is all about.
When I first the Black Crowes in 1990, my first reaction was that they sounded like a cross between the Rolling Stones and Rod Stewart & Faces. What surfaced as a slight annoyance blossomed into full appreciation. Which means the covers of “Rocks off,” the loose and raunchy opener from the Stone’s double opus Exile On Main Street, and “You Wear It Well,” from Stewart’s Never A Dull Moment album that featured members of Faces, make complete sense. Neither deviates much from their original states, which means they do little more than understate their impact. Fortunately, 1972 digs a little deeper, allowing the Crowes to ingratiate their own style and swag more into the mix.
The Temptations‘ “Papa Was A Rollin’ Stone” serves as the perfect palette for the Crowes to show off their instincts and singular tone. Chris Robinson may not possess the heart and soul of the Tempations’ Dennis Edwards, Melvin Franklin, Richard Street, and Damon Harris. And the Black Crowes are not the Funk Brothers. But the pulse and vibe of this version is undeniable, taking into the account all the nuances, wah-wahs, and strings. You almost wish they’d tried this one around the same time they dosing on Otis Redding. David Bowie’s “Moonage Daydream” is another unexpected surprise that skips faster, but never loses its essence.
Rounding out the set is a grungy take of T. Rex’s “The Slider” and a graceful, upbeat offering of Little Feat’s “Easy To Slip.” Altogether, 1972 is a novel, tasteful nod to a year when some of the greatest rock and roll music was ever made. The Black Crowes only know this all too well — it’s at the foundation of their origins. While their own history is worthy of its influential grasp on those who followed, it’s revelatory for an artist to trace their roots back to where it really began for the rest of us. With 1972, the Black Crowes remind everyone how significant that period was and continues to be.
~ Shawn Perry
